Is your support coordinator preparing you for NDIS reform?

NDIS reforms are creating real uncertainty right now. Participants, carers, and families across Australia are asking the same question: what will these changes mean for my plan, my funding, and the supports I rely on?

It is a question we are hearing more and more. Recently, our team attended a sector networking event — a regular gathering of service providers connecting and collaborating on how best to support participants. What was different this time was that carers attended too. That does not usually happen. And it told us something important: the concern people are feeling is no longer confined to professional networks. It is reaching families directly.

Talking with those carers, it became clear how underprepared many participants and their families feel heading into plan reviews and the changes ahead. Not because they are not trying. But because the system is complex, the reforms are moving quickly, and not everyone has the right support around them to navigate what is coming.

What the next 12 to 18 months require

The NDIS reform process is placing greater emphasis on evidence. As participants move through plan reviews and new assessment processes, the quality of the information behind their plan will matter more than ever.

There are three things we encourage every participant and carer to focus on right now.

1. Collect good diagnostic information. Up-to-date assessments and diagnoses from your treating professionals form the foundation of a strong plan. If your reports are out of date or incomplete, now is the time to address that.

2. Build a clear picture of functional impairment. It is not enough to have a diagnosis. Your plan review needs to reflect how your disability affects your daily life and your ability to participate. This means gathering evidence that tells that story clearly and specifically.

3. Make sure your support coordination is working for you. Comprehensive support coordination is one of the most important tools you have heading into a review. That means your coordinator should be doing more than managing your services day to day. They should be actively preparing you: writing reports and summaries, liaising with your team, and helping you build and maintain a strong evidence base for the supports you need.

What to look for in a support coordinator

If you are worried about the reforms, one of the most practical things you can do is evaluate your current support coordinator and ask directly: are they across the changes, and are they actively preparing me for what is ahead?

A good support coordinator will be completing their own professional development on the reforms. They will understand how the new assessment processes work. And they will be working alongside you and your team to make sure your plan review reflects the full picture of your support needs.

At CoAct, our team across Queensland and New South Wales brings more than 30 years of combined experience in the sector. Even though we launched our support coordination service four months ago, we are already completing professional development specifically focused on plan review preparation and the evidence requirements under the reforms. It is something we take seriously, because we know how much it matters for the participants we work with.

You do not have to navigate this alone

If you are unsure whether your current supports are set up to get you through a plan review in strong shape, or if you are thinking about whether your support coordinator is the right fit for what is ahead, we are happy to have that conversation. Our team can explain what good plan review preparation looks like, what evidence you should be gathering, and how we approach coordination at CoAct.

Call us on 1800 226 228 or submit an NDIS Support Coordination enquiry online and we will be in touch.

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By Belinda Sutherland, General Manager NDIS and Allied Health, CoAct

Watch the full clip from Belinda Sutherland, our General Manager for NDIS / Allied Health