Who is Who in the NDIS?
27 October, 2021
During your NDIS journey, you will come into contact with a number of different people that work in supporting roles, all of which can help you manage your NDIS plan. Knowing the different roles and responsibilities of your support network can help you maximise your NDIS plan and help you work towards your goals.
NDIA Planners
A NDIA planner will work with yourself, and when relevant, any family members or advocates you may have. They will help you determine what supports and services you will receive in order to help you achieve your goals.
A NDIA planner can also help you:
Create and implement your plan
Review your plan if any changes need to be made
Connect with support services and your community
Local Area Coordinators (LACs)
Local Area Coordinators (known as LACs) work for NDIS Partners in the Community. LACs work with people with a disability and have three key functions:
Working with the local community to make it more inclusive for all people with a disability.
Linking you to information and support in the community and mainstream services, such as health and education.
LACs will directly help NDIS participants to develop your plan, help you implement it, and monitor how your plan is progressing.
The main difference between a Local Area Coordinator and a NDIA Planner is that a Local Area Coordinator can only make recommendations to the NDIA regarding a participant’s plan, whereas a NDIA planner has the ability to approve participant plans, as they are a direct employee of the NDIS.
Plan Managers
A plan manager is what you can use if you are plan managed. There are three main ways to manage the funding in your NDIS plan:
Self managed: you receive your funding and are able to spend it how you like.
NDIA managed: the NDIA manages your funding on your behalf.
Plan managed: this is where a Plan Manager comes in!
A plan manager provides you with support in managing your NDIS plan. A plan manager can help you learn how to self-manage your plan, increase your choice of providers, and pay providers on your behalf.
You can connect with a Plan Manager through the NDIS myplace participant portal, your Local Area coordinator, or other resources.
Support Coordinators
A Support Coordinator is a person that can help you understand and implement the funded supports in your NDIS plan. If you have funding in your NDIS plan to allow for a Support Coordinator, then you are able to access this.
Overall, your Support Coordinator will provide you with the support you need to optimise your plan and make sure you are getting the most out of your funded supports. Discover how to find NDIS Support Coordination that's right for you.
Disability Coordinators
A Disability Coordinator gets assigned to you from your chosen NDIS registered service provider. They are responsible for scheduling and monitoring Support Worker services, such as personal care, transport, and social support.
Support Workers
A Support Worker will be allocated to you by your chosen service providers. You may have more than one Support Worker. A Support Worker will assist you with daily activities, such as personal care, transport, social support, and domestic assistance.
How can Focus Care help me?
Focus Care is a registered NDIS service provider, offering personalised support that is tailored to your needs and preferences. If you are looking for a service provider which offers Support Coordination, assistance with daily life, creative therapies, and more, contact us today.
