Support coordination vs plan management: what’s the difference?

If you’re new to the NDIS, it’s easy to mix up support coordination and plan management. Both may be funded in your plan and can help you use your plan effectively, but they have different roles. Here’s what each service does and how they can work together. 

What is support coordination?

Support coordination helps you understand your plan and put it into action. A Support Coordinator works alongside you to: 

• Understand your plan, goals, needs and preferences 

• Explain NDIS information and processes in a way you can understand 

• Find and connect with suitable providers and services 

• Connect NDIS supports with mainstream, community and informal supports 

• Work through barriers such as waitlists, service gaps and coordination issues 

• Establish service agreements and understand provider charges 

• Coordinate communication between services, with your consent 

• Check your supports are working effectively and your plan is on track 

• Build your skills and confidence to manage your supports more independently 

A Support Coordinator doesn’t make decisions for you. They provide information, help you understand your options and support you to communicate what you want. You remain at the centre of decisions about your supports. Learn more about what a Support Coordinator does. 

What is plan management?

Plan management focuses on the financial and administrative side of your NDIS funding. A plan manager can help with: 

• Receiving and paying provider invoices 

• Submitting claims to the NDIS 

• Checking invoices and claims 

• Tracking your budgets and remaining funding 

• Providing financial statements 

• Identifying potential overspending or claiming issues 

• Keeping financial records and documentation 

A plan manager can help you manage your NDIS budget and payments, but doesn’t set your goals, determine your support needs or coordinate your broader support network. Plan management is funded separately in your NDIS plan and doesn’t reduce funding for other approved supports. A plan manager must be a registered NDIS provider. Learn more about plan management. 

The key difference

Can you have both?

Yes. Many participants have both support coordination and plan management in their plan, and the services can work together while remaining separate. 

For example, your Support Coordinator might help you compare providers and establish a service agreement. Once a provider delivers the support, your plan manager can process the invoice and claim, while keeping you informed about your spending and remaining budget. Your Support Coordinator can then use this information with you when reviewing whether your supports remain affordable and effective. 

Both providers should respect your choice and control. They should only share information with each other with your consent and when it’s relevant to their roles. 

Do you need both?

No. You don’t need one service to have the other. Some participants have support coordination only, some have plan management only, some have both, while others manage and coordinate their plans themselves or with help from their informal support network. Whether these services are included depends on your circumstances, the assistance you need and the funding decisions made by the NDIS. 

Not sure what’s in your plan?

Check your NDIS plan to see what supports are funded or ask your NDIS contact to explain them. You can also speak with your nominee, plan manager or Support Coordinator if you have one. If you think you could benefit from support coordination or plan management, you can discuss this with the NDIS as part of your planning process. 

How CoAct Support Coordination can help

Get in touch today to register your interest, or explore our resources for parents and carers and referrers to see how support coordination can help you or someone you support get the most out of an NDIS plan.