A Support Coordinator will support you to understand and implement the funded supports in your plan. Specialist support coordination is a higher level of support coordination for people whose situations are more complex and who need specialist support. A Support coordinator will focus on supporting you to build skills and direct your life as well as connect you to providers. Support coordinators will help you to negotiate with providers about what they will offer you and how much it will cost out of your plan. They will help build your ability to exercise choice and control, to coordinate supports and access your local community.

A participant’s NDIS plan can be managed in a number of ways: Agency managed, self managed, plan managed or plan managed. Plan management providers can purchase supports on behalf of participants from either registered or unregistered providers. The NDIS will reimburse a participant (or their plan nominee) for the NDIS contributions received. A plan manager will receive funds from the NDIA and disburse funds to providers of other services received. Participants can also receive advice from plan managers about how to best utilize their NDIS funding.

Short Term Accommodation, including respite, is funding for support and/or accommodation for a short time away from your usual home. It covers the cost of your care for up to 14 days at a time. It’s often funded when your usual carers aren’t available, or for you to try new things. You can choose to use your Core budget on a range of supports to suit your needs. All NDIS supports must meet the reasonable and necessary criteria.