Living with a disability in Australia is less difficult with NDIS support coordinators. Coordination assists participants in focusing on specific NDIS goals and fulfilling their personal and work lives. Moreover, support coordination increases your capacity to maintain relationships, which most participants need help with. 

Jennae Cecelia, an author best known for her book Uncaged Wallflower, said, “Surround yourself with people who don’t just ask how you are doing. Surround yourself with people who make an effort to make sure they are part of the reason you are doing so well.” This is what NDIS plan management involves. Here’s a breakdown of the roles of NDIS support coordinators and more proof of why you or a loved one need this support. 

Roles Performed by NDIS Support Coordinators  

Below are activities performed by support coordinators to make your NDIS journey smooth and more fulfilling:

1. Help with Understanding NDIS Plans 

Disabilities result from different issues, so participants need diverse plans to meet their goals and live better lives. With a support coordinator, you receive help in understanding your support budgets. Thus, you know what to use the funding for, preventing money loss. At the same time, participants learn how their funding is managed and other requirements needed to access necessary supports. 

2. Supports Plan and Coordination 

Support coordinators help to find providers, supports and services. These are suitable for participants pursuing NDIS goals based on their preferences, needs and circumstances. When you find the right coordinator, work with them to:

• Decide how supports and services are delivered 
• Plan a schedule that reflects goals, needs and NDIS plan 
• Find service providers to meet your needs 
• Juggle different providers
• Test out providers and supports 

3. Connecting with Services and Supports  

A plan manager NDIS in Perth must know about all the available supports and services close to you. Furthermore, these experts help you understand when to choose registered and unregistered providers. While some of this information is accessible by NDIS participants without support coordinators, the experts understand the following better:

• Checking support and service providers to ensure safe and quality arrangements 
• Quotes, follow-up processes, and assessments 

At this point, you and your coordinator also discuss how family, the community, and friends can help pursue NDIS goals. If government support is necessary, the coordinator knows how to connect you.  

4. Reporting to the NDIA 

Support coordinators are sufficient in providing the NDIA with reports. They explain in detail how they assist participants in using their plans and meeting their goals. A fully detailed report from a support coordinator consists of information about what you and the coordinator did after starting the plan. In addition, a report showing how the plan is going and the next action plan is necessary. 

Although this seems like a lot to remember, the coordinator discusses all these reports with participants when implementing the NDIS plan. This ensures you’re on the same page to deliver reports on time.

5. Preparing for Unexpected Situations 

A lot can happen while implementing your NDIS plan. Although some changes can affect your supports and services, working with a support coordinator prevents that. Work with your coordinator if the following occur:

• Sudden hospital admissions
• Moving houses 
• Changes in supports and services offered by providers 

6. Putting Participants’ Needs First 

A support coordinator’s main role is to act in your best interest. This is done by recommending services and supports suitable to your needs and avoiding conflicts of interest. Another way is avoiding engagement with practices that affect participants’ lives. Before choosing a support coordinator, ensure they abide by the NDIS code of conduct. If anything changes during plan implementation, raise concerns with the NDIS commission for investigations. 

The NDIA has the participants’ interests at heart. However, you cannot receive the best support and services by working with an unreliable support coordinator. If the expert performs the above roles seamlessly, participants get top-notch services and supports based on their needs and preferences.