What is Participant?

A participant is a person whose access to the NDIS has been approved and who holds an individual, funded NDIS plan. The term is used in place of “client” or “patient” throughout the scheme, reflecting that the person directs their own supports rather than receiving a service allocated to them.

Language matters in this sector, and “participant” is the word the scheme, the Practice Standards and most participants themselves use. Provider software that calls people “clients” internally is usually fine, but participant-facing documents — service agreements, statements, progress note summaries — should follow the scheme’s language.

A participant may manage their plan themselves, use a registered plan manager, have the NDIA manage it, or use a combination across budget categories. How the plan is managed determines who a provider invoices and how quickly they are paid.

Related terms

Plan managementPlan management is where a registered plan manager holds and pays a participant’s NDIS funding on their behalf. The plan manager receives provider invoices, checks them against the participant’s budget and the price guide, claims from the NDIA, and pays the provider — while the participant keeps full choice of provider.Self-managementSelf-management is where an NDIS participant holds and administers their own plan funding. They pay providers directly, claim reimbursement from the NDIA through the myplace portal, and keep records for audit. Self-managing participants may use any provider, registered or not, and may negotiate prices above the published limits.Service agreementA service agreement is the written agreement between an NDIS participant and a provider setting out what supports will be delivered, how much they cost, and the terms covering cancellations, changes and ending the arrangement. The NDIS Practice Standards expect one for each participant, agreed before supports begin.Plan nomineeA plan nominee is a person appointed to act for an NDIS participant in relation to their plan — making decisions about supports, or doing things the participant would otherwise do themselves. Nominees are appointed by the NDIA, usually at the participant’s request, and must act according to the participant’s wishes where possible.

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