COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Key Functions & Duties of NDIS Support Coordinators course, designed to provide support coordinators with the essential knowledge and skills to effectively assist participants within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The NDIS was established to provide individuals with disabilities the resources, services, and supports necessary to enhance their quality of life and participation in the community. Support coordinators play a central role in helping clients navigate this system by aligning services with individual needs, managing plans and budgets, and empowering clients toward greater independence.
Understanding the NDIS Plan is fundamental for effective support coordination. This section will guide you through interpreting support budgets and allocations, managing plan requirements and conditions, and using available funding efficiently. By mastering these skills, you will ensure that clients receive maximum value from their plans and are empowered to achieve their goals.
A key responsibility of support coordinators is planning and coordinating appropriate supports for clients. You will learn to identify suitable services and providers, match supports to individual goals, and schedule services within budgetary constraints, ensuring that all services are in alignment with NDIS objectives and are cost-effective.
Connecting clients with the right services is a vital function of support coordinators. This section will cover how to locate NDIS and community resources, choose between registered and unregistered providers, and ensure quality and safeguards in service selection. By facilitating these connections, you play an integral role in enhancing the client’s overall support network.
Establishing and maintaining supports involves setting up service agreements, managing provider terms, and resolving any barriers to plan utilisation. You will learn how to navigate provider terms, including costs and cancellations, and effectively troubleshoot issues to ensure continuous, high-quality support for clients.
Support coordinators play a critical role in building clients' independence and capacity. This section focuses on coaching clients on NDIS systems, teaching negotiation skills, and encouraging self-management of supports. By empowering clients in these ways, you promote their long-term independence and confidence within the NDIS framework.
Monitoring progress and adjusting plans is essential to keep supports effective and relevant. You will learn how to evaluate the impact of current supports, track client progress toward goals, and modify plans to meet changing needs, ensuring that the client’s evolving circumstances are always supported.
Preparation for plan reassessment is another important duty. You will gain insights into reflecting on outcomes, identifying areas for improvement, and compiling the necessary documentation for reassessment. This process ensures that the client’s plan remains comprehensive and adaptable to their needs.
Budget oversight and reporting are vital to maintaining plan transparency and compliance. This section will guide you in monitoring support budgets, preparing mid-term and final reports, and meeting NDIA reporting requirements, ensuring that funding is managed responsibly throughout the plan’s duration.
In times of crisis, support coordinators must act swiftly to protect clients’ well-being. You will learn to develop crisis response plans, access emergency support services, and manage sudden changes in client needs, enabling you to provide timely and effective support during emergencies.
Support coordinators also assist clients with complex needs, including high-risk situations. This section covers how to identify and address high-risk factors, collaborate with specialist providers, and develop individualised risk management plans, ensuring that all safety considerations are proactively managed.
Building collaborative networks is essential for comprehensive client support. You will learn strategies for coordinating with families, community resources, and multidisciplinary teams, as well as establishing clear communication protocols to keep all parties informed and aligned in their support efforts.
Advocacy is a core part of the support coordinator’s role. This section will cover promoting client autonomy, connecting clients with advocacy services, and supporting them in exercising choice and control, empowering clients to make informed decisions about their care.
Cultural and language considerations are crucial for delivering inclusive support. You will learn to recognise cultural and linguistic needs, provide information in preferred languages, and address cultural sensitivities in service delivery to ensure that all clients feel respected and understood.
Preparation for unexpected events ensures that support remains consistent during unforeseen circumstances. You will learn to anticipate environmental and situational changes, identify potential barriers to plan use, and develop strategies for managing change effectively.
Acting in the client’s best interest requires ethical integrity. This section will focus on avoiding conflicts of interest, practising ethical decision-making, and ensuring compliance with the NDIS Code of Conduct, reinforcing the importance of trust and professionalism in your role.
Finally, building capacity for self-advocacy is integral to fostering client independence. You will explore ways to support clients in decision-making, expressing their needs, and building confidence to manage their supports independently, helping them develop long-term resilience within the NDIS system.
By the end of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the key functions and duties of an NDIS support coordinator, enabling you to deliver high-quality, client-centred support that empowers clients to achieve their goals within a well-managed, responsive NDIS framework.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to the NDIS Framework
- Overview of NDIS Objectives and Principles
- Role of Support Coordinators within the NDIS
2. Understanding the NDIS Plan
- Interpreting Support Budgets and Allocations
- Managing Plan Requirements and Conditions
- Using Funding Effectively and Efficiently
3. Planning and Coordinating Supports
- Identifying Suitable Services and Providers
- Matching Supports to Client Goals and Needs
- Scheduling Services within the NDIS Budget
4. Connecting Clients with Services
- Finding NDIS and Community Resources
- Choosing Between Registered and Unregistered Providers
- Ensuring Quality and Safeguards in Service Selection
5. Establishing and Maintaining Supports
- Setting Up Service Agreements and Bookings
- Managing Provider Terms, Including Costs and Cancellations
- Resolving Barriers to Plan Utilisation
6. Building Independence and Capacity
- Coaching Clients on NDIS Systems
- Teaching Negotiation Skills with Providers
- Encouraging Self-Management of Supports
7. Monitoring Progress and Adjusting Plans
- Evaluating the Effectiveness of Current Supports
- Tracking Goal Achievement and Progress
- Modifying Plans to Reflect Changing Needs
8. Preparing for Plan Reassessment
- Reflecting on Outcomes and Accomplishments
- Identifying Areas for Improvement in the Next Plan
- Compiling Evidence and Documentation for Reassessment
9. Budget Oversight and Reporting
- Monitoring Support Budgets Throughout the Plan
- Preparing Mid-Term and Final Implementation Reports
- Meeting NDIA Reporting Requirements and Standards
10. Crisis and Incident Management
- Developing a Crisis Response Plan
- Accessing Emergency Support Services
- Managing Sudden Changes in Client Needs
11. Managing Complex Client Needs
- Identifying and Addressing High-Risk Situations
- Collaborating with Specialist Providers
- Developing Individualised Risk Management Plans
12. Building Collaborative Networks
- Coordinating with Families and Community Resources
- Engaging with a Multidisciplinary Team
- Establishing Communication Protocols
13. Advocating for Client Rights
- Promoting Client Autonomy and Decision-Making
- Connecting Clients with Formal Advocacy Services
- Supporting Clients in Exercising Choice and Control
14. Cultural and Language Considerations
- Recognising Cultural and Linguistic Needs
- Providing Information in Preferred Languages
- Addressing Cultural Sensitivities in Support Delivery
15. Preparing for Unexpected Events
- Planning for Environmental and Situational Changes
- Identifying Potential Barriers to Using the Plan
- Developing Strategies for Managing Change
16. Acting in the Client’s Best Interest
- Avoiding Conflicts of Interest in Coordination
- Practising Ethical Decision-Making
- Ensuring Compliance with NDIS Code of Conduct
17. Capacity Building for Self-Advocacy
- Exploring Decision-Making Options with Clients
- Supporting Clients in Expressing Their Needs
- Building Long-Term Independence and Confidence
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.