What is a support coordinator?

A support coordinator works with NDIS participants to help them find, arrange, and use the disability supports included in their plan. They sit between the participant and the provider network, making connections and helping turn plan funding into actual services on the ground.

Support coordinators differ from plan managers and Local Area Coordinators (LACs). A plan manager handles the finances and purchasing side of the NDIS plan. A LAC is an entry point for people new to the scheme or planning for the first time. A support coordinator's job is to connect participants with the right providers and help coordinate how those supports work together in daily life.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme recognises three levels of support coordination:

• Support connection is the lightest touch. The coordinator helps a participant identify what they need and introduces them to potential providers, then steps back.
• Coordination involves ongoing liaison. The coordinator checks in with both participant and providers, troubleshoots when things are not working, and makes sure supports stay aligned with the plan.
• Specialist coordination applies when a participant has complex needs, multiple providers, or behavioural or health factors that require deeper day-to-day involvement.

In Perth, support coordinators are essential for participants who want help navigating the local provider landscape but manage their own plan budgets, or who need someone neutral to help coordinate between different service types (therapy, attendant care, community access, and so on).