This article explains for NDIS participants what a Support Coordinator, Specialist Support Coordinator and Recovery Coach are.
Support Coordinator
Some NDIS participants will have a Support Coordinator funded in their plan. Only once a plan is approved will those participants with funding for support coordination come into contact with a Support Coordinator.
A Support Coordinator will
- Help you plan and use your supports.
- Support you to understand and put in place the funded supports in your NDIS plan
- Link you to services in the community, mainstream, and other government services
- Focus on supports to build your skills and direct your life, while they connect you to providers
- Assist you in preparing before your plan review.
Specialist Support Coordinator
Your plan will have a Specialist Support Coordinator funded if there are additional high or complex needs in your situation.
They are a qualified and experienced practitioner—for example, an Occupational Therapist or Psychologist.
- Support you to manage challenges in your support environment.
- Aims to reduce barriers to implementing your NDIS plan.
Psychosocial recovery coach (Recovery Coach)
Support Coordination is a support item funded by the NDIS. Psychosocial recovery coaches support participants with psychosocial disabilities to live a full and contributing life. (Under Level 2: Coordination of Supports) Recovery Coach and Support Coordination.
Psychosocial recovery coaches are different from support coordinators. Recovery coaches bring knowledge and skills in
- Psychosocial recovery
- Mental health and
- Service navigation within the mental health system.
The recovery coach will coach you to take more control of life, to better manage complex challenges and support you to build capacity.
As coordination is a part of the recovery coach role, the NDIA will generally not fund both types of supports in a participant’s plan.
Further reading
Nutting out the NDISInformation Sourced From
NDIS Support Coordination