The Complete Guide to NDIS Support Coordinators in Australia

A support coordinator:

• Connects participants with NDIS-approved service providers.
• Helps participants understand their NDIS funding and budget allocation.
• Coordinates services across multiple providers to avoid overlaps.
• Provides advice on exercising choice and control.
• Assists in preparing for plan reviews.

While their responsibilities are broad, they are not unlimited. A support coordinator cannot:

• Provide direct therapeutic or personal care services.
• Make decisions on behalf of participants without consent.
• Misuse funds outside the scope of the plan.
• Act as a plan manager (unless separately registered).

Key duties include:

• Helping participants navigate complex service systems.
• Coordinating services across health, housing, education, and employment.
• Supporting participants through crises or unexpected challenges.
• Ensuring service providers deliver high-quality, safe, and compliant services.

The role is rewarding but demanding. Coordinators often juggle multiple clients, compliance requirements, and crisis situations. Emotional resilience, organisational skills, and problem-solving abilities are essential.

Support coordinators are funded through the Capacity Building – Support Coordination budget within a participant's NDIS plan. Payments are based on hourly rates set in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements.

Billable tasks include:

• Developing support strategies.
• Coordinating service bookings.
• Crisis management.
• Preparing reports for NDIS plan reviews.
• Communication with participants and providers.

Billable hours cover any direct or indirect activity that supports a participant's NDIS plan outcomes. However, administrative overheads such as general office work are not billable.

According to the 2025 NDIS Pricing Guide, hourly rates vary depending on the level of support required. Standard coordination typically ranges between $80 and $120 per hour, with higher rates for specialist support coordination.

For participants, the cost is covered by their plan. For providers, costs must align with NDIS price limits. Overcharging is strictly prohibited and monitored by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

The NDIS pays providers directly via the participant's plan budget. Rates differ depending on the service type and whether the provider is registered.

Support coordination is broken into three levels:

1. Level 1 – Support Connection: Basic support to connect participants with services.
2. Level 2 – Support Coordination: Coordination across complex needs and multiple providers.
3. Level 3 – Specialist Support Coordination: For participants with highly complex situations requiring specialist expertise.

• Plan Managers: Handle the financial side of NDIS plans, paying invoices and managing budgets.
• Support Coordinators: Focus on connecting participants to services and ensuring the plan is implemented effectively.

• LAC (Local Area Coordinator): Works with the NDIA to help participants draft their NDIS plans.
• Support Coordinators: Step in after a plan is approved to ensure it is implemented.

While there is no single required qualification, most employers seek backgrounds in:

• Social work.
• Psychology.
• Disability studies.
• Community services.

Additional requirements include:

• Strong knowledge of the NDIS framework.
• Experience in case management or support work.
• Relevant clearances (Working with Children Check, Police Check).

Not all support coordinators need to be registered with the NDIS Commission, but providers delivering registered services must meet strict quality and compliance requirements.

Unlike support coordinators, support workers deliver hands-on assistance such as personal care, domestic help, or community access. To be a support worker, qualifications in aged care, disability, or health services are common.

Anyone meeting basic compliance requirements and with relevant skills can become a support worker. Many coordinators transition into the role after working as support workers themselves.

As of 2025, support coordination remains a core component of the NDIS framework. However, ongoing reforms aim to make it more efficient and participant-driven.

This term often refers to concerns about NDIS funding misuse or participant entitlements being incorrectly interpreted. Support coordinators play a vital role in ensuring funds are used appropriately.

Support coordinators themselves do not pay invoices. Instead, they may oversee service bookings and confirm that services align with the participant's plan, leaving financial processing to plan managers.

The number of clients varies depending on caseload complexity. A coordinator may manage 20–40 clients at once, with fewer if they are providing specialist support.

In practice, workloads are managed by providers, ensuring coordinators can deliver quality services without burnout.

A typical day includes:

• Meeting with participants.
• Contacting service providers.
• Writing reports and case notes.
• Crisis management.
• Attending NDIS review meetings.

Support officers usually earn between $60,000 and $75,000 annually, depending on location and experience.

Support coordinators typically earn $70,000 to $95,000 per year, with higher salaries available in senior or specialist positions.

Careers within the NDIS sector vary widely. Support workers may earn lower wages, while coordinators and managers earn more due to the complexity of their roles.