Who Does What in Your NDIS Plan? Understanding the Roles of Key NDIS Professionals

What Is a Local Area Coordinator?

A Local Area Coordinator, commonly referred to as an LAC, helps people with disability understand and access the NDIS and connect with community supports.

LACs are generally delivered through NDIS community partners.

Their role can include helping participants understand their plan, prepare for planning discussions, identify appropriate services and connect with mainstream or community supports.

An LAC can also provide guidance about processes for requesting changes to a plan.

However, an LAC does not independently approve NDIS funding or make final decisions about a participant’s plan.

Those decisions remain the responsibility of the NDIA.

What Is a Support Coordinator?

A support coordinator helps participants understand and implement the supports funded in their NDIS plan.

Their role focuses on connecting participants with suitable providers and assisting different services to work together.

For example, a support coordinator may help arrange occupational therapy, support worker services, specialist assessments or other disability-related supports.

They can also assist with understanding service agreements, identifying gaps in service delivery and coordinating changes to support arrangements.

The NDIS recognises different levels of support coordination depending on the participant’s circumstances and approved funding.

What Is Specialist Support Coordination?

Specialist support coordination is designed for participants experiencing more complex circumstances or significant barriers to accessing and maintaining appropriate supports.

This can include situations involving complex disability-related risks, unstable support arrangements or multiple services requiring careful coordination.

A specialist support coordinator may assist with resolving barriers, coordinating complex services and maintaining continuity of supports.

Not every participant requires specialist support coordination.

Its availability depends on the participant’s individual circumstances and funded plan.

What Is a Plan Manager?

A plan manager is responsible for the financial administration of plan-managed NDIS supports.

This generally includes processing eligible invoices, submitting claims, paying providers and monitoring expenditure.

A plan manager can also provide budget statements and information about available funding.

However, a plan manager is not responsible for independently deciding which clinical supports a participant requires.

They also do not replace the role of a support coordinator.

The distinction is straightforward.

A support coordinator helps organise and connect supports.

A plan manager assists with the financial administration of funded supports.

What Is an NDIA Planner?

An NDIA planner works within the National Disability Insurance Agency.

Their responsibilities can include considering participant information, reviewing support needs and making decisions about funding in accordance with applicable NDIS requirements.

An NDIA planner is different from an independent occupational therapist.

For example, an occupational therapist may provide a report recommending a particular level of daily living support.

The therapist does not have authority to approve that funding.

The NDIA considers the relevant evidence and makes the funding decision.

What Is the Role of an Occupational Therapist?

Occupational therapists assess how disability affects a person’s ability to complete everyday activities.

Their role can include Functional Capacity Assessments, assistive technology prescription, home modification assessments, daily living skills development and assessments of support requirements.

An occupational therapist provides clinical evidence and recommendations.

A support coordinator can then assist with organising appropriate services.

A plan manager can process eligible invoices where funding is plan-managed.

Each professional contributes a different component to the participant’s overall support arrangements.

Who Should You Contact?

If you do not understand your NDIS plan, your LAC, NDIS contact or support coordinator may be able to assist.

If you need help finding providers or organising multiple services, a support coordinator may be appropriate.

If you have questions about eligible invoices or your plan-managed budget, contact your plan manager.

If your disability-related support needs have changed, speak with your NDIS contact about the appropriate review process.

If you need an assessment of daily living capacity, assistive technology or housing-related functional needs, an occupational therapist may be able to assist.

Why Communication Between Professionals Matters

An effective NDIS support team is one where responsibilities are clear and communication is consistent.

Participants should remain central to decisions about their supports.

Professionals should work collaboratively while respecting the participant’s goals, preferences and choices.

At Today & Tomorrow Allied Health Services, we regularly collaborate with support coordinators, plan managers, families and other health professionals.

Our role is to provide independent occupational therapy evidence that assists participants and their wider support teams to make informed decisions.

Looking for an Occupational Therapist?

Today & Tomorrow Allied Health Services welcomes referrals from participants, families, support coordinators and other referral partners.

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