People often mix up support coordinators and plan managers. They sound alike, but they do different jobs.
In short: a support coordinator helps you find and use your supports. A plan manager pays the bills and tracks your budget.
The quick answer
| Support coordinator | Plan manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Helps you find, set up and use supports | Pays providers and tracks your budget |
| Works with | You, your providers, your community | You and your providers' invoices |
| Is it in every plan? | No. Only if the NDIS agrees you need it | No. You can ask for it |
| Must be registered? | No. Registration is optional | Yes. They must be registered |
| Decides your supports? | No. You decide | No. You decide |
Both roles are paid from your plan, if the NDIS includes them. Neither role changes what is in your plan.
What a support coordinator does
A support coordinator helps you understand your plan and put it to work. They can:
- explain what your plan means in plain words
- help you find providers and compare them
- set up service agreements and first meetings
- connect you to community and government services
- help you build skills to manage your supports yourself
- write reports about how your plan is going
There are different levels of support coordination, and the names vary on the NDIS website. The main idea is that some people need light help to get started. Others need more help, or specialist help if their situation is complex. Read more in what does a support coordinator do.
What a plan manager does
A plan manager is the money person. The NDIS pays them, and they pay your providers. They also check each invoice against your plan and watch your budget.
They do not find providers for you. They do not set up services. They pay the bills for the supports you chose. Read more in what is a plan manager.
Can you have both, one or neither?
Yes to all four.
- Both. Many people have both, especially when a plan is complex.
- Support coordinator only. You might manage the paperwork yourself or use the NDIA to pay.
- Plan manager only. You might be happy finding providers but want help with invoices.
- Neither. Some people self-manage and find supports on their own.
Which one fits depends on your plan and how confident you feel. Ask people who know you well. You can also ask your NDIS contact.
Two short examples
Sam has just got a plan with lots of new supports. Sam does not know where to start. A support coordinator could help Sam find a therapist, a support worker and a local group. Sam might not need a plan manager if Sam is happy to use registered providers and have the NDIA pay.
Priya knows exactly which providers she wants. Some are not registered. She does not want to chase invoices. A plan manager could pay those providers for her. Priya might not need a support coordinator at all.
These are only examples. Your own needs may be different. A good test is to ask: "What is the hardest part of my plan right now?" If the answer is "finding and arranging things", think about support coordination. If the answer is "invoices and budgets", think about plan management.
Watch for conflicts of interest
Sometimes one organisation offers support coordination, plan management and other services. That can be fine. But it can also mean someone benefits when you choose them.
The NDIS says a conflict of interest can happen when advice is shaped by the person's own gain. Good practice is to be told about any link and to be given options. NDIS Commission guidance says support coordinators should try to give you at least three options where possible.
Questions to ask:
- Does your organisation also provide the services you are suggesting?
- Do you get paid, or any gift or benefit, if I choose a certain provider?
- Can you give me more than one option?
If you do not get straight answers, you are free to change. Our guide on conflicts of interest for support coordinators explains more.
Are they registered?
Plan managers must be registered with the NDIS Commission. Support coordinators do not have to be. Some are registered, and some are not. The government looked at making support coordination registration compulsory, but NDIS guidance says that work has been paused. Check ndis.gov.au for any change.
A registered provider has been checked by the Commission, and its details are on a public register. Unregistered providers can still work with you. If your plan is self-managed or plan-managed, you can use them. If your plan is agency-managed, you can only use registered providers. You can check how in how to check if an NDIS provider is registered.
Both registered and unregistered workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct. See the NDIS Code of Conduct in plain English.
How to ask for each one
If you want either role and it is not in your plan:
- Think about what you struggle with today.
- Tell your NDIS contact or planner, in a plan meeting or by phone.
- Say why it would help you.
- If the NDIS says no, you can ask for a review. See what to do if something goes wrong for where to go next.
About this guide
Goodo is independent. We are not part of, or endorsed by, the NDIA or the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This is general information, not advice. Rules change, so check ndis.gov.au or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110 about your own situation.
Frequently asked questions
Can one person be both my support coordinator and my plan manager?
The roles are separate and funded separately. Some organisations offer both. If one organisation does both, ask how they manage the conflict of interest, and remember you can choose different people.
Do I need a support coordinator if I have a plan manager?
Not always. A support coordinator is only in your plan if the NDIS agrees you need one. Many people manage without one, especially if they are confident finding their own supports.
Who pays my providers, the support coordinator or the plan manager?
The plan manager does, if your plan is plan-managed. A support coordinator does not pay providers. They help you find and set up supports.
Can I have a plan manager without a support coordinator?
Yes. They are separate. You can have a plan manager only, a support coordinator only, both, or neither.
Sources
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