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Free guide · NDIS basics

NDIS words, explained simply

Feeling lost in NDIS words is normal. Many parents say it took them years to understand it. This list explains the words you will hear most.

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NDIS words, explained simply

The main words

  • NDIS: the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It is government funding for people with disability.
  • NDIA: the government agency that runs the NDIS.
  • Participant: the person with disability who has an NDIS plan. Here, that is your young adult.
  • Plan: the document that says what supports are funded, and how much money there is.
  • Provider: a business or person who gives support, like Waymaker.
  • Support worker: the person who works one-to-one with your young adult.
  • Support Coordinator: a person (funded in some plans) who helps you find and organise supports.
  • Plan manager: a business that pays provider invoices for you, from the plan money.
  • Plan review or reassessment: when the NDIA looks at the plan again and makes a new one.

Ways a plan can be managed

  • Self-managed: you (or your young adult) pay providers, then claim the money back from the NDIS.
  • Plan-managed: a plan manager pays providers for you.
  • NDIA-managed (also called agency-managed): the NDIA pays providers directly. Only registered providers can be used.

Waymaker works with self-managed and plan-managed plans. We are not able to work with NDIA-managed plans.

Where to check

NDIS rules change from time to time. For the latest, visit ndis.gov.au or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110.

You can also call us. If we do not know the answer, we will tell you, and help you find out.

Read: Self-managed or plan-managed?More on NDIS basics

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