What Is Support Coordination?
Support coordination is a funded NDIS support that helps participants understand and use their NDIS plan effectively. A support coordinator works with you to connect with providers, resolve issues, build your independence, and make sure your supports are working.
There are three levels of support coordination funded under the NDIS:
Level 1 - Support Connection: Helps you understand your plan and connect with providers and community supports. This is the most basic level.
Level 2 - Support Coordination: Helps you build skills to manage your plan, coordinates between multiple providers, helps resolve problems, and prepares you for plan reviews.
Level 3 - Specialist Support Coordination: For participants with complex needs who need intensive coordination. Often involves working across multiple service systems like health, justice, or child protection.
When Do You Need a Support Coordinator?
You might benefit from support coordination if you are new to the NDIS and unsure how to use your plan, you have multiple providers that need coordination, you are experiencing issues with your current providers, you need help preparing for a plan review, or you have complex needs that require coordination across different systems.
How to Find a Good Support Coordinator
Look for coordinators who have experience with your specific disability type, who are responsive and communicate well, who are independent and do not push their own services, who know the local provider landscape, and who have a track record of helping participants achieve their goals.
How Much Does Support Coordination Cost?
Support coordination is funded through your NDIS plan under Capacity Building. The current rates are approximately $100.14 per hour for standard support coordination and $190.54 per hour for specialist support coordination.
Your plan will specify how many hours of support coordination you are funded for. A typical allocation might be 20 to 40 hours per year for standard coordination.
Tips for Working With Your Support Coordinator
Be clear about your goals and what you want from your plan. Keep records of all communications and decisions. Ask questions when you do not understand something. Provide feedback, both positive and constructive. Review your service agreement regularly.
At ReferAus, you can search for support coordinators in the Hunter Region, read reviews from other participants, and contact them directly. All free.