Demystifying the NDIS: What is the role of the support coordinator?

Demystifying the NDIS: What is the role of the support coordinator?

Published

28 October 2024

Categories: 

BGSR, Family Members, Individuals, Participant, Resources, Support Coordinators

Accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can be daunting, as the scheme fails to offer the personalised resources participants need to navigate the process independently. Even after a straightforward acceptance into the scheme, many participants struggle to access funding for the services they need—leaving them feeling disempowered and overwhelmed. 

 

And this is where support coordination services become a necessity, offering guidance that can lead to the approval of life-changing supports. As NDIS participant Bethany Cody shared, “People with disability already face so much in our daily lives. Applying for the NDIS shouldn’t be another mountain we have to climb to get the supports we need.” 

 

What is a support coordinator?

 

Support coordinators assist participants and their families as they access services through the NDIS, either working privately or under registered service providers. This support looks different depending on the individual; however, their main purpose is to offer direct supports and ease any difficulties participants and their families may face throughout the process of finding, understanding, and continuously managing NDIS services.

 

A specialist support coordinator is on your side, using one-on-one assessments to thoroughly understand your situation and ensure you feel secure and empowered to achieve your goals. They help you to understand and implement your NDIS plan effectively, reviewing and adjusting your funded supports as needed to prevent under or over-utilisation. Their job is to connect you with relevant services, explain the details of your plan, prepare for crisis management, and ensure your plan is carried out effectively.

 

What makes accessing NDIS support so challenging?

 

The NDIS system is largely inaccessible for participants who are completing the process independently. They must face a confusing web of resources on the NDIS website and then attempt to understand the complex, bureaucratic language used across the NDIS materials. There is also no set path to follow, with NDIS services and supports split between levels of government, creating a disconnected system that is almost impossible to navigate. 

 

According to recent NDIS reviews, participants and their families do not have the information they need to find service providers, compare their offerings, and make informed decisions about the most suitable choices. Also, research shows that parents of NDIS participants often feel inadequately educated on the management of their child’s plan, regularly experiencing navigation difficulties, and varied levels of choice and control.

 

NDIS participant Bethany Cody has described her experiences interacting with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), “Their correspondence has been cold and impersonal… leaving me to wonder if they remember who I am, or if I’m just another number in the queue.”

 

How support coordinators help you navigate the NDIS

 

The inaccessibility of the NDIS makes the role of the support coordinator even more vital, as they can help to alleviate any confusion by providing regular guidance, education, and coordination of support. They can also ensure you have the necessary knowledge to make informed choices, by explaining the relevant disability services, funding options, and the pros and cons of different pathways.

 

Daniel Dwyer, father of two daughters receiving support through the NDIS, explained the real life impact of a support environment during a conversation with ABC News, “When you get off a phone call with the NDIS, you’re emotional, to say the least… We’re not educated in the NDIS system and how it works. Support coordinators get us the support we need”.

 

What are the types of support coordination?

 

There are three levels of support coordination:

 

 1. Support connection: 

This is where you’re connected to the services you need; the process can include:

  • Assistance with locating and accessing relevant services
  • Explaining the details and most effective use of funding
  • Explaining the resources available within the community

 

2. Support coordination:

A more extensive process, where coordinators provide a support plan, connections with relevant services, and ongoing coordination that ensures the support plan is followed.

This can include:

  • Working closely to identify needed services
  • Plan development that aligns with funding and individual goals
  • Ensuring that, where multiple services are being accessed, services work together in harmony
  • Encouraging independent plan management over time
  • Assisting with switching providers when necessary
  • Exploring housing, employment, and fund management options

 

3. Specialist support coordination:

The highest level of support coordination, where complex, specialised support is required.

This can include:

  • Developing strategies for potential high-risk situations
  • Crisis management
  • Advocacy during complex circumstances
  • Assistance with the justice system
  • Complex health and mental health assistance
  • Coordinating complex family life situations

 

Looking for more details?

 

The NDIS can be overwhelming for participants and their representatives, but a skilled and experienced support coordinator can help you understand and implement your plan.

 

At Space for Life, our support coordinators will identify and connect you with the most suitable service providers, keep your plan on track, and optimise opportunities for achieving your goals. For more information about our services and how to access support coordination funding, get in touch with our team.

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