Glossary
NDIS, aged care & allied health terms
Plain-English definitions for the acronyms and programs that shape Australian disability, aged care, and allied health operations.
NDIS
- NDIS planAn NDIS plan is a document approved by the National Disability Insurance Agency that sets out a participant's goals, funded supports, and management pathways for a set period — typically 12, 24, or 36 months.
- NDIS plan managerAn NDIS plan manager is a registered organisation that processes invoices and claims on behalf of a participant whose plan is on the plan-managed pathway, paying providers and tracking budgets.
- NDIS Price GuideThe NDIS Price Guide is the NDIA-published document that defines support line items, maximum prices, and applicable rules — including state, time-of-day, and remote pricing — for NDIS-funded supports.
- PACE (NDIS provider payment platform)PACE is the National Disability Insurance Agency's newer provider payments and participant management platform, progressively replacing parts of the legacy PRODA-based my place provider portal.
- PRODA (Provider Digital Access)PRODA is the Services Australia Provider Digital Access service that authenticates organisations and individuals into Australian Government health and disability systems, including legacy NDIS claiming and Medicare provider portals.
- SCHADS Award (Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010)The SCHADS Award is the Fair Work modern award covering most disability, home care, and social community workers in Australia — including penalty rates, loadings, allowances, and minimum engagement rules.
- SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation)SDA is NDIS-funded specialist housing for participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs, paid as a separate rental payment to the dwelling owner.
- SIL (Supported Independent Living)SIL is an NDIS-funded support that pays for assistance with daily tasks in a shared or individual living arrangement, focused on developing skills to live as independently as possible.
Aged care
- CHSP (Commonwealth Home Support Programme)CHSP is a Commonwealth-funded entry-level home support programme for older Australians needing low-level assistance to remain independent. CHSP services include domestic help, personal care, meals, transport, and social support.
- Home Care Package (HCP)A Home Care Package is an Australian Government-funded package that pays for coordinated services to help an older person live independently at home. Packages have four levels (1–4) corresponding to support intensity.
- My Aged CareMy Aged Care is the Australian Government's national entry point for aged care services. Clients access HCP, CHSP, residential care, and Support at Home referrals via the My Aged Care portal or contact centre.
- SIRS (Serious Incident Response Scheme)SIRS is the Australian aged care regulatory scheme that requires providers to manage and report serious incidents involving people receiving care, with Priority 1 incidents notifiable to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission within 24 hours.
- Support at HomeSupport at Home is the Australian Government's aged care program replacing Home Care Packages and CHSP, with classification-based funding, capped services, and consumer contribution rules.
Allied health
- AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency)AHPRA is the national agency responsible for registering health practitioners in Australia, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, speech pathologists, and other allied health professionals.
- DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) allied healthDVA funds allied health services for eligible Australian veterans through schedules related to but distinct from Medicare. DVA Gold Card and White Card holders access subsidised services with specific provider arrangements.
- Medicare Benefits Schedule (allied health)The Medicare Benefits Schedule defines Australian Government-subsidised health services. Allied health professionals deliver services under specific MBS items — most commonly via Chronic Disease Management plans and Mental Health Care plans referred by a GP.
Compliance
- Aged Care Quality StandardsThe Aged Care Quality Standards are the national framework defining the level of care providers must deliver across consumer dignity, ongoing assessment, personal and clinical care, services and supports, organisation's service environment, feedback and complaints, human resources, and organisational governance.
- NDIS Practice StandardsThe NDIS Practice Standards are the quality framework registered NDIS providers must meet, comprising core modules and supplementary modules audited by approved quality auditors.
- Privacy Act 1988The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) governs how Australian organisations collect, use, store, and disclose personal information, with thirteen Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) setting specific obligations.
- Pseudonymisation (PII handling)Pseudonymisation is the practice of replacing identifying information with a pseudonym or reversible token so that the data can be processed without revealing the underlying identity. It is a core technique for handling personal health information in AI workflows.
- Restrictive practice (NDIS)A restrictive practice is any action that restricts the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. The NDIS Commission regulates five categories — chemical, mechanical, physical, environmental, and seclusion — and requires written authorisation, a behaviour support plan, and logging of every use.