Our guiding principle for 2026 is Journeys. Every participant is on one. So are we as an organisation. The language we use should reflect that we walk alongside people — not manage them.


How to Use This Guide

This guide applies to all participant-facing, family-facing, and internal communications at Empowering Connection. It does not replace formal regulatory or NDIS compliance terminology where that language is legally required — use this guide for day-to-day communication, documents, conversations, and culture.

When in doubt, ask: does this word reflect where someone is, or does it define them by a deficit?


Titles & Roles

Old Title EC Title
Team Leader Support Lead
Disability Support Worker Journey Team Member
Admin Officer Journey Support Officer
Employment Consultant Pathways Consultant
Clinical Team Lead Practice Lead
House Supervisor (SIL) Home Support Lead
Supervision (meeting type) Practice Check-in

Process & Service

Old Term EC Term
Intake / Referral Journeys
Onboarding / Induction Welcome Journey
Waitlist Journey Queue
Termination of services Transition Journey
Referral Journey Referral
Allied health referral Therapeutic Journey Referral
Discharge summary Transition Summary

Assessment & Planning

Old Term EC Term
Assessment Discovery
Functional capacity assessment Capability Discovery
OT Assessment Functional Discovery
Risk assessment Safety Planning
Goals Aspirations
Review Reflection
Treatment plan Support Roadmap
Failed to meet goals Aspiration in Progress
Compatibility assessment (SIL) Living Discovery

Funding & Finance

Old Term EC Term
Budget Support Funding
Underspend Inactivated Supports
Claim Funded Activity
SIL funding Home Support Funding