NDIS roles defined

Banner Ndistoolkit Hp

Support coordination

  • Helps participants to implement supports in their plans (including informal, government services, community activities and funded supports)
  • Helps participants to assess and choose preferred provides
  • Negotiates services to be provided, develops service arrangements and creates service bookings with the participants preferred providers
  • Liaise with any plan manager provider to establish claim categories and attribute funds correctly
  • Coordinates supports from a range of sources
  • Assists participants in planning ahead to prepare for their plan review
  • Is not an advocate
  • Maintains contact with the participant and reviews their progress
  • Coordinates meetings with the participant and relevant parties (including health providers) to discuss progress and any issues that may emerge in relation to their functioning, circumstances or supports and services

Click here for more information about support coordination.

Specialist support coordination

  • Will be funded where there are additional high or complex needs requiring skills of qualified and experienced practitioner (e.g. OT, Psych or SW)
  • Aims to reduce barriers to implementing to using NDIS plans and may involve supporting person to interact with other human service systems such as health and justice
  • Provision of support coordination within a specialist framework necessitated by specific high level risks in the participant’s situation
  • This support is time limited and focuses on addressing barriers and reducing complexity in the support environment
  • Assists participants to connect with supports, build capacity and resilience
  • Development of an intervention plan which will be put in place by disability support workers and delivered by qualified practitioners in specialised fields

Click here for more information about specialist support coordination.

Support connection

  • Time limited assistance to strengthen participant’s ability to connect with informal, mainstream and funded supports
  • To increase capacity to maintain support relationships, resolve service delivery issues and participate independently in NDIA processes
  • This applies where there is no partner in the community available (Mission Australia and APM – such as remote and very remote areas)

Local Area Coordinators (LAC)

  • Local Area Coordinators have three key roles:
    1. Link you to the NDIS
    2. Link you to information and support in the community
    3. Work with your local community to make sure it is more welcoming and inclusive for people with a disability
  • Your LAC will:
    • Meet with you, your family or your carer to learn about your current situation
    • Make it a priority to understand your goals, develop a plan to help you achieve your goals
    • Link you to information sources, supports and services in the community as required, help you connect with the NDIA to determine your eligibility for the scheme
  • If you are eligible for NDIS funded supports, they can help you to:
    • Create your first plan
    • Put your NDIS plan in to action
    • Review your plan

Click here for more information about Local Area Coordinators.

Plan Managers

  • Manage funding, records and budget for supports in a participant’s plan
  • Are able to connect participants with NDIS registered and non-registered providers
  • Managing, monitoring and maintaining budgets over course of the plan
  • Ensuring supports are purchased in line with plan and budget
  • Submitting payment request to the NDIA
  • Paying support providers directly or reimbursing a participant for supports in line with participants’ plan
  • Negotiating payment and purchasing terms of service agreements and ensuring they are in place
  • Providing access to and oversight of a wider provider market where non-registered providers are being engaged

Click here for more information about Plan Managers.

Guardians

A guardian is legally responsible to act in accordance with the terms of the order to make all or some accommodation, health or lifestyle decisions in the interests of a protected person, after consultation with the protected person (if possible) and other relevant professionals or support agencies.

Click here to learn more about guardians.

If you are unhappy with the decision the NDIS has made about your eligibility, you can request that this decision be reviewed. You can find out more here.

Funded by the Department of Communities Disability Services.