What is an NDIS support coordinator?

An NDIS support coordinator is the person who helps you put your plan to work. They help you read what the plan funds, find providers and keep your supports moving. The NDIS page What is a support coordinator puts the role in one line: "A support coordinator helps you use your plan effectively." If you are an NDIS participant in Melbourne, or a carer holding a plan with someone, a coordinator is the person you hand the coordinating to.

If the scheme itself is new to you, start with how the NDIS works and come back to this page.

What does an NDIS support coordinator do?

An NDIS support coordinator helps you understand your plan, choose providers and connect with services around you. The same NDIS page lists four ways a coordinator can help you:

understand and use the supports in your plan
choose the right providers for your needs
connect with community and mainstream supports and services
build your confidence and skills to manage your supports.

The NDIS Guide to working as a support coordinator, written for coordinators, says the same thing from the other side: "A support coordinator helps participants make the best use of supports in their plan."

The practical gain is saving time and energy by having someone coordinate supports on your behalf.

How does NDIS support coordination work?

NDIS support coordination comes in three levels. The same guide states: "There are 3 levels of support coordination that can be included in a participant’s plan, depending on their circumstances."

The same page describes the three levels in this order:

"Support to help a participant understand their plan, and connect with providers, their community and mainstream supports and services to get the most out of their NDIS plan."
"Support to put in place a mix of supports to increase a participant’s capacity to maintain relationships, manage tasks, live more independently and be included in their community."
"A high level of support for participants with complex needs and who need specialist support."

The third level is specialist support coordination. The guide describes it as support for participants "whose situations are more complex".

A recovery coach is a separate role that works in a similar way. The guide explains: "A psychosocial recovery coach (or recovery coach) helps a participant in the same way you do as a support coordinator, but they specifically support people with their psychosocial disability." Read more about the psychosocial recovery coach role.

Do support coordinators need to be NDIS registered?

It depends on who manages your plan's funding: a coordinator must be registered to work with NDIA-managed participants, while self-managed and plan-managed participants can also use an unregistered coordinator. The NDIS page What is a support coordinator says: "Support coordinators can be registered or unregistered providers." The coordinators' Guide to working as a support coordinator then sets out where the line falls:

"Registration with the NDIS Commission isn’t mandatory."
"You must be registered if providing support to NDIA-managed participants."
"You can only work with participants who self-manage or plan-manage their NDIS funding if you’re an unregistered support coordinator. You can’t work with participants whose plan is NDIA-managed."

So check how your plan is managed first. If the NDIA manages it, ask any coordinator you meet whether they are registered.

Questions to ask before you choose a coordinator

The choice is yours. The NDIS page How to find a support coordinator says: "You choose your support coordinator. You can change your support coordinator at any time." It also says: "Only choose a support coordinator that you feel confident meets your needs." Take these questions to the first conversation:

Who will I actually work with? The same page suggests asking: "Who is the person you’ll likely speak to or work with?" Write the name down.
Are you registered? This matters if the NDIA manages your plan, because an NDIA-managed plan needs a registered coordinator.
How do you keep in touch? Ask how they contact you and how quickly they usually reply. A clear answer to both is a good sign.
How do you compare providers? Ask them to walk you through more than one option. You should leave able to compare them yourself.

For support coordinators and plan managers

If you are referring someone, send the plan, the goals and the current provider list with the referral. A new coordinator can then start from what is already in place. Coordinators also report back to the NDIA. The Guide to working as a support coordinator tells them: "You also provide regular progress reports to let us know if a participant’s plan is meeting their needs."

Frequently asked questions

How do I get an NDIS support coordinator?

You get an NDIS support coordinator through your plan. Your NDIA planner is the person to raise it with. The NDIS page "How to find a support coordinator" says: "Your NDIA planner will talk to you about which level of support coordination is right for you." The NDIA can also help you find one. The same page says: "We can send a request for service to up to 4 support coordinators."

Do I need an NDIS support coordinator?

You can ask for one if you think a coordinator would help. Your planner is who you ask. The NDIS page "How to find a support coordinator" says: "You can ask your NDIA planner to include funding for this service in your plan if you think a support coordinator would be helpful." Before that conversation, count the providers you deal with now and the hours the coordinating takes each week. Those two answers give your planner something concrete to work from.

How much does NDIS support coordination cost?

The NDIS answers the funding side on its page "How to find a support coordinator": "Support coordination funding is usually included in plans for a set amount of time." That makes your current plan the starting point for the conversation. Whether this sits in your plan depends on your goals and funding. We'll help you check.

Next steps with Selective Support

Selective Support is a registered NDIS provider. We start with your whole situation. Then we bring three things to support coordination:

Plan understanding: Detailed review of NDIS plans and individual goals
Local expertise: Victoria-wide coverage with knowledge of regional services
Ongoing advocacy: Regular check-ins with plan updates and provider advocacy

You'll have one dedicated coordinator as your main point of contact. We'll walk you through the providers available and help you compare them against what you actually need.

One participant described their experience in a Google review: "I have dealt with many agencies in the past that have not been able to assist me… since being with Selective Support my life has really improved."