Support Coordination and Plan Management

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a government-sponsored program in Australia that provides funding and support to people with disabilities. The NDIS aims to help people with disabilities achieve their goals and live fully. However, navigating the NDIS can be challenging, especially when understanding the different types of support available. Two key areas of NDIS support are support coordination and plan management, which often need clarification. This article will explore the differences between support coordination and plan management in the NDIS.

What is Support Coordination?

Support coordination is a service provided by the NDIS to help people with disabilities navigate the NDIS system and connect with other support services. Support coordinators act as a guide or advocate for the individual with a disability, allowing them to understand their NDIS plan, access the right services, and coordinate their support. Trusted Support coordination can help individuals identify their goals, develop their NDIS plan, and make decisions about their needed services.

There are three levels of support coordination available in the NDIS: support connection, coordination of supports, and specialist support coordination. Support connection is the most basic level and helps individuals to understand the NDIS system and connect with local community services. Coordination of supports provides more hands-on assistance in coordinating services and developing an NDIS plan. Specialist support coordination requires more intensive support and assistance for people with complex needs.

What is Plan Management?

Plan management is another service provided by the NDIS, focused on managing the funding in an individual's NDIS plan. Plan management involves:

·   Managing the financial aspects of an NDIS plan, including making payments to service providers.

·   Managing budgets.

·   Keeping track of spending.

Plan managers act as a financial intermediary between the individual with a disability and the NDIS.

There are three ways to manage an NDIS plan: self-managed, plan-managed, and NDIA-managed. Self-managed plans involve managing the funding and payments directly, while plan-managed plans involve appointing a plan manager to manage the funding and payments on the individual's behalf. NDIA-managed plans mean that the NDIS manages the funding and payments directly.

The Difference between Support Coordination and Plan Management

The main difference between support coordination and plan management is their focus. Support coordination is focused on coordinating services and helping individuals to access the support they need to achieve their goals, while plan management is focused on managing the financial aspects of an NDIS plan. While both support coordination and plan management aim to support individuals with disabilities, they have different functions and roles within the NDIS.

Another key difference between support coordination and plan management is who provides the service. Support coordination can be provided by a range of service providers, including allied health professionals, social workers, and disability support workers. Plan management, on the other hand, is provided by specific registered NDIS plan management providers.

It is important to note that while support coordination and plan management are separate services, they can work together to provide a holistic approach to NDIS support. For example, a support coordinator may help an individual identify their goals and connect them with the services they need, while a plan manager manages the funding and payments for those services.

Navigating the NDIS can be challenging, but understanding the differences between trusted support coordination and plan management can help individuals with disabilities make informed decisions about their support. Hi Five is a NDIS Consulting and a registered plan manager that not only helps you get maximum of your funding but also helps you to achieve your goals. Be it plan management, Trusted Support Coordination, personal care, in-house support and community access, psychosocial recovery or aged care, Hi Five is always there to help you out. We as a provider of premium Disability Services in Australia, proudly offer flexibility, choice and control to Victoria’s disabled community.