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Understanding Support Coordination: How a Support Coordinator Helps You Navigate the NDIS

Navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can be overwhelming! There, we said it. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have access to supports to help you along the way. This includes a support coordinator

Support coordination can make your NDIS experience smoother and more manageable. If you’re a participant looking for help to access the services you need, a support coordinator can play a BIG role in helping you understand and implement your NDIS plan. 

From connecting you to disability services to ensuring you don’t overspend or underspend your NDIS funding, a support coordinator is an essential partner in achieving your personal goals. You can learn more about the role of support coordination on Clickability’s website.

What is Support Coordination?

Support coordination is a service designed to assist NDIS participants in understanding, implementing, and managing their NDIS plans. Easy! A support coordinator can liaise betw between you and the services you need, helping you can access the most suitable supports. The main role of a support coordinator is to help you build your capacity to exercise choice and control over your plan.

Most importantly, support coordination is all about you: it is tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals, whether you’re working towards moving out of home, requesting a plan reassessment, or needing new services. Support coordinators work with participants of all ages and abilities, ensuring their goals are met by connecting them with appropriate disability services

What types of Support Coordination are there?

Great question! Well, there are three levels of support coordination available under the NDIS, each catering to different levels of need:

  1. Support Connection helps you understand your plan and connect with relevant NDIS providers. It’s like Support Coordination-lite. 
  2. Coordination of Supports focuses on coordinating your services and making sure you get the best out of your NDIS plan.
  3. Specialist Support Coordination is for participants with more complex needs, providing higher-level assistance in managing your supports and services, particularly in challenging or high-risk situations.

What are the Key Roles of a Support Coordinator?

A support coordinator is responsible for ensuring that your NDIS plan works for you. Here’s how they can help:

Connecting you with services: A support coordinator identifies and connects you with disability services that match your needs. This includes linking you with health professionals, community supports, and mainstream services.

Capacity Building: They help build your independence by teaching you how to manage your own supports over time. This is particularly important for people working on their long-term goals of living independently.

Managing NDIS Plan Reviews: Support coordinators assist with plan reassessments, ensuring you get the funding you need to achieve your goals.

Service Agreements: They also help you negotiate and sign service agreements with providers, making sure you understand your rights and obligations, including price limits.

Why is Support Coordination important?

For many NDIS participants, the biggest challenge is understanding how to turn their NDIS Plan into action. This is where support coordination becomes invaluable. A good support coordinator helps you avoid overspending and underspending, develop skills to manage your plan independently, and find the right supports that meet your needs. Sometimes, unexpected issues might pop up – a support coordination is great at helping you stay ahead of these issues. 

Statistics and Facts about NDIS and Support Coordination

  • As of 2023, over 500,000 Australians are accessing the NDIS, with nearly 30% of participants opting for some level of support coordination.
  • Support coordination helps participants achieve their goals by maximising the use of their NDIS funding. A recent report found that participants with support coordination are 30% more likely to access all the funding allocated in their NDIS plan.

FAQs about Support Coordination

1. What is the difference between a support coordinator and an NDIS provider?

A support coordinator helps you understand and implement your NDIS plan by connecting you with various service providers. An NDIS provider, on the other hand, delivers the services, such as therapy, support work, or assistive technologies, outlined in your plan.

2. How do I know if I need support coordination?

If you find it challenging to manage your NDIS plan, coordinate services, or navigate your funding, then a support coordinator can help. Support coordination is especially beneficial for those with complex needs or for participants who require assistance in understanding their plans. You will need to ask for a support coordinator at your next planning meeting, with evidence to justify your request.

3. Is support coordination included in every NDIS plan?

Not every NDIS plan includes support coordination. It is typically allocated to participants with more complex needs or those who require additional assistance in navigating the system. For example, if a participant is wanting to access Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), they will likely get a support coordinator. 

4. What does a support coordinator do during a plan reassessment?

A support coordinator helps you prepare for a plan reassessment by assessing your current services, identifying any gaps, and ensuring that your plan aligns with your goals and needs. They also assist with increasing or changing your funding as required. They will help you gather any evidence needed to support your requests in planning reassessments. 

For more information on how support coordination can enhance your NDIS journey, visit Clickability’s support coordination page.

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