NDIS acronyms explained

Navigating the NDIS can be all the more confusing if you are struggling with the many acronyms.

Will you have an ECP or a LAC to take you through the NDIS planning process? What are SIL and SLES and STA, and do they even apply to your situation? Here, we cover some key acronyms in the NDIS space, so you’ll be speaking the language in no time.

Let’s start at the very beginning…

The NDIA is the National Disability Insurance Agency, which is the government agency that implements and manages the NDIS.

The NDIS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the new way of supporting people with disability in Australia. This means people with disability can decide what support they need and where to buy their support from. The NDIS has rules about who can get funding and how it works. For example, a support will only be funded if it will help a person to achieve their goals. Where Yooralla fits into this, is that we are a NDIS registered service provider that people can purchase their NDIS supports from.

There are acronyms for some of the people you might meet on your NDIS journey.

A LAC is a Local Area Coordinator which is an organisation that partners with the NDIS to work with many participants through the NDIS process, including undertaking NDIS planning, plan implementation and support with community linkages.

An ECP is an Early Childhood Partner, which is an early childhood organisation that has partnered with the NDIS to deliver the ECEI (Early Childhood Early Intervention) approach in the NDIS. An ECP is the point of contact for parents who feel their child has developmental delay or disability, and ECPs may be different organisations depending on your NDIS region.

The ECPs deliver the NDIS ECEI approach. ECEI is Early Childhood Early Intervention which is designed to assist children 0-6 years of age with developmental delay or disability. The ECEI approach acknowledges that children have special needs that require different support to adults.

For teenagers, SLES is School Leaver Employment Supports which is support funded to assist year 12 school leavers to transition from school into a job. The funding supports the school leaver to achieve employment outcomes.

There are a few acronyms you may find useful to help navigate disability accommodation.

SIL stands for Supported Independent Living, which are the funded services provided to NDIS participants to support them with independent living. SIL is usually provided in a residence with other NDIS participants. SIL relates only to the support provided in the accommodation.

SDA stands for Specialist Disability Accommodation, and is the actual bricks and mortar of housing for people with disability. This is assessed and funded separately to SIL under the NDIS.

STA is short-term accommodation, which is NDIS speak for respite accommodation – this allows both the carer and the person they care for to take a break. STA is support provided for a limited period of time, typically delivered in a group-based facility.

Need more advice or help?

Download our free NDIS guides: To make the most of the NDIS, you can download Yooralla’s free guides for adults or careers with disability or for parents of children with disability to help prepare for the NDIS.

Book a free one-on-one NDIS discussion: To discuss your individual circumstances and better understand the NDIS, book in for a free one-on-one NDIS discussion with Yooralla Connect.

Contact us: For more information or support, email yoorallaconnect@yooralla.com.au or contact us today.