Not sure what is support coordination service and how can it help you?

 Support Coordination is capacity-building support. It is the funding available in your plan to have a professional coordinator who can work with you, helping you not just find the right service providers however they can also help you engage with providers by explaining you things and further assist and guide you to build your knowledge and capacity so that you can be able to coordinate for your plan by your own in future.

Also, they are knowledgeable people within the field and can help you with your plan queries, guiding you to your goals, and assist you to put in a review for your plan, should your circumstances change after your plan has been made.

However, not every plan will have funding for Support Coordination, and its availability in your plan is further based upon your needs, the complexity of your NDIS plan, and so forth.

You may ask for Support Coordination in your next planning meeting with the NDIS planner – if you wish to build your capacity to coordinate your plan by yourself in the future.

Not sure who are Local Area Coordinators and how to reach them?

If your plan does not include Support Coordination, you may also contact your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to look for service providers for your support.

A list of LAC can be accessed from the NDIS website. Access this link here – https://www.ndis.gov.au/contact/locations and enter your postcode. It will bring up a search for NDIA office locations, LAC officers, and ECEI coordinators in your area.

Carer Gateway

Carer Gateway is an initiative by the Australian Government - Department of Social Services and is a pathway that will help you connect with a new Australia-wide network of Carer Gateway service providers.

You can talk to a Carer Gateway service provider by calling 1800 422 737 Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm.

Carer Gateway staff will talk through what you need and help you to find services and support. If you want to talk with someone in your language, you can phone the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450

Making Use of Directories

The NDIS Portal may help you with a list of providers, based on your postcode. You can also search providers based on their names, but if you do not have access to the NDIS participant portal or if working with another portal being not a good idea then another option is to browse certain NDIS provider directories to help you find providers. These directories may have a list of both registered and unregistered providers in your area and have ratings and reviews that can help you further make a selection.

Some of these directories are listed below:

· Clickability

· My Care Space

· Disability Support Guide

· Karista

Hire and organize your Support Workers

There are certain platforms where you can hire and manage your support workers. This means you can directly get involved with the carers listed on these platforms without having to go through a service provider.

By using these organizations, one has control over whom to select as the carers have their profiles and ratings. This allows managing and selecting the staff you think is best for you and manage their shifts and rosters directly by engaging with the carer.

They are independent contractors who list them as a service giver under their own ABN. Another advantage of such portals is that you pay a lesser rate than compared to a registered provider as much of the service arrangement is done and managed by you and you are yourself responsible for any issues or challenges you may face during your service experience. Some of these platforms are:

· Mable (formerly Better Caring)

· Find a Carer

· Like Family

· Hireup

· Care Seekers

Even if you start working with a provider and feel that the provider does not meet your needs, there is always an option to change your provider by giving them the notice that is stipulated in your signed agreement and move to someone else who you think is the right choice.