What is a support coordinator?
A support coordinator helps you understand your NDIS plan and turn it into real, working supports. Here's what they do, whether you have one, and how to find the right fit.
What a support coordinator actually does
A support coordinator helps you make sense of your plan and put it into action. They explain how your budgets work, help you find and connect with providers, coordinate the supports you choose, and help sort things out when they go wrong.
Just as important, a good coordinator builds your confidence to manage more of your supports yourself over time — the goal is capability, not dependence.
- Understand your plan — what's funded, which budget it comes from, and what your options are.
- Find and connect providers — match you with providers that suit your needs, area and goals.
- Coordinate your supports — get everyone working together, and step in when something isn't working.
- Build your independence — grow your skills and confidence to self-direct over time.
What they don't do
A support coordinator doesn't provide hands-on care — that's a support worker. And they don't pay your invoices or track your budget's spending — that's a plan manager. Coordination is the connective role between the two.
Support coordination is funded from your Capacity Building budget, and only when it's included in your plan — so it doesn't come out of the Core budget your day-to-day supports are paid from.
The levels of support coordination
Support to use your plan generally comes at one of three levels, depending on how much help you need:
- Support Connection — shorter-term help to build your ability to connect with supports on your own.
- Support Coordination — ongoing help to design and put together a mix of supports and build your skills.
- Specialist Support Coordination — a higher level for more complex situations, often involving several services or risks.
How to find the right one
When you're choosing, look for someone with genuine availability (not a long waitlist), who covers your area and understands your needs. Reviews from other participants and families are a strong signal of what they're actually like to work with.
One thing worth checking: whether the coordinator is independent. Some sit inside a provider that also delivers other supports — which can be fine, but a good coordinator always offers you real choice rather than only referring you to their own organisation.
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Find matching providersCommon questions
What's the difference between a support coordinator and a plan manager?
A support coordinator helps you understand your plan and connect with the right providers. A plan manager handles the money — paying invoices and tracking your budget. Different jobs, and you can have both.
Do I have support coordination in my plan?
Only if it's been included. It's funded from your Capacity Building budget and added based on your situation and goals. Check your plan, or ask your Local Area Coordinator or planner.
What are the levels of support coordination?
Generally three: Support Connection (shorter-term help to build your own connections), Support Coordination (ongoing help to design and manage supports), and Specialist Support Coordination (for more complex situations).
Does a support coordinator cost me anything extra?
It's funded separately from your Capacity Building budget when it's in your plan, so it doesn't reduce the Core funding your day-to-day supports are paid from.
This is general information to help you get oriented — not official advice, and everyone’s situation is different. The NDIS is changing, so for the current rules always check ndis.gov.au or talk to your planner, Local Area Coordinator, or support coordinator.