This is a long article but it really breaks down what we do and do not provide. 
1. Participant Engagement & Goal Setting
- Build rapport with participants and understand their NDIS goals.
- Assist participants in identifying their strengths, needs, and preferences.
- Develop an action plan to help participants achieve their NDIS goals.
- Work with child representatives, plan nominees, public guardians, public trustees
- Have a collaborative approach and remember in order to support a participant it may entail supporting their nominee or parent in order to support them and achieve quality outcomes
2. Coordinating Services
- Facilitate connections using NDIS-funded supports, mainstream, and community-based services.
- Support participants in setting up service agreements and service bookings within their budgets.
- Ensure services are scheduled effectively to meet participant needs without duplication.
- Monitor service delivery and liaise with providers to resolve any service gaps or issues.
- Assist participants in adjusting supports if their needs or circumstances change.
3. Coaching, Skill Development, and Capacity Building
- Empower participants with self-advocacy skills to make informed decisions about their supports.
- Support with how to communicate effectively with service providers.
- Assist participants in understanding their NDIS plan and how to use their funding effectively.
- Support the development of financial and administrative skills to manage plan budgets.
- Educate participants and their families about plan management options so they can make an informed decision as to whether self managed, plan managed or agency managed is best suited to them.
4. Information on Navigating the NDIS
- Guide participants through NDIS processes, including plan implementation and reviews.
- Explain different funding categories (Core, Capacity Building, Capital) and their flexibility.
- Provide information about the roles of Local Area Coordinators (LACs), Plan Managers, and the NDIA.
- Help participants understand their rights and responsibilities within the NDIS framework.
- Explain how to request plan variations, submit change of circumstances (COC) requests, and appeal NDIA decisions.
5. Understanding the āReasonable and Necessaryā Criteria
- Assist participants in identifying supports that meet the NDIS funding criteria:
- Support is related to the participantās disability.
- Support will help achieve goals and improve independence.
- Support is value for money and cost-effective.
- Support is evidence-based and beneficial.
- Support is best funded by the NDIS
- The support is a NDIS funded support
- Support participants in gathering evidence from therapists, medical professionals, and specialists to justify funding requests.
- Support participants during planning and review meetings to ensure funding aligns with their needs.
6. Support with Understanding the NDIS Pricing Arrangements
- Educate participants on the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits document.
- Explain the different billing categories and how to maximize funding within pricing rules.
- Assist participants in understanding provider service agreements and hourly rates.
- Monitor budget expenditure to ensure sustainability over the plan period.
- Guide participants in understanding potential out-of-pocket expenses and co-payment rules.
7. Reviewing the Progress of Supports and Therapies
- Regularly assess whether current services and therapies are meeting participant needs.
- Gather participant feedback on service effectiveness and provider performance.
- Support participants in adjusting their supports if they are not achieving desired outcomes.
- Collect and review reports from allied health professionals to track progress.
- Prepare updates for NDIA plan reviews and funding adjustments where necessary.
8. Linking Participants with NDIS and Mainstream Providers
- Identify appropriate NDIS-registered and non-registered providers based on participant needs.
- Facilitate connections with mainstream services such as health, housing, education, employment, and community programs.
- Assist participants in accessing government-funded supports outside of the NDIS.
- Support participants in engaging culturally appropriate or specialist service providers.
9. Researching Suitable Providers
- Conduct in-depth research to identify service providers that align with participant goals, preferences, and budgets.
- Compare provider offerings, pricing, and service quality.
- Assist participants in obtaining multiple quotes to ensure they receive cost-effective services.
- Identify alternative providers when current services are unavailable or unsuitable.
- Ensure providers comply with NDIS Quality and Safeguards standards.
10. NDIS Reporting
- Maintain accurate case notes and documentation in line with NDIA and provider requirements.
- Prepare implementation and end-of-plan reports outlining participant progress and plan utilisation.
- Document risk factors and safeguarding concerns as required.
- Submit reports to the NDIA when required for plan reviews, Change of Circumstances (COC) requests, or funding justifications.
11. Supporting Plan Reviews, Change of Circumstances (COC), and Requests for Review of a Decision (RORD)
- Assist participants in preparing for scheduled plan reviews by gathering necessary documentation.
- Support participants in requesting a Change of Circumstances (COC) if their needs change significantly.
- Guide participants through the Request for Review of a Decision (RORD) process if they believe their funding is inadequate.
- Assist in compiling supporting evidence, including therapist reports and medical assessments.
- Support participants during NDIA review meetings.
12. Crisis Management & Complex Case Coordination (Specialist Support Coordination)
Please note this can also occur with level 2 support coordination
- Address complex challenges, including restrictive practices, housing crises, justice involvement, and mental health concerns.
- Develop risk management strategies and crisis response plans.
- Work with multidisciplinary teams (e.g., allied health, child protection, housing, legal services) to stabilise high-risk situations.
- Support participants facing barriers to service access.
What is NOT within the scope of the Support Coordinator Role
1. Direct Support Work or Personal Care
- Providing hands-on personal care (e.g., showering, dressing, feeding).
- Assisting with household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, or laundry.
- Transporting participants
Why?
Support coordinators facilitate access to these supports but do not directly provide them. These tasks fall under Core Supports (e.g., Assistance with Daily Life).
2. Therapy, Assessments, or Clinical Interventions
- Conducting therapeutic assessments (e.g., OT functional assessments, psychological evaluations).
- Developing behaviour support plans or implementing restrictive practices.
- Delivering therapy services such as speech pathology, physiotherapy, or counselling.
Why?
These are the responsibility of allied health professionals (e.g., therapists, behaviour specialists). A support coordinator can coordinate these services but cannot provide them.
3. Managing or Controlling a Participantās Funding
- Acting as a financial administrator or controlling how a participant spends their NDIS funds.
- Authorising payments to providers or managing invoices.
- Making financial decisions on behalf of the participant.
Why?
Participants (or their plan managers) control their budgets. A support coordinator can explain funding flexibility but cannot manage money.
4. Making Legal or Guardianship Decisions
- Acting as a guardian, nominee, or decision-maker for the participant.
- Signing service agreements on behalf of the participant.
- Handling legal matters such as Centrelink, tenancy disputes, or court proceedings.
Why?
Support coordinators can assist with linking participants to legal supports but cannot make decisions for them.
5. Case Management (Long-Term Oversight & Supervision)
- Providing ongoing case management or intensive oversight of a participantās life.
- Directly intervening in personal conflicts between participants and their family members or carers.
- Acting as a formal advocate in legal, housing, or employment disputes.
Why?
NDIS support coordination is about building capacity, not providing long-term supervision or advocacy.
6. Crisis or Emergency Response Services
- Acting as an emergency response service in case of crisis (e.g., mental health crisis, domestic violence, homelessness).
- Providing 24/7 crisis support or responding to after-hours emergencies.
- Transporting a participant to a hospital or crisis accommodation.
Why?
Crisis support should be provided by emergency services, mental health teams, or crisis accommodation providers. A specialist support coordinator may help develop crisis plans but does not act as an emergency responder.
7. Employment, Education, or Housing Applications
- Filling out job applications, housing applications, or Centrelink paperwork.
- Providing direct job coaching or workplace training. (unless access support coordination through the employment line item, it is still important to stay within the scope when delivering employment related support to participants)
- Writing school applications or advocating for school funding.
Why?
A support coordinator can link participants to employment, housing, or education services but does not complete applications or provide career coaching.
8. Delivering Unrelated Services (Conflict of Interest)
- Providing direct supports while also being the support coordinator.
- Referring participants only to internal services rather than offering choices.
- Influencing a participantās decision about providers.
Why?
NDIS guidelines require independent support coordination to maintain participant choice and control.
