What makes a good Support Coordinator?

After almost 4 years as a Support Coordinator in the NDIS, I have assisted participants to navigate many NDIS legislative changes, and NDIA (agency) process disasters.

Put simply, Support coordination is not a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ job.

It is a ‘this is how’ job.

Your SC's job is to empower you to take control of your NDIS plan, which in turn, leads to increased confidence in your day to day life.

Importantly, Support coordinators need to know that they don’t know it all. But have the resourcefulness and proactiveness to find creative solutions.

You want your Support Coordinator to understand processes but also have the bravery and strength to find alternative solutions.

In summary, you want you SC to think zebras, not horses. Because not one person with a disability is the same as the next.

The most common complaint I hear from participants is that their Support Coordinator was not contactable.

I believe this comes down to whether your Support Coordinator has a knowledgeable and helpful team around them.

We all get sick, go on leave, and have weeks where we are in back to back meetings. Which is where your SC's team will step in to support you.

They will be there to answer calls and emails, have access to your SC's notes, and your support plans, and be able to fill in the gaps, until your own SC has recovered from their annual cold/flu experience.

When interviewing potential Support Coordinators, ask them how they keep up to date with NDIS legislative changes, including all the complicated NDIA forms and Administrative Reviews Tribunal processes.

You can expect your SC to ask questions and take the time to answer your questions, big or small. And understand mainstream services and expectations of the same.

If you do not feel you are receiving these services from your current SC, it is worth a call to them, or their team leader, to let them know you expect more from their service. How they respond to this reasonable request will tell you if it’s time to move on or not...