Glossary

Glossary of in-home care terms

Plain-English definitions of the NDIS, DVA, aged care, and clinical terms that come up most often in Sydney in-home nursing — written for families, support coordinators, and healthcare professionals who want a clear, factual reference.

NDIS Also known as: National Disability Insurance Scheme: The National Disability Insurance Scheme — the Australian Government scheme that funds reasonable and necessary supports for people under 65 with a permanent and significant disability. The NDIS replaced state-based disability schemes from 2013 onwards and is administered by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Registered NDIS Provider: A service that has been independently audited against the NDIS Practice Standards and approved by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Registered providers can be used by all NDIS participants regardless of how their plan is managed, and can deliver supports that are restricted to registered providers (such as specialist behaviour support and SDA).
Non-Registered NDIS Provider: An NDIS service that hasn't gone through the formal Commission audit process. Still bound by the NDIS Code of Conduct and worker screening, and can be used by plan-managed and self-managed participants. NDIA-managed participants can only use registered providers.
NDIA-Managed Also known as: Agency-managed: A plan-management option where the NDIA pays providers directly on the participant's behalf. NDIA-managed participants can only use registered NDIS providers. Sometimes called Agency-managed.
Plan-Managed: A plan-management option where a third-party plan manager handles invoices and claims on the participant's behalf. Plan-managed participants can use both registered and non-registered NDIS providers.
Self-Managed: A plan-management option where the participant (or their nominee) directly manages NDIS funding — paying providers, keeping records, and claiming reimbursement from the NDIA. Self-managed participants can use any provider including non-registered.
Support Coordinator: An NDIS-funded role that helps participants understand their plan, connect with providers, and build skills to manage their own supports. Support coordinators typically work for an independent organisation and are not employed by the providers they recommend.
NDIS Worker Screening Check Also known as: NDISWC: A national check that workers in risk-assessed NDIS roles must hold. It assesses whether a worker poses an unacceptable risk to people with disability. All registered NDIS provider workers in risk-assessed roles must hold a current check.
DVA Community Nursing: An in-home nursing program funded by the Department of Veterans' Affairs for eligible Veteran Card holders, governed by the Treatment Principles and the Notes for Community Nursing Providers. Scope includes nursing assessment, clinical nursing care, palliative care, and personal care delegated by a nurse. Delivered at no out-of-pocket cost for clinically required care.
DVA Contracted Community Nursing Provider: A provider on the DVA Panel of Community Nursing Providers, contracted to deliver DVA Community Nursing services to eligible Veteran Card holders. The DVA publishes the ACT/NSW panel as a PDF, listing providers by LGA. Gentle Care Nursing Services is on the current April 2026 panel.
DVA Gold Card: A DVA-issued health card that covers eligible veterans for all clinically required healthcare, including in-home nursing under DVA Community Nursing. Gold Card holders are generally eligible for DVA Community Nursing subject to clinical assessment.
DVA White Card: A DVA-issued health card that covers eligible veterans for treatment of specific accepted conditions linked to their service. White Card holders may be eligible for DVA Community Nursing for accepted conditions only.
Support at Home: The Australian Government's in-home aged care program, which replaced Home Care Packages from 1 November 2025. Support at Home funds in-home nursing, personal care, allied health, and other services for older Australians assessed as needing them. Funding is allocated by level and means-tested.
CHSP Also known as: Commonwealth Home Support Programme: The Commonwealth Home Support Programme — an entry-level in-home aged care program for older Australians with lower-needs requirements. CHSP is government-subsidised and has small client contributions, and runs alongside Support at Home for more complex needs.
ACAT Also known as: ACAS, Aged Care Assessment Team: The Aged Care Assessment Team (or ACAS in Victoria) — government-funded teams that assess older Australians to determine eligibility for government-funded aged care services, including Support at Home, CHSP, residential aged care, and respite. Referrals are made through My Aged Care.
My Aged Care: The Australian Government's central entry point for aged care services. Older Australians (or their family) contact My Aged Care to be assessed, find services, and understand funding options. The My Aged Care website also lists every approved provider and current fees.
AN-ACC Also known as: Australian National Aged Care Classification: The funding model for residential aged care in Australia. Each resident has a clinical funding classification assessed and reviewed regularly, which determines the per-resident funding the aged care home receives from the government. Replaced the older ACFI model in 2022.
AHPRA Also known as: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency: The national agency that registers and regulates health practitioners in Australia — including nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, and other registered professions. An AHPRA-registered nurse holds current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia under AHPRA.
PEG Feeding Also known as: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding: Enteral nutrition delivered through a PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) tube — a feeding tube inserted directly into the stomach through the abdominal wall. PEG feeding is used when oral intake is unsafe or insufficient. Home PEG feeding requires regular site care, feeding regime support, and monitoring.
Tracheostomy Also known as: Tracheostomy management: A surgically-created opening in the front of the neck into the trachea (windpipe), with a tube placed to maintain the airway. Home tracheostomy management includes airway care, tube changes as directed by the treating team, stoma site monitoring, and suctioning support.
Catheter Management Also known as: Indwelling urinary catheter care: Care of urinary catheters in the home — indwelling (long-term in place) or intermittent (inserted and removed for each emptying). Includes monitoring for infection, troubleshooting blockages, and changes per the urology team's plan.
Complex Care: Specialist in-home nursing for people with higher-than-routine clinical needs — typically including PEG feeding, tracheostomy management, catheter care, complex wound care, or coordinated management of multiple chronic conditions. Delivered by experienced nurses with clinical oversight.
Palliative Care: Care focused on comfort, symptom management, and family support for people with serious or life-limiting illness — at any stage of disease, not only the final weeks. In-home palliative care works alongside specialist palliative teams (such as Sacred Heart Health Service at St Vincent's in Sydney) to support people remaining at home.
Core Supports: One of the NDIS funding categories. Core Supports includes Assistance with Daily Life — which can fund in-home personal care, household tasks, and community participation. Core Supports is flexible across the four sub-categories.
Capacity Building: An NDIS funding category that funds supports aimed at building a participant's independence and skills — such as support coordination, therapy, employment supports, and capacity-building daily activities. Capacity Building funds can only be used within their specific sub-category.
Out of Hospital Care Also known as: OHC: NSW Health's framework for delivering hospital-level support to patients at home, either as a substitute for inpatient admission or as part of safe earlier discharge. Out of Hospital Care includes Hospital in the Home (HITH) and rehabilitation programs delivered across NSW Local Health Districts.
Hospital in the Home Also known as: HITH: A NSW Health program where hospital-level care is delivered at home for patients who would otherwise be admitted or extended in hospital. HITH is hospital-led and hospital-funded, run through Local Health Districts. Private providers like Gentle Care complement HITH with step-down support, not replace it.

Term not here? Ask us.

The Australian in-home care system uses a lot of jargon, and we've focused on the terms that come up most often. If something isn't covered, get in touch and we'll explain it plainly.

NDIS

Also known as: National Disability Insurance Scheme

The National Disability Insurance Scheme — the Australian Government scheme that funds reasonable and necessary supports for people under 65 with a permanent and significant disability. The NDIS replaced state-based disability schemes from 2013 onwards and is administered by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

Our NDIS services

Registered NDIS Provider

A service that has been independently audited against the NDIS Practice Standards and approved by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Registered providers can be used by all NDIS participants regardless of how their plan is managed, and can deliver supports that are restricted to registered providers (such as specialist behaviour support and SDA).

Registered vs non-registered comparison

Non-Registered NDIS Provider

An NDIS service that hasn't gone through the formal Commission audit process. Still bound by the NDIS Code of Conduct and worker screening, and can be used by plan-managed and self-managed participants. NDIA-managed participants can only use registered providers.

Registered vs non-registered comparison

NDIA-Managed

Also known as: Agency-managed

A plan-management option where the NDIA pays providers directly on the participant's behalf. NDIA-managed participants can only use registered NDIS providers. Sometimes called Agency-managed.

Plan-Managed

A plan-management option where a third-party plan manager handles invoices and claims on the participant's behalf. Plan-managed participants can use both registered and non-registered NDIS providers.

Self-Managed

A plan-management option where the participant (or their nominee) directly manages NDIS funding — paying providers, keeping records, and claiming reimbursement from the NDIA. Self-managed participants can use any provider including non-registered.

Support Coordinator

An NDIS-funded role that helps participants understand their plan, connect with providers, and build skills to manage their own supports. Support coordinators typically work for an independent organisation and are not employed by the providers they recommend.

For support coordinators

NDIS Worker Screening Check

Also known as: NDISWC

A national check that workers in risk-assessed NDIS roles must hold. It assesses whether a worker poses an unacceptable risk to people with disability. All registered NDIS provider workers in risk-assessed roles must hold a current check.

DVA

DVA Community Nursing

An in-home nursing program funded by the Department of Veterans' Affairs for eligible Veteran Card holders, governed by the Treatment Principles and the Notes for Community Nursing Providers. Scope includes nursing assessment, clinical nursing care, palliative care, and personal care delegated by a nurse. Delivered at no out-of-pocket cost for clinically required care.

Our DVA Community Nursing services

DVA Contracted Community Nursing Provider

A provider on the DVA Panel of Community Nursing Providers, contracted to deliver DVA Community Nursing services to eligible Veteran Card holders. The DVA publishes the ACT/NSW panel as a PDF, listing providers by LGA. Gentle Care Nursing Services is on the current April 2026 panel.

DVA Gold Card

A DVA-issued health card that covers eligible veterans for all clinically required healthcare, including in-home nursing under DVA Community Nursing. Gold Card holders are generally eligible for DVA Community Nursing subject to clinical assessment.

DVA White Card

A DVA-issued health card that covers eligible veterans for treatment of specific accepted conditions linked to their service. White Card holders may be eligible for DVA Community Nursing for accepted conditions only.

Aged Care

Support at Home

The Australian Government's in-home aged care program, which replaced Home Care Packages from 1 November 2025. Support at Home funds in-home nursing, personal care, allied health, and other services for older Australians assessed as needing them. Funding is allocated by level and means-tested.

Our aged care services

CHSP

Also known as: Commonwealth Home Support Programme

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme — an entry-level in-home aged care program for older Australians with lower-needs requirements. CHSP is government-subsidised and has small client contributions, and runs alongside Support at Home for more complex needs.

ACAT

Also known as: ACAS, Aged Care Assessment Team

The Aged Care Assessment Team (or ACAS in Victoria) — government-funded teams that assess older Australians to determine eligibility for government-funded aged care services, including Support at Home, CHSP, residential aged care, and respite. Referrals are made through My Aged Care.

My Aged Care

The Australian Government's central entry point for aged care services. Older Australians (or their family) contact My Aged Care to be assessed, find services, and understand funding options. The My Aged Care website also lists every approved provider and current fees.

AN-ACC

Also known as: Australian National Aged Care Classification

The funding model for residential aged care in Australia. Each resident has a clinical funding classification assessed and reviewed regularly, which determines the per-resident funding the aged care home receives from the government. Replaced the older ACFI model in 2022.

Clinical

AHPRA

Also known as: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

The national agency that registers and regulates health practitioners in Australia — including nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, and other registered professions. An AHPRA-registered nurse holds current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia under AHPRA.

PEG Feeding

Also known as: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding

Enteral nutrition delivered through a PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) tube — a feeding tube inserted directly into the stomach through the abdominal wall. PEG feeding is used when oral intake is unsafe or insufficient. Home PEG feeding requires regular site care, feeding regime support, and monitoring.

Complex care including PEG support

Tracheostomy

Also known as: Tracheostomy management

A surgically-created opening in the front of the neck into the trachea (windpipe), with a tube placed to maintain the airway. Home tracheostomy management includes airway care, tube changes as directed by the treating team, stoma site monitoring, and suctioning support.

Complex care including tracheostomy

Catheter Management

Also known as: Indwelling urinary catheter care

Care of urinary catheters in the home — indwelling (long-term in place) or intermittent (inserted and removed for each emptying). Includes monitoring for infection, troubleshooting blockages, and changes per the urology team's plan.

Complex care including catheter management

Complex Care

Specialist in-home nursing for people with higher-than-routine clinical needs — typically including PEG feeding, tracheostomy management, catheter care, complex wound care, or coordinated management of multiple chronic conditions. Delivered by experienced nurses with clinical oversight.

Our complex care service

Palliative Care

Care focused on comfort, symptom management, and family support for people with serious or life-limiting illness — at any stage of disease, not only the final weeks. In-home palliative care works alongside specialist palliative teams (such as Sacred Heart Health Service at St Vincent's in Sydney) to support people remaining at home.

Our palliative care service

Funding

Core Supports

One of the NDIS funding categories. Core Supports includes Assistance with Daily Life — which can fund in-home personal care, household tasks, and community participation. Core Supports is flexible across the four sub-categories.

Capacity Building

An NDIS funding category that funds supports aimed at building a participant's independence and skills — such as support coordination, therapy, employment supports, and capacity-building daily activities. Capacity Building funds can only be used within their specific sub-category.

Sydney

Out of Hospital Care

Also known as: OHC

NSW Health's framework for delivering hospital-level support to patients at home, either as a substitute for inpatient admission or as part of safe earlier discharge. Out of Hospital Care includes Hospital in the Home (HITH) and rehabilitation programs delivered across NSW Local Health Districts.

Post-hospital care at home

Hospital in the Home

Also known as: HITH

A NSW Health program where hospital-level care is delivered at home for patients who would otherwise be admitted or extended in hospital. HITH is hospital-led and hospital-funded, run through Local Health Districts. Private providers like Gentle Care complement HITH with step-down support, not replace it.

Hospital-at-home & step-down care