Introduction
Hi and welcome to Leap in!
Thank you for joining Australia’s leading plan manager. Leap in! helps thousands of Australians on the NDIS, just like you and your family, to navigate the NDIS and get the most from their NDIS Plan.
We specialise in supporting our Members at each step of the NDIS process – from preparing for NDIS Plan meetings to paying providers and helping you manage your budgets.
We’re here to ensure you have choice and control over how you use your NDIS funds, with financial and administrative support that saves time and reduces stress. With Leap in! you get:
- Budget Health Checks on top of your monthly statements
- Great advice from experienced plan managers
- Fast payment of invoices
- Access to a free award-winning app.
This guide is here to help you get started. It includes loads of information about the NDIS, plan management and what you can expect from us. Plus, you’ll find out how to use the Leap in! app to manage your NDIS Plan and get answers to your questions.
As a Leap in! Member, you’re also part of the Leap in! Member Benefits Club. The L! Club gives you access to special pricing and offers on a huge range of goods and services. Check out the Leap in! website for details.
And of course, if you have any questions, our friendly Crew is here to help. Get in touch with us in any of the following ways:
Call 1300 05 78 78
Email [email protected]
Chat with us online from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday.
For other ways to reach us, check out Contact us page.
Thank you for choosing Leap in!. We look forward to getting to know you and supporting you to live the life you want to lead.
The Leap in! Crew.
About Leap in!
We’re a business driven by purpose and this is backed by our People before profit guarantee.
We believe that everyone should be able to live their best life and that our Members should have access to everything they need to make it happen.
We promise to:
- Keep you at the heart of everything we do
- Never cut corners for profit
- Never treat you like a number
- Provide the support you need when you need it
- Help you get the best value from your NDIS Plan, year after year.
Recognition.
In 2025, we were a finalist in the national Australian Service Excellence Awards (ASEA) in the category Customer Service Organisation of the Year!
In 2024, Leap in! was awarded Most Outstanding Plan Manager at the Australian Disability Services Awards, for the second year in a row.
In 2023, Leap in! received the same honour at the ADSA, recognising our continued commitment to our Members.
In 2021, Leap in! was honoured to be acknowledged by the Australian Financial Review as one of the Most Innovative Companies in Australia.
We also won the Hutchinson Builders Award for Outstanding Social Enterprise and were one of only four finalists in the ANZ Award for High Growth Business at the 2021 Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Business Awards.
Most of all, we’re very proud of what we can achieve for our Members.
1. You’ve signed up for plan management. What’s next?
After you’ve finished signing up with Leap in! and we have set you up as a Leap in Member, what happens next?
Get started with your supports.
Firstly, you will receive a notification in the Leap in! app saying “You’re good to go! Your NDIS Plan funds are confirmed and you can start to purchase supports.” That means we have connected the Leap in! app with your NDIS Plan and you can now use the app to manage your NDIS funds.
You can start using your budgets and claiming straight away.
Simply ask your providers to email invoices to [email protected].
You also send any reimbursement claims to [email protected].
Once processed, these claims will appear in your app.
- If you have chosen for invoices to be automatically paid, your providers will be paid without requiring your approval.
- If you have chosen to approve each invoice, you will receive a notification each time an invoice is ready for approval. Invoices that you have not approved within 7 days are automatically approved so your providers can be paid.
- You can have a mix of pre-approved and to-be-approved if that works for you.
Don’t already have the app? Call our Crew on 1300 05 78 78.
Find providers
Engage providers to deliver the supports you need.
Providers email invoices to [email protected]
We claim from the NDIS and pay your providers.
Track your budgets in the app.
See all you’ve spent and what you have available.
Welcome call.
After you join Leap in! you will receive a call from one of our specialist Plan Managers. They’ll confirm your details, ask if you have any questions and see if they can assist you in any other way.
In your welcome call, we will cover all the important things that make navigating the NDIS and using your NDIS Plan easier.
These will include:
- Adding your crew (such as family members and support coordinators) to the Leap in! app with your permission
- Monthly statements and your Budget Health Checks (see image below)
- How to review and track your NDIS Plan balances
- Where to find information about invoices processed and paid.
We’ll also chat about what life looks like for you day-to-day.
If needed, we will explore the different supports that may be available and where to find them.
Here’s an example of what your Budget Health Check will look like. You’ll receive these in addition to your monthly statements so you can see how you’re tracking across each of your budget areas.
2. What you can expect from Leap in!
Leap in! provides proactive support to help you get the most from your NDIS Plan. We help you have choice and control over how you use your NDIS funds and deliver financial and administrative support that saves time and reduces stress.
We take care of the time-consuming administration associated with having an NDIS Plan such as bookkeeping, tracking and reporting on your spending across your budgets.
With Leap in! plan management, you get:
- Access to the providers you want (NDIS registered or unregistered)
- Help to keep track of your NDIS funding and budgets including our unique monthly Budget Health Checks
- Great advice from a team experienced in the NDIS
- Someone to manage and pay your invoices
- Less administration and paperwork
- Help finding providers near you
- Full access to the award-winning L! app
- Access to the Leap in! Member Benefits Club.
Helpful resources and expert guidance.
Our team keep up-to-date on the latest information from the NDIS so we can provide helpful free resources and the latest news for our Members. Check out our Knowledge centre and Latest news sections of the website.
Our experienced Plan Managers can provide you with advice and guidance on how to get the most from your NDIS Plan. The NDIS can seem a bit overwhelming when you’re just getting started, so reach out if you have any questions or are unsure about anything. That’s what we’re here for!
Chat with us live now, call us on 1300 05 78 78 or email us [email protected].
If you’re looking for NDIS providers, you can search for providers through the Leap in! Provider Network Directory. You and your support crew will also be able to use all features of our free NDIS budgeting and goal planning app and access our exclusive L! Member Benefits Club.
No out of pocket cost for plan management.
That means you don’t have to pay Leap in! out of your own money to provide plan management services. The NDIS adds extra funds to your NDIS Plan to cover the cost of plan management.
The funds for plan management appear in Capacity Building – Improved Life Choices in your NDIS Plan.
Free NDIS Plan review planning sessions.
Preparing for your NDIS Plan meetings can be challenging. When you’re coming up to the end of your NDIS Plan, Leap in! can help you prepare with a free NDIS Plan review planning session.
Each session is customised to your circumstances. Some of the things we can include:
- How to give yourself enough time to be properly prepared
- What questions you need to think about
- How to prepare your records
- The value of a support person
- How to communicate the specifics to your NDIS Planner or Local Area Coordinator
- How to make the most of the pre-planning tools on the Leap in! app.
When the time comes to book your free plan review session, call us on 1300 05 78 78 or email [email protected] to arrange a time.
3. How to use the Leap in! app.
The award-winning Leap in! app is the perfect tool to help you get the most from your NDIS Plan. Capture what your life looks like now, tell your story once and share it with others, get help to set goals and manage your NDIS Plan all in one place.
Start your profile.
Click on My Profile at the bottom and select About me. This section of the app is where you can put all your personal information in one place.
Complete the following:
- My details: Add your address, phone, email, birthday, plan meeting date and NDIS number.
- Life stage: How would you describe your life stage or current life transitions? The app includes some suggestions. Select the options that are right for you.
- Disability: Add details about your disability. Choose from items in the dropdown list or type your own. Add any extra information.
- Impact of my disability: Add information about how your disability affects your life. It’s important to be detailed. Complete each section for daily living/self-care, communication, connecting with others, learning and independence.
It’s all about you!
In the About me section, the app guides you to enter all the information you’ll need to prepare for the NDIS:
- Favourite things – this section is helpful to start thinking about what you want to do in the future
- Health and wellbeing
- Home – where you live and any home modifications
- Crew – where you include all the important people in your life
- Current supports – including informal and community supports.
There is also a special SMART goals section. Using the information you have entered into the app (disability type and life stage), the app will suggest ideas and provide some goal inspiration. You can also use this section of the app to track your goal steps and how you are going over time – perfect tools for having a successful plan review meeting.
Top tip: Impact of my disability is a big and important section with a lot of information. It’s easy to record your answers using the ‘voice to text’ feature on your device. Look under ‘Settings’ to turn this on. You don’t have to complete all of this information when you join, however the more information you can add, the more effective your preparation will be for your next plan meeting.
Manage your NDIS budgets.
Members tell us that one of the best things about working with Leap in! is being able to track their NDIS budgets with the Leap in! app.
Carefully managing your NDIS funds is important for two reasons:
- If you don’t use all your NDIS funding in the period it is allocated, it doesn’t automatically roll into your next plan.
- If you overspend too early, you’re left without funds for the rest of the year and you may need to ask for an early plan review.
In My Budgets you can see all your NDIS budgets and how you’re tracking with them in simple, clear graphs.
Track your spending in real time.
Keep track of your NDIS funding in one place with the app’s easy to navigate dashboards. The dashboards work in a similar way to online banking, so you can clearly see your budgets in real time, 24 hours a day.
Find out if your spending is on track.
The Leap in! app allows you to quickly check if you’re on the right track with spending for each budget.
Reviewing this section regularly helps you to manage funding for the whole year to avoid running out of funds early or not using all of your NDIS budgets.
Keep track of expenses.
Keeping track of your expenses is simple. Go to Payments History to view invoices that have been paid with your NDIS funding.
You can also review previous NDIS Plans including allocated budgets and expenses by budget category (the app keeps all your plans over time).
Claim and approve invoices.
The Leap in! app helps you manage every aspect of your NDIS budget, including provider invoices and payments.
- Review and approve provider invoices for payment
- Check the progress of invoices and claims
- View payment history.
You can choose to review every claim yourself, or set things up so some (or all) provider claims are automatically approved to save time.
Funding periods.
If your plan started or was reassessed after 19 May 2025, it might look a little different. The new version includes details about funding periods. Funding periods are a new way the NDIS releases plan budgets over time. Instead of receiving your full plan funding upfront, you’ll get access to smaller amounts in stages.
- A funding period is a set timeframe during which a portion of your NDIS funding can be used
- Most new plans will have three-month funding periods
- You can only spend money released in the current or previous funding period
- Different funding periods may be introduced in future
- Funding periods will initially apply to new or reassessed plans.
Get ready for your NDIS Plan review meeting.
Using the app is the easiest and fastest way to prepare for your meeting. Even better, everything you need is in one place.
Once you have added all your details, you can view, print or download a copy of your Plan Ready Summary. You’ll need to complete all the relevant details in preparation for your plan meeting including:
- About Me
- Favourite things
- Health and wellbeing
- Home
- Crew
- Supports
- Goals.
Once you have added all your details, you can view or download your Plan Ready Summary for your plan meeting.
- Go to the More section in the top right of the app
- Select My Plan Summary from the menu
- Choose View to check out how your summary is looking and identify areas that need more information
- Choose Print to print your summary ready to take to your NDIS meeting
- Choose Share to email or export your summary to share with your NDIS Planner or others in your support circle.
Top tip: A special note about Goals. The L! app allows you to tick off each step toward your goals and show your progress through uploading photos. Don’t forget, you can always call and speak to a member of our Crew if you’d like to ask any questions.
4. What is ‘reasonable and necessary’?
Understanding the phrase ‘reasonable and necessary’ is essential for being clear on what you can and can’t purchase with your NDIS funds. The NDIS provides guidelines about reasonable and necessary so NDIS participants can decide if supports and services purchased meet the NDIS requirements.
Simply put, reasonable is something that is fair and necessary is something you require because of your disability.
The NDIS funds reasonable and necessary supports relating to your disability to help you live an ordinary life and achieve your goals.
Anything purchased with your NDIS funds must be:
- Related to your disability
- Not a day-to-day living cost unrelated to your support needs
- Good value for money
- Likely to be effective and beneficial to you.
The purchase must also take into account any unpaid, informal supports you receive from family, friends and your support crew (including support workers, support networks and the community).
For more information, refer to the NDIS explanation of what are reasonable and necessary supports.
Supports and services the NDIS may fund.
The types of supports that may be funded by the NDIS are wide ranging and depend on your individual needs. They may include things like supports in the home, allied health services and help to participate in the community or at work.
Examples of things the NDIS may fund:
- Allied health supports such as occupational therapy or physiotherapy
- Assistive technology including mobility aids
- Help around the house such as meal preparation and lawn mowing
- Supports to help you participate in the community
- Someone to drive you to community programs or medical appointments
- Personal care at home or while you are out in the community
- A support worker to help you to access public transport to attend activities in the community
- 24/7 care and respite care
- Programs, activities and support to help you learn new skills and become more independent
- Employment-related supports
- Home and vehicle modifications.
Top tip: Check out our article What will the NDIS pay for? to view a more detailed list.
Things the NDIS does not fund.
The NDIS does not fund supports that can be provided by other government or mainstream services such as hospital care, community mental health services, immunisation, rehabilitation, medication, unemployment benefits and child care.
Examples of things the NDIS does not fund:
- Everyday items such as toiletries and cleaning products
- Food or groceries
- Bills such as phone, internet and electricity
- Rent or mortgage payments
- Prescription medications or supplements
- Diagnosis, scans or blood tests
- Mental illness early intervention
- School, TAFE or university fees
- Ongoing repairs or home maintenance
- Motor vehicles (though it may fund modifications to motor vehicles)
- Entry fees to cinemas or attractions.
Every person is different, so it’s important that you are prepared to demonstrate why a request should be deemed reasonable and necessary in your situation.
NDIS supports lists.
In late 2024, the NDIS introduced supports lists that outline what you can and can’t use your NDIS funding for.
These lists are designed to help you understand what is considered a funded NDIS support and what isn’t. There are also some situations where a support can be swapped for something else – known as a replacement support.
There are three lists:
You can only use your NDIS funding for supports that are included on the approved list. If something is not listed, it won’t be funded unless you’ve received written approval from the NDIA to use a replacement support.
Stated supports.
A ‘stated support’ is a specific support or service that is funded in your NDIS Plan. The funding cannot be used for any item other than the one specified.
Funding for stated supports cannot be swapped out or used to purchase a different item or a different version of the stated item, without approval from the NDIS.
Some stated supports require a quotation and will be listed in your NDIS Plan at the exact amount quoted by the provider. Stated supports are referred to as ‘stated items’ in the NDIS Price Guide.
Examples of stated supports include:
- Plan management
- Support coordination
- Assistance from a live-in carer
- On-call overnight monitoring
- Linen service
- Preparation and delivery of meals
- Individualised Living Options (ILO)
- Specialised transport and driving training support
- Some items of assistive technology
- Some behaviour supports.
5. NDIS budget categories explained.
Your plan funding is split into funding components (previously known as budget categories). Each component groups similar types of supports.
Depending on your individual needs, you may receive funding in one or more of these categories. These are:
Core supports
Capacity Building supports
Capital supports
Recurring (new)
You can see how much funding is allocated to each category in your NDIS Plan in the Leap in! app, or in the myplace NDIS portal or my NDIS portal (for PACE participants).
The NDIS PACE system is a new computer system for the NDIS.
It’s going to replace the existing computer system the NDIS uses to communicate with you and manage your NDIS Plan. The key changes introduced with the PACE system include the new NDIS portal and changes to budgets and support categories. These changes are included below.
Good to know.
- Some support categories are flexible, which means you can spend the money from that category on any reasonable and necessary support that meets NDIS criteria
- In some cases, you can only purchase specific supports that are stated in your plan
- Some supports may require a quote or supporting documentation from a treating professional like a doctor or occupational therapist.
Core supports.
Core supports are the main NDIS support category, funding the things that help you in day-to-day life. There are two types of Core supports:
1. Flexible Core supports.
These support categories can be flexible as long as they are ‘managed’ in the same way, for example plan managed, NDIA managed or self managed. When your funding is flexible, you can use it to buy supports from other flexible categories as long as they have been included in your plan. Check your plan to see what support categories have been included and if they’re described as flexible or stated.
The types of flexible Core supports that can be included in your plan.
Assistance with Daily Life
Supports to assist you with personal care tasks like showering, dressing, cooking, cleaning, and short-term accommodation (also known as respite).
Assistance with Social, Economic, and Community Participation
Supports that help you engage in social or community activities, such as attending appointments, shopping, or participating in recreational activities.
Consumables
For travel to work or other places to help you pursue the goals in your plan if you can’t use public transport because of your disability.
1. Stated Core supports.
If you have ‘stated supports’, this means you must use your funding in the way that’s described in your plan.
The types of stated Core supports.
Home and Living
Supports to help you live independently, including Supported Independent Living (SIL), Individualised Living Options (ILO), and medium-term accommodation.
Young People in Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC)
Supports for participants under 65 living in residential aged care facilities.
Good to know.
- There may be other categories of supports that are stated in your plan if the NDIS deems it necessary.
Capacity Building supports.
Capacity Building supports help you grow independence and build skills to achieve your goals. Unlike Core supports, this funding component is not flexible, so you can only spend it on specific supports within each category.
Support Coordination
Help to understand and implement your NDIS Plan, connect with providers, and coordinate supports.
Improved Living Arrangements
Support to help you find and maintain appropriate housing.
Increased Social and Community Participation
Supports that help you engage in community activities and build skills to participate independently.
Finding and Keeping a Job
Employment-related support, training, and assessments to help you find or maintain employment.Supports that help you engage in community activities and build skills to participate independently.
Improved Relationships
Supports to develop social skills and positive interactions with others.
Improved Health and Wellbeing
Supports related to managing the impact of your disability on your health.
Improved Learning
Assistance with transitioning from school to further education like university or TAFE.
Improved Life Choices
Funding for plan management services.
Improved Daily Living Skills
Funding for assessment, training, or therapy to enhance your skills and independence.
Capital supports.
Capital supports provides funding for equipment, home or vehicle modifications.
The NDIS is very specific in what this funding can be used for, and it must be used as it is allocated. As Capital supports are stated, they usually require quotes and prior approval. There are four types of Capital supports.
- Assistive Technology
- Home Modifications
- Assistive Technology Maintenance, Repair, and Rental
- Specialist Disability
For more information on Capital supports, download the Leap in! NDIS Essentials ebook.
Recurring supports.
Recurring supports are regular payments made directly to you without needing to make a claim. Currently, the only recurring category is Transport. It covers the costs of everyday transport like taxis and rideshare services if you can’t access public transport because of disability.
6. How to find a provider.
One of the questions Members with new plans often ask us is “How do I find providers in my area?”.
Leap in! has made it easy to find relevant providers in your area with the Provider Network Directory on our website and in the Leap in! app.
Using the Leap in! Provider Network Directory.
The Provider Network Directory is on the Leap in! website. You can access the directory by clicking this link.
There are a couple of different ways you can search for providers. One is to scroll through the list alphabetically or search for a term using the magnifying glass in the top right.
The best way to use the Provider Network Directory is with our user-friendly filters. Go to Refine your search and use the filters to narrow down your search to find the right providers for you in your area:
- Who we support: For example, you can choose from an adolescent, an adult or a
- Diagnoses and conditions: We have listed some of the most commonly searched categories here. You can filter your search by selecting any of these or none at
- Service types: Here you can select any of the 75 categories listed, including options such as dietetics, types of therapies and counselling, accommodation options and
- Locations: Filter by state and even break down to common local
The providers that match your filters appear on the page. Click on a provider for more information including the services and supports they offer, contact details and a link to their website.
Click on the red Send Enquiry button to complete a form that will send your enquiry and details to the provider. Once your message is received, the provider will reach out to you.
Match a provider to your unused NDIS budget.
Did you know that Leap in! can help you connect with providers near you, matched to the budgets available in your NDIS Plan?
Here’s how:
- Navigate to the My Budgets section of the app and select one of your budgets.
- View the Tracking section to see if your budget for that item is on track or if you have underspent or overspent.
- If you still have funds left to spend, scroll down and look for the button that says Show me providers near me that can help.
- This will open up a list of local providers in your area that can assist with supports related to that budget. For example, if you have unspent funds in Improved health and wellbeing, the app can connect you with relevant providers.
- Review the provider’s information and send a direct enquiry if you’re The app will automatically populate some fields from your profile.
7. How to ensure your providers are paid quickly.
Invoices from providers for NDIS-related products or services can be submitted for payment by email to [email protected]. Ask your providers to send their invoices direct to us at this email address.
Leap in! submits invoice claims to the NDIA every business day. Claims are processed in order of receipt and can be tracked by providers using Leap in!’s new provider platform Saltu.
Saltu has a great feature that lets providers see the status of your invoices with us. Each provider has a dedicated link to the platform where they can search for current and past invoices and see where they are in the processing, claiming and payment pipeline.
Saltu is easy to use and available 24/7. Your provider can contact our Provider Relations Team on 1300 05 78 74 for a unique URL to gain access.
What your providers should include on an invoice.
To make sure your invoices are paid quickly, please ask your provider to include the following information:
- Your name as it appears on your NDIS record
- The sole trader, business or company name
- Their Australian Business Number (ABN)
- An invoice number (a different invoice number for each invoice is required)
- Date the invoice has been issued
- Date the service was delivered (where possible)
- Basic description of service or product (including units or hours of service delivery)
- Relevant NDIS line item/s for service or product
- Hourly rate charged for the support
- Whether GST was applied to the product or service
- Total amount owing
- Details for payment
- Contact details (including a telephone number).
Leap in! has an invoice template that providers can download from our website.
There are also Provider Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Payment FAQs available on our website, or providers can contact our Crew on 1300 05 78 74, email us at [email protected] or chat via our website.
8. How to make changes to your NDIS Plan.
Members often ask us what happens to their NDIS Plan when personal circumstances change. Perhaps the level of care your family can help you with is no longer the same or your living arrangements have changed?
If you need a change in your plan funding to meet new circumstances, you will need to request a plan review. For minor changes, informal reviews may be possible.
These requests can take time so it’s important that you contact the NDIS or your Local Area Coordinator as soon as possible to start the process.
Change in circumstances.
A change in circumstances could change the way you access or use your NDIS Plan. If this is the case, you need to complete the NDIA Change of details or change of situation form and contact the NDIA.
Changes can include things like:
- Significant changes in care or support provided by family or For example, a family member who has provided informal support has a new job and you need to replace this support.
- Changes to your disability needs. For example, you have experienced an increase or decrease in your support
- Changes to your living For example, you have moved into a new house or the people you live with have changed.
- Changes to your For example, if you change from part-time to full-time work.
- Your health and wellbeing have For example, your disability is affecting your health in a different way.
If you receive any compensation or claim related to your illness or disability, you will also need to complete the form and contact the NDIA.
A change of circumstance or change request does not always mean that the NDIA will make a change to or review your plan.
Informal reviews.
An informal review is often called a ‘light touch’ review. If you already have an NDIS Plan, it’s three months or less since it started and something is not quite as expected or not suited to your needs, contact the NDIA or your Local Area Coordinator for an informal review.
It’s important that you have as much information as possible about your needs and supporting documents or reports if necessary.
Formal reviews.
A formal review can take place as your current NDIS Plan is nearing its end. In most circumstances, a plan will continue for the following period with many similarities to the current period. However, if you are unhappy, have new goals or need to make a change to better suit your needs, you can contact the NDIA to request a plan review at any time.
Again, it’s important that you have as much information as possible about your needs, and supporting documents or reports if necessary, when requesting any review.
Top tip: Still not sure about how to tackle changes to your NDIS Plan? Call us on 1300 05 78 78 and speak to a member of our Crew – we’re here to help.
Top tip: If you’re unhappy with the outcome of a formal or informal review, you can apply for further review with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). This must be done within 28 days of the initial review decision.
9. Who’s who on your NDIS journey?
Getting your head around all of the different people and roles associated with your NDIS Plan can be challenging. With different people in different organisations and so many acronyms, it’s not surprising! Below, we cover the main job titles that you will come across on your journey and what they do.
NDIS Planners.
An NDIS Planner helps identify what supports are needed to help achieve your goals and create a plan to help you reach those goals. NDIS Planners are the people you will meet to develop your NDIS Plan.
Early Childhood Partners.
An Early Childhood Partner is usually contacted if a medical professional identifies potential concerns with a child’s development. Early Childhood Partners can assist parents and guardians to create a plan for the child’s supports, apply for the NDIS if required, provide helpful information or referrals to services and help to monitor the child’s progress.
Local Area Coordinators.
Local Area Coordinators (LACs) are local organisations working in partnership with the NDIA, to help participants, their families and carers access the NDIS. LACs will help you write and manage your NDIS Plan and connect you to mainstream services and local and community-based supports.
Support Coordinators.
A support coordinator can help you understand and implement your NDIS Plan to help you reach your goals. A support coordinator can help you connect with providers, as well as negotiate rates and hours with providers on your behalf. They can also assist with the development of suitable service agreements with providers. If you need additional support to use your NDIS Plan or have complex needs you may be able to access support coordinators and specialist support coordinators.
10. Common NDIS-related terms.
Access requirements.
The criteria a person has to meet to be eligible for the NDIS.
Assistive technology (AT).
Assistive technology is any device or system that allows you to do something that you wouldn’t be able to do without it (or can be used to increase the ease or safety of things that you do). Examples include handrails, home modifications, hearing aids and wheelchairs.
Funding components/budget categories.
The funding in an NDIS Plan is broken up into four main budget categories. You may receive funding in one, two or all four budget categories. The budgets categories are: Core supports, Capital supports, Capacity Building and Recurring supports. Each NDIS budget can be used for specific purposes.
Capacity Building.
Capacity Building is one of the main budgets in an NDIS Plan. Funding for Capacity Building can be used to purchase supports that help a participant become more independent, such as help to find and keep a job.
Combination managed plan.
A combination managed plan is where a participant chooses several different ways to manage their NDIS Plan. You can choose from plan management, self manage or Agency managed, or a combination of these. For example, NDIA managed for Capital supports and plan management for the rest.
Consumables.
Consumables are everyday items required to manage your personal disability-related needs. They’re usually items that don’t cost much like pull-ups, catheters and modified eating aids.
Core supports.
Core supports is one of the main budgets in an NDIS Plan. It funds things that help a participant in their day-to-day life. Core supports are the most flexible part of an NDIS budget.
Early Childhood Approach (previously ECEI).
The Early Childhood Approach is the way the NDIS works with children younger than 9 who have a developmental delay or disability.
Eligibility.
NDIS eligibility is based on several criteria including age, residency and disability. There are also specific requirements for children aged 0-6 and people with psychosocial disabilities.
Funding periods.
Funding periods are a new way the NDIS releases plan budgets over time. Instead of receiving your full plan funding upfront, you’ll get access to smaller amounts in stages.
Informal supports.
Informal supports is the term used to describe the help NDIS participants receive from people they know. The supports are considered ‘informal’ because there is no exchange of money and no formal agreement or arrangement in place. They are not funded by the NDIS.
Mainstream services.
The government systems providing services to the Australian public e.g. health, mental health, education, justice, housing, child protection and employment services.
NDIA.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), is the Commonwealth Government agency that administers the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
NDIS.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme is a federal program that provides support for Australians with a disability.
NDIS budget.
An amount of funding that NDIS participants are allocated in an NDIS Plan that can be used to purchase reasonable and necessary supports that are listed on the NDIS supports list. The budget is different for each individual.
NDIS Plan.
This can also be known as a support plan or just a plan and is a written agreement which is developed with a participant. It states an individual’s goals and needs, and the support and funding that the NDIS will provide.
NDIS Plan meeting/NDIS planning meeting.
A meeting that takes place between an NDIS participant and an early childhood planner, LAC or NDIA Planner. Together they discuss the participant’s goals and the NDIA then builds a personalised NDIS Plan to help the person achieve their goals. The meeting can take place in person or over the phone.
NDIS Plan review meeting.
Generally, each participant works with the NDIA to review their plan every 12-36 months. A plan review is an opportunity for participants to look at their progress and set new goals to increase their skills and independence. A new or updated NDIS Plan may be developed.
Participant.
When a person is eligible for NDIS support, they are called a Participant.
Price limits/NDIS Price Guide.
Price limits are the maximum prices that registered providers can charge for specific supports. Participants and providers can negotiate lower prices than those specified in the NDIS Price Guide, which can be found on the NDIS website.
Provider.
Someone who has products or services to help you pursue the goals in your NDIS Plan. You can choose your providers and change providers at any time.
Supports.
Supports are services or products that help a person undertake daily life activities, enable them to participate in the community and pursue their goals.
Reasonable and necessary.
Reasonable means something fair and necessary means something you must have. The NDIS funds reasonable and necessary supports relating to a person’s disability to help them live an ordinary life and pursue their goals.
Registered provider.
A registered provider is an individual or a business that is registered with the NDIS to provide supports or services to NDIS participants. Registered providers need to go through a series of checks to ensure they meet NDIS guidelines.
Unregistered or non-registered provider.
A non-registered or unregistered provider is an individual or business that provides supports or services and is not registered with the NDIS (although they are required to follow the NDIS Code of Conduct). Some examples are private businesses, online stores, retail shops and some allied health professionals.
Some of this information was sourced from the NDIS Glossary.
11. Frequently asked questions.
How does NDIS funding work?
Funding under the NDIS is individualised, based on goals and outcomes. Your plan is developed following a plan meeting and can be reviewed as your goals change.
Is NDIS funding means tested?
Funding from the NDIS is not means tested and has no impact on income support such as the Disability Support Pension and Carers Allowance.
Can I take someone else along to my NDIS Plan or plan review meeting?
Yes. You can ask a family member, close friend, your partner or a person who supports you (someone you know and can trust) to come with you.
What if I don’t agree with my NDIS Plan when I receive it?
You can request a review of your plan with the NDIA (this must be made within three (3) months of receiving your plan).
You can make the request by:
- Calling the NDIS on 1800 800 110
- Writing to the CEO of the NDIA at GPO Box 700, Canberra ACT 2601
- Emailing a request to [email protected]
- Visiting an NDIS office or
- Completing the application for review of a decision form on the NDIS myplace participant portal.
What happens when I ask to have my plan reviewed?
Your review will be conducted by an NDIA staff member who was not involved in the original decision making. They will reconsider the facts, law and policy aspects of the original plan and determine if it was accurate. They are also able to consider any new information available.
I have not spent all my NDIS funds. Do they roll over into the next plan?
No. Any unspent funds are returned to the NDIA.
What happens when I turn 65?
If you are currently receiving funding under the NDIS and you turn 65, you can either choose to remain with the NDIS or you can transition to the aged care system.
Do I need a service agreement with every provider?
A service agreement is a simple, written document that explains your responsibilities and the responsibilities of a service provider. Service providers are people or businesses that provide services to you such as physiotherapy, cleaning or other supports. We recommend that you have a separate service agreement with each person or business that provides you with services.
Handy contact numbers and resources.
Leap in! plan management.
Members – 1300 05 78 78
General enquiries and support email – [email protected]
Providers – 1300 05 78 74
Send invoices to – [email protected]
Website – www.leapin.com.au
NDIS.
General enquiries – 1800 800 110
Email – [email protected]
Website – www.ndis.gov.au
LAC contacts – 1800 800 110
For people with hearing or speech loss – TTY: 1800 55 56 77; Speak and Listen: 1800 55 57 27
For people who need help with English – TIS: 13 14 50
Leap in! resources.
- Leap in! guides and ebooks
- The Essential NDIS Guide: An introduction to NDIS basics
- NDIS Plan meeting checklist
- Video: What is and isn’t a support
- Leap in! Provider Network Directory
- About the Leap in! app