Glossary
NDIS and OpenWay terms, in plain English.
Definitions for the terms used across OpenWay. Each term has a stable anchor so other pages can link directly to it.
Terms
- NDIS
- National Disability Insurance Scheme. An Australian government scheme that funds supports for eligible people with disability.
- NDIA
- National Disability Insurance Agency. The independent Commonwealth agency that administers the NDIS and funds participant plans.
- NDIS Commission
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. The independent regulator that registers providers, sets practice standards, and handles complaints. OpenWay cross-checks against the Commission register but is not part of the Commission.
- Plan
- A participant's funded NDIS budget. The plan sets out what supports are funded, in which categories, and over what period.
- Participant
- A person funded by the NDIS. OpenWay uses "participant" - not "patient" or "client" - throughout.
- Provider
- An organisation or sole trader that delivers NDIS-funded supports. Providers can be registered with the NDIS Commission or unregistered.
- Plan-managed
- A plan management type where a registered plan manager pays invoices on the participant's behalf. Plan-managed participants can use registered or unregistered providers.
- NDIA-managed
- A plan management type where the NDIA pays providers directly. NDIA-managed participants generally need registered providers for most supports.
- Self-managed
- A plan management type where the participant (or their nominee) manages funds and pays providers directly. Self-managed participants can use registered or unregistered providers.
- Registered provider
- A provider listed on the NDIS Commission register. Required for most supports for NDIA-managed participants and required regardless of plan type for some supports (for example, Specialist Behaviour Support and Plan Management).
- Unregistered provider
- A provider not listed on the NDIS Commission register. Can lawfully serve plan-managed and self-managed participants for supports that do not require registration.
- Support Coordinator
- A professional who helps participants understand and use their NDIS plan, including finding suitable providers. Coordinators shortlist providers - they do not "recommend" them.
- OpenWay Verified
- An OpenWay-internal label indicating that OpenWay has sighted selected business and compliance documents for a provider. It does not replace NDIS Commission registration and is not an endorsement of service quality.
- PAPL
- NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. The published cap on registered-provider rates, updated periodically by the NDIA. OpenWay displays pricing as indicative - final pricing varies by support item, time, location, travel and cancellation rules and must be confirmed in a written service agreement.
- WWCC
- Working With Children Check. A state-based check required for paid or unpaid work involving children. OpenWay surfaces a "WWCC Checked" badge when confirmed for staff working with under-18s.
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- A standardised national check for people in risk-assessed roles delivering NDIS supports. OpenWay surfaces a "Worker Screening Checked" badge when confirmed for client-facing staff.
- Easy Read
- A plain-language accessible format that uses short sentences and supporting images. Designed for people with cognitive disability and other readers who benefit from simplified content.
- SDA
- Specialist Disability Accommodation. Funding for housing designed for participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. SDA is a regulated support and always requires an NDIS-registered provider.
- SIL
- Supported Independent Living. Funding for help with daily tasks in a shared home, such as personal care, cooking and overnight supervision.
- ILO
- Individualised Living Options. A flexible NDIS support that helps participants design a living arrangement that suits them - on their own, with chosen housemates, or with a host family.
- Service agreement
- A written agreement between participant and provider that sets out exactly what supports are being delivered, how much they cost, cancellation rules and travel charges. OpenWay requires that every quoted price is confirmed in a written service agreement before support starts.