If you are new to the NDIS, two job titles can cause confusion: plan manager and support coordinator. They sound similar, and both help you get the most from your plan, but they do very different jobs. A plan manager looks after the money in your plan, while a support coordinator looks after the people and services in your plan. This guide explains the difference between a plan manager and a support coordinator, how each one is funded, and whether you can have both.
The Short Answer
Think of it this way: the plan manager handles invoices, payments, budgets and statements, and the support coordinator handles finding, connecting with and coordinating your supports. One deals with the financial side of your plan, and the other deals with the practical side of putting your supports in place. Neither role replaces the other, and the two are funded separately in your plan. Many participants use both at the same time.
What a Plan Manager Does
NDIS plan management is all about the money in your plan. When your plan is plan-managed, your plan manager:
- Receives invoices from your providers and checks them against your plan and NDIS pricing rules.
- Claims the funds from the NDIA and pays your providers, so you do not have to lodge claims yourself.
- Tracks your budgets and tells you how much has been spent and how much remains.
- Sends you regular statements, so you can see exactly where your funding has gone.
With plan management, you can use both NDIS-registered and non-registered providers. Plan management is funded under Improved Life Choices in your plan, at no out-of-pocket cost to you. Your plan manager does not choose your providers or arrange your supports for you; that is where a support coordinator comes in.
What a Support Coordinator Does
A support coordinator helps you understand your plan and put it into action. Their work includes:
- Helping you understand what is in your plan and how your budgets can be used.
- Finding suitable providers, comparing options and helping you connect with them.
- Coordinating your supports so different providers work together around your goals.
- Helping you resolve problems with a provider or a service.
- Building your capacity over time, so you become more confident managing your supports yourself.
Support coordination is funded separately from plan management, under a different part of your plan. A support coordinator does not pay your invoices or track your budgets; they focus on the people and services that deliver your supports.
Side-by-Side Comparison
- Main focus: Plan manager — money. Support coordinator — people and services.
- Key tasks: Plan manager — invoices, claims, payments, budgets and statements. Support coordinator — finding, connecting and coordinating supports.
- Funding: Plan manager — Improved Life Choices. Support coordinator — support coordination funding, which is separate.
- Contact with providers: Plan manager — receives and pays invoices. Support coordinator — talks with providers about your services and goals.
- Do you need both? Not always, but many participants benefit from both, because the roles cover different parts of managing a plan.
Can You Have Both?
Yes. You can have both a plan manager and a support coordinator, because the two roles are funded separately and do not overlap. Your support coordinator can help you choose and set up your supports, while your plan manager takes care of paying for them and tracking the budgets. If your support coordinator helps you find a new provider, your plan manager is the one who will receive that provider’s invoices and pay them.
Having both can be especially helpful if you have a complex plan, several different providers, or if you are new to the NDIS and still learning how the system works. It means you have one person helping you organise your supports and another keeping the finances in order.
Which One Do You Need?
It depends on what you find hardest about managing your plan. If invoices, claims and budgets feel overwhelming, plan management is likely to help most. If you are unsure which providers to choose, or you need help getting your supports started and working together, support coordination is likely to help most. If both sound familiar, ask for both at your planning meeting or plan review, and explain why each one would help you reach your goals.
Remember that you can change either provider at any time. If your plan manager or support coordinator is not the right fit, you do not need to wait for a plan review to switch.
Getting Both in Campbelltown
Iconic Care Group provides both plan management and support coordination from its Campbelltown office, so participants can have both services coordinated in one place if they wish. The plan management team processes authorised invoices within 2 business days and provides regular statements and a live portal for tracking budgets, while the support coordination team helps participants connect with local providers across Campbelltown and surrounding suburbs. Contact the team to discuss your plan, your current providers and which combination of supports suits you best.
Frequently asked questions
Is a plan manager the same as a support coordinator?
No. A plan manager looks after the money in your plan: invoices, payments, budgets and statements. A support coordinator looks after the people and services: helping you find, connect with and coordinate your supports.
Can I have both a plan manager and a support coordinator?
Yes. The two roles are funded separately, so many participants use both. Your support coordinator helps you set up your supports, and your plan manager pays for them and tracks your budgets.
Does a support coordinator pay my providers?
No. Paying providers is the plan manager’s job, or the NDIA’s job if your plan is agency-managed. A support coordinator helps you choose and coordinate providers, but does not handle invoices or payments.