Who you should have on your NDIS team

For most people on the NDIS, you will most likely have a team of people to support you to live a more independent life. But if you’re new to the scheme, then welcome. When it comes to the NDIS, it’s important to know that you’re not alone!

Getting funding through the NDIS can be a confusing and rather long process. Add to that managing your plan budget, appointments, and the types of supports you need, and it’s easy to understand why lots of people build a team to help them get and manage their NDIS plan. After all, teamwork makes the dream work!

What is an NDIS team?

Your NDIS team are the people you choose to help you navigate the NDIS, and make sure you’re getting the right supports to live life the way you choose. Your team will be made up of people who will help you with different things, whether that’s requesting a service or understanding your budget. Each person’s team is unique to them. Who you have on your team is up to you.

People you might have on your team

Family and friends

When it comes to your number one supporter, you can’t go past your family and friends. They love and care about you and act as your biggest advocates. The support they provide to your daily life not only plays a big part in ensuring your wellbeing but can also go a long way to helping you achieve your NDIS goals. In other terms, they’re often referred to by the NDIS as ‘informal supports’.

Local Area Coordinator (LAC)

Every NDIS participant gets a LAC to help them understand and access the NDIS, create an NDIS plan, and put that plan into action. Your LAC will spend time with you and ask you about your current situation, needs, supports and goals to create the best plan for you. Then, they’ll help you find and access the services in your plan and offer you ongoing support. You can ask them questions about your plan and about supports and services available in your local community. It’s also their job to help you maintain informal supports around you, by helping you stay connected with your community and ensuring you’re getting the support you need, no matter where you are.

Support Coordinator

You might get funding for a Support Coordinator in your NDIS plan to add to your team. Support Coordinators are kind of like NDIS ‘assistants’ who help you make sense of it. They help you understand your NDIS plan, access the services set out in it, and manage your appointments and activities. They also help you build your informal support team, like your family and friends. Not everyone gets funding for a support coordinator - you only get it if your NDIS planner finds that support coordination is ‘reasonable and necessary’ for you.

Service providers

Service providers are businesses like Endeavour Foundation, which can provide you with NDIS-funded supports set out in your plan. These include things like behaviour support, mobility equipment, home modification, workplace support, transport to community activities, household support or help with daily personal activities. Our job is to help you achieve your goals, and we can sometimes support you to navigate the NDIS if you are confused about something or have a question.

Plan manager

If you say you want a plan manager in your planning meeting, the NDIS will provide you with one. Your plan manager’s job is to help you manage your NDIS funding, so they’re kind of like your NDIS ‘accountant’. Your plan manager can help you learn financial and plan management skills, pay service providers, understand your plan budget and how you spend it, and can even teach you how to manage your NDIS plan yourself. You can ask your LAC or Support Coordinator to help you find a plan manager, or use the myplace portal to find one yourself. The NDIS will include funding in your plan to pay for your plan manager. This is separate from your other services and supports within your budget. 

Health specialist

Health specialists are professionals like General Practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and psychiatrists. You might have one or you might have several on your team. To have a health specialist as part of your NDIS team, you may need to get referrals and support from them as part of your NDIS plan. This might look like getting an occupational therapist to support you to move into Supported Independent Living.

Choosing your team

Your NDIS team will be working closely with you throughout your entire NDIS journey. It’s important that you choose the right people who know and support you best.

Everyone’s team will look a bit different because everyone has different needs and goals. But there are some things that everyone on your team should be, like:

• Passionate about your success: they want to see you reach your goals!
• Trustworthy: you feel you can trust them.
• Experienced and knowledgeable: they have been doing their job for a while and they know their field well.
• Respectful: they always treat you kindly and are considerate of your needs, feelings, and rights.

Need more help?

We live and breathe all things NDIS. If you have questions or would like a better understanding of what services are right for you, we are here to help. Just give us a call on 1800 112 112 to speak with an NDIS expert.