Understanding Your NDIS Support Options

Navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to figure out who does what in your support network. Two roles that often cause confusion are Support Coordinators and Local Area Coordinators (LACs). Both are important parts of the NDIS ecosystem, but they serve very different purposes and understanding the difference can help you get the right support at the right time.

If you’re in Perth or anywhere across Australia and you’re managing an NDIS plan, this guide will help you work out whether you need a Support Coordinator, a LAC, or both, and how each role works to support your goals and wellbeing.

What Is a Local Area Coordinator (LAC)?

A Local Area Coordinator is employed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and works in your local area. Think of them as your first point of contact within the NDIS system.

LACs help people who are considering the NDIS or who are new to their plans. They provide:

• Early support: If you’re thinking about applying to the NDIS, a LAC can explain how it works and help you decide if it’s right for you
• Connection to services: LACs know the disability support landscape in your area and can point you toward local services, groups, and opportunities
• Planning support: During your planning meeting with the NDIA, a LAC may be present to help you think through your goals and support needs
• General information: LACs answer questions about NDIS processes, funding, and how to make the most of your plan

LACs are funded by the NDIS and their support is free. They’re assigned based on geography you’ll have a LAC in your local area who coordinates across your community.

What Is a Support Coordinator?

A Support Coordinator is someone you hire (or your plan funding can pay for) to help you manage your NDIS plan on a day-to-day basis. Support Coordinators are not NDIA employees; they work in the disability support sector as professionals or through registered disability support organisations.

Support Coordinators help you:

• Implement your plan: Once your NDIS plan is approved, a Support Coordinator helps you actually use the money and services outlined in it
• Find and book providers: They source disability support workers, therapists, and other service providers who can deliver the supports in your plan
• Manage logistics: They arrange transport, coordinate timing, and handle the practical side of getting your supports in place
• Review and adjust: Support Coordinators help you track whether your supports are working and help you request plan reviews when things need to change
• Problem-solve: When something isn’t working a provider drops out, funding runs short, or your needs shift a Support Coordinator finds solutions
• Manage finances: They track spending, help prevent budget overruns, and ensure you’re getting value from your plan

Support Coordinators are paid from your NDIS plan funding, typically at a rate set by the NDIA. Many people find this investment worthwhile because it frees up mental energy and time.

Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect	LAC	Support Coordinator
Who pays	NDIA (free to you)	Your NDIS plan funding
Who employs them	NDIA	Disability support organisation or private provider
When you use them	Before, during, and just after planning	Ongoing, after your plan is approved
Main focus	NDIS information, planning support	Implementing your plan, managing providers
Ongoing involvement	Checking in periodically	Regular, hands-on support
Local knowledge	Broad community landscape	Your specific plan and provider network

When Do You Work With a LAC?

You’ll likely interact most with a LAC when you’re:

• Considering the NDIS: Wondering if you’re eligible or what the scheme is all about
• Preparing for your planning meeting: Getting information and thinking through your goals beforehand
• Just approved: During your first plan year, LACs often maintain contact to check you’re settling in okay
• Connecting to community: Looking for local disability groups, recreation programs, or volunteer opportunities

After your initial plan is in place and you have a Support Coordinator working with you, LAC contact often reduces. That said, you can always reach out to your LAC if you have questions about NDIS processes or need help accessing community services.

When Do You Need a Support Coordinator?

A Support Coordinator becomes essential when you:

• Have a complex plan: Multiple services, many providers, or funding across different areas
• Don’t have informal support: Some people have family members managing their plan; if you don’t, a Support Coordinator fills that gap
• Want to focus on living: Rather than spending hours managing logistics, many people pay for a Support Coordinator so they can focus on their goals and life
• Need specialised planning: Your Support Coordinator can help with transition planning (school to work, home to independent living) or specific life changes

Not everyone needs a Support Coordinator some people with simpler plans and strong informal support manage independently. But many find the investment in a Support Coordinator pays for itself in time saved and better outcomes.

How LACs and Support Coordinators Work Together

These roles complement each other. Here’s a typical journey:

1. You contact your LAC to explore the NDIS
2. LAC provides information and helps you think through your goals
3. NDIA approves your plan with funding for Support Coordination if it’s included
4. You hire a Support Coordinator (or register with an organisation that provides this service)
5. Your Support Coordinator and LAC may communicate (with your permission) to ensure smooth transition into your plan
6. Your Support Coordinator manages day-to-day implementation while your LAC remains available for NDIS-related questions or community connections
7. During plan reviews, your LAC might be present, and your Support Coordinator provides input on what’s working

This teamwork means you have both a free source of NDIS information and practical day-to-day support two different kinds of help for different stages of your journey.

Making the Right Choice for Your Situation

Choose a LAC when:

• You’re new to the NDIS and need to understand how it works
• You’re preparing for a planning meeting
• You need information about NDIS processes or eligibility

Hire a Support Coordinator when:

• Your plan is approved and you need help implementing it
• You’re managing multiple providers or complex support arrangements
• You don’t have family or informal support to handle plan logistics
• You want to focus your energy on your goals rather than plan management
  

You might need both when:

• You’re in your first year of the NDIS and settling into a new plan (LAC for guidance, Support Coordinator for implementation)
• Your situation is complex and benefits from both NDIS expertise and hands-on provider management

How to Access Each Service

Finding Your LAC: LACs are assigned based on your local area. When you submit an NDIS access request or start your planning meeting, the NDIA will connect you with your local LAC. You can also call the NDIA on 1300 800 110 to find out who your LAC is.

Hiring a Support Coordinator: If your NDIS plan includes Support Coordination funding, you can:

• Contact registered disability support organisations in Perth and ask about Support Coordination services
• Search the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission register for approved providers
• Ask your LAC or planner for recommendations
• Check with community disability networks for local providers

When choosing a Support Coordinator, look for experience with your specific disability, good local provider connections, and someone you feel comfortable working with.

Putting It All Together

The difference between a LAC and a Support Coordinator comes down to timing and focus. Your LAC is your guide through the NDIS systemespecially valuable when you’re new or navigating major changes. Your Support Coordinator is your day-to-day partner in implementing your plan and managing the practical side of your supports.

Many people find that having both roles working for them even if at different stagesmakes the NDIS journey clearer, less stressful, and more focused on their actual goals.

If you’re unsure which service you need or how to access it, your LAC is the perfect starting point. They can help you figure out what comes next.

📞 Let’s Stay Connected

Looking for guidance on navigating your NDIS plan?
📧 info@bridge2disabilitycare.com.au
📞 08 6119 9696
🌐 bridge2disabilitycare.com.au

 

FAQ’s

1. Do I have to work with my LAC after I get a Support Coordinator?
No, once your plan is established, contact with your LAC often reduces. But they remain available for NDIS questions or if you need community service connections.

2. Can my Support Coordinator and LAC overlap?
Yes, and often they should communicate (with your permission) during the early stages of your plan. This ensures a smooth transition from planning to implementation.

3. What if I don’t want a Support Coordinator but my plan funding includes it?
You don’t have to use Support Coordination funding if you manage independently or have strong informal support. However, many people find using this funding improves their outcomes and reduces stress.

4. Does Support Coordination funding get reviewed?
Yes, during your annual plan review, the NDIA assesses whether your Support Coordination is helping you meet your goals. If you’re managing well without it, you might reduce the funding; if you need more, you can request an increase.

5. What if I’m unhappy with my Support Coordinator?
You can change Support Coordinators. Talk to your current provider about ending the arrangement, and begin working with a different provider. Your NDIS plan can be adjusted to reflect the change.