WHAT CAN’T NDIS SUPPORT COORDINATORs DO?
[image description: A cartoon-style superhero in blue, red, and gold stands on the left in a thoughtful pose, with a speech bubble on the right that reads “What can’t support coordinators do?”]
Support Coordination works best when expectations are clear. Knowing what a Support Coordinator can’t do protects your choice and control, helps avoid conflicts of interest, and stops frustration before it starts. At Nolastray Support, we’re coordination-only. We don’t deliver direct supports like support work or therapy. That independence helps keep recommendations participant-led.
Here are the most important boundaries:
1) A Support Coordinator can’t approve or increase your NDIS funding
Only the NDIA makes plan funding decisions. Support Coordinators can help you get organised, gather evidence, and prepare for a reassessment — but we don’t control the outcome. We also assist you during plan review meetings and conversations with the agency to help you clearly present your case and evidence for why more or different supports may be required.
2) A Support Coordinator shouldn’t make decisions for you
Support Coordination is built around choice and control. The role is to support informed decisions — not take over. We will always give options of different services and providers to explore and we often make these based on our past experience dealing with providers and understanding the quality of their services- not through just a simple google search. However, the final decision ALWAYS sits with you.
3) A Support Coordinator is not an independent disability advocate
Support Coordinators can support you to speak up, understand options, and connect you with advocacy services if needed — but we are not a replacement for independent advocacy.
4) A Support Coordinator doesn’t deliver hands-on support or clinical therapy
Support Coordination is not personal care, community access support work, or therapy. It’s coordination and capacity building.
5) A Support Coordinator does not manage your personal finances
We can’t pay bills, manage bank accounts, or make financial decisions. (Plan Managers process invoices for plan-managed funding, but they also don’t “approve” funding — they pay invoices in line with your plan and service arrangements.)
6) A Support Coordinator doesn’t create service agreements
Service agreements are between you and your provider. What we can do is help you understand and negotiate key terms (cancellations, travel, reporting, communication expectations) so you’re not signing blind.
7) A Support Coordinator can’t guarantee provider availability or control other organisations
We can’t force providers to accept referrals, skip waitlists, or override another organisation’s rules — but we can help you find alternatives and build backup options.
What we can do however, is speak to organisations on your behalf to request information such as case notes, reports or other evidence that may be required in line with their role under the NDIS operation guidelines.
We can also speak to them about your preferences and support you with communicating your needs or issues you may be experiencing with their servies.
8) A Support Coordinator must not accept kickbacks or steer you for personal gain
Ethical Support Coordination means:
- no referral fees or incentives
- real options, not pressure
- transparent conflict-of-interest management
What you can expect from Nolastray Support:
Clear scope, straight answers, participant-led decisions, and practical problem-solving — with no one-size-fits-all approach.
If you want Support Coordination, Specialist Support Coordination, or Psychosocial Recovery Coaching, click “Make a Referral” on our website or on the button below. We support participants Australia-wide via phone/video. Face-to-face appointments are currently available in Victoria only.
Read other related blog posts: