Who does what: coordinator, plan manager, support worker

Support worker — the hands-on help

A support worker is the person who provides support directly, in your daily life. That might be help with personal care, getting to appointments, cooking and cleaning, or getting out and taking part in your community.

This is the role most people picture when they think of "NDIS support" — the practical, day-to-day help, usually paid from your Core budget.

Support coordinator — connects you to your supports

A support coordinator helps you understand your plan and put it into action. They help you find and connect with the right providers, explain how your budgets work, and build your confidence to manage your own supports over time.

They don't provide the hands-on care themselves, and they don't handle your money. Support coordination is funded from your Capacity Building budget when it's included in your plan.

Plan manager — handles the money

A plan manager takes care of the financial side: they pay your providers' invoices, keep track of your budgets, and handle the paperwork. They don't choose your supports or provide care — their job is the admin, so you don't have to do it.

Plan management is funded separately and doesn't come out of your other budgets, so having one generally doesn't reduce the funding available for your actual supports.

You can have more than one

These roles work together, and many people have all three. You might also come across a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) — an NDIA partner who helps connect you to the scheme and to community services, especially early on.