If you’re new to the NDIS—or even if you’ve been around a while—you’ve probably come across the terms Support Coordinator and Plan Manager. And if you’ve ever found yourself wondering “Aren’t they kind of the same thing?”… you’re not alone.
While both roles are there to help you use your NDIS plan, they do very different things. Understanding these differences can help you make better decisions about your supports and feel more in control of your plan.
Read on below as we help you unpack these terms and cover:
- What Does a Plan Manager Do?
- What Does a Support Coordinator Do?
- Why Do People Confuse the Two?
- Quick Comparison: Plan Manager vs Support Coordinator
What does a NDIS Plan Manager do?
An NDIS Plan Manager is a service provider who assists NDIS participants to manage their NDIS funding and financial arrangements. Their primary role is to help participants to manage their budgets and pay for services and supports outlined in their NDIS plan.
A plan manager is like your NDIS bookkeeper.
Their role is to:
- Manage an NDIS participant’s plan budget, including tracking expenses and ensuring funding is allocated appropriately.
- Pay invoices for services and supports received by the participant
- Provide advice and information to participants about their funding options and how to maximise the value of their NDIS plan.
- Provide regular updates and reports to the participant about their budget and spending, and ensuring they have a clear understanding of their financial position.
Overall, the role of an NDIS Plan Manager is to provide support and guidance to NDIS participants on the financial management of their plan. They do NOT choose providers or help you find supports.
Plan Management is funded by the NDIS and costs you nothing extra. The NDIS funds this separately under a category called “Choice & Control” (or “Improved Life Choices” in older plans).
Here’s how it’s billed (line items in the NDIS Price guide):
- Set-up fee: 14_033_0127_8_3
- Monthly management fee: 14_034_0127_8_3
These are included in your plan if you request plan management — they don’t reduce your other budgets.
For the most up to date rates for plan management support go to our ‘NDIS Price Guide’ tool, and type in the keyword ‘Plan Management’, or search the line items listed above
For more information on What is NDIS Plan Management and How to request plan management funding check out our resource
What does an NDIS Support Coordinator do?
An NDIS Support Coordinator’s job is to help you make the best use of your supports in plan.
A Support Coordinator will help you :
- Understand your NDIS plan to pursue your goals
- Connect you with NDIS providers, community, mainstream and other government services
- Build your confidence and skills to manage your own supports.
Support Coordination is only included in your plan if the NDIA approves it. It’s not funded automatically.
Support Coordination is a stated support which means that the funding you receive for it cannot be used for any other supports.
Support Coordinators focus on connecting and coordinating supports and are especially helpful if:
- You have lots of different supports to juggle
- Your situation is complex
- You have more than one family member with an NDIS plan
- You’re new to the NDIS
Some common tasks an NDIS Support Coordinator may undertake include:
- Help NDIS Participants to understand their NDIS plan, including their goals, budgets, and available supports.
- Help participants identify and connect with service providers that can assist with their specific needs and goals.
- Coordinate the delivery of services and supports, including liaising with service providers, monitoring progress, and making adjustments as needed.
- Advocate on behalf of the participant to ensure their needs and goals are being met.
- Provide regular updates and reports to the participant and their family or carer about progress and outcomes.
- Assist with the preparation and submission of plan reviews to ensure ongoing funding and support.
Note: Not everyone qualifies for Support Coordination automatically—your plan must include specific funding for it.
Not all NDIS plans include funding for Support Coordination. If you have it, you will find it stated in your NDIS plan under the Capacity Building part.
Support Coordination is a stated support which means you cannot use its funding for any other supports.
There are 3 levels of Support coordination funding. Your plan will state which level of Support Coordination you have funding for. Level 2 is the most common.
For the most up to date rates for Support Coordination go to our ‘NDIS Price Guide’ tool, and type in the keyword ‘Support Coordination. The rate will depend on what level of support coordination has been funded in your plan.
Common Confusion: Why People Mix Them Up
| Why the Confusion? | The Reality |
| Both help manage your NDIS plan | True—but in very different ways |
| Both are funded separately from your Core/Capacity funding | True—but they are not interchangeable |
| Both can see your NDIS funding in the portal (under PACE) | True—but only your Plan Manager can process invoices |
| You speak to both of them when using your plan | True—but for different reasons |
It’s common to assume that a Plan Manager “does everything”, but there are some things they can’t help you with. They won’t help you book providers, make service agreements, or problem-solve issues—that’s the Support Coordinator’s role.
Quick Overview: Plan Manager vs Support Coordinator
| Feature | Plan Manager | Support Coordinator |
| Their role in supporting you | Paying providers, tracking budgets | Finding, booking, and managing supports |
| NDIS-funded? | Yes, automatically if requested | Yes, if approved in your plan |
| Can help choose providers? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Pays invoices? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Provides budget reports? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Helps with service issues? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Queries about paying invoices? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Help finding therapies and supports | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Need help figuring out what you’re funded for? Talk to your LAC, planner, or check your NDIS plan under the Capacity Building section.
