”As an NDIS participant, understanding and managing your plan effectively is crucial.
Whether you’ve had your NDIS plan for a while or are navigating it for the first time, reviewing how things are going can ensure you’re getting the most out of your funding and working towards your goals with confidence.
One of the best ways to do this is by working closely with a support coordinator. Their role is to make your NDIS plan easier to understand, more manageable, and aligned with the goals you are working towards.
Here’s how using support coordinaton can help you stay on track throughout your NDIS journey:
Reviewing Your Current Supports
Life moves fast. Routines shift, goals evolve, and circumstances change. A support coordinator helps you pause and reflect on what’s working well—and what isn’t.
They can assist you to:
- Assess whether your current providers are meeting your expectations.
- Identify any gaps in your services or supports.
- Explore alternative options if your needs have shifted.
- Understand whether your supports remain “reasonable and necessary” under NDIS criteria.
This review can highlight opportunities to increase independence, improve outcomes, or streamline the services you’re receiving.
Keeping Your Budget on Target
Budget management is one of the areas participants often find most overwhelming. Your support coordinator can break this down and give you clear insight into how your funds are being used.
They can:
- Monitor spending across Core, Capacity Building, and Capital supports.
- Ensure supports are delivered within the NDIS price limits.
- Provide an early warning if spending is moving too fast or too slow.
- Help you adjust services to prevent running out of funds or having large amounts left unused.
Good budget management means you get value from your plan all year round, avoiding last-minute stress.
Planning Ahead for Review Time
Annual plan reviews, or sometimes change of circumstance reviews, are most successful when you’re prepared. Support coordinators know exactly what the NDIS is looking for and help you gather the right evidence to demonstrate your needs.
Before your review, a support coordinator can help you:
- Track progress towards your goals
- Collect reports, assessments, and provider summaries
- Document challenges or unmet needs
- Identify any changes in your requirements
- Prepare for potential shifts in funding or supports
This preparation ensures your plan truly reflects your circumstances and gives you the appropriate level of support for the year ahead.
Staying Flexible When Life Changes
Life doesn’t run on a neat annual schedule. If health, housing, employment, or personal circumstances change, a support coordinator can help you respond quickly.
They can support you to:
- Adjust your current supports to suit new needs
- Find temporary or long-term solutions
- Navigate the NDIS process for a change of circumstances
- Advocate on your behalf with providers or the NDIA
Having someone in your corner makes transitions smoother and less stressful.
Setting New Goals for the Year
You don’t need a calendar update to set new milestones. A support coordinator can help you explore what’s currently important to you and map out supports that help you get there.
Whether your goals involve health, independence, learning, community participation, or employment, they can guide you on:
- What supports align with each goal
- How to document progress
- Which services may help you build capacity
- How to measure success throughout the year
Take Control of Your Journey
Your NDIS plan is a powerful tool design to help you live the life you choose. With the guidance of a skilled support coordinator, you can navigate your plan feeling organised, supported, and in control. If you’d like help reviewing your plan or preparing for a review, reach out to our team to learn how we can achieve this together.
Written by: Scott Thomson
Support Coordination Manager
Scott brings years of experience working within disability services. Having worked within multiple disability service organisations, Scott has a thorough understanding of what makes a positive experience for participants under the NDIS and values his role in supporting participants and families in a hands-on way.
