If you are new to the NDIS, or helping someone navigate it, the difference between a support worker and a support coordinator is one of the first things to get clear. They are funded from different parts of your plan, they do completely different jobs, and you can have both at the same time.
The short version
Support workers help you with daily life — getting up in the morning, community activities, appointments, personal care, social outings. They come to you. They are the person you actually spend time with.
Support coordinators help you put your NDIS plan into action — understanding the plan, connecting with providers, monitoring budgets and responding when supports are not working. The NDIS explains the role and its three levels.
Want the full picture of either role? We have written plain-English deep dives on what a disability support worker does and what a support coordinator does day to day.
Side-by-side comparison
| Support Worker | Support Coordinator | |
|---|---|---|
| What they do | Hands-on daily support — personal care, community access, social activities, skill building | Plan management — finding providers, monitoring budget, resolving issues, preparing for reviews |
| Where funded from | Core Supports (usually Social, Community & Civic Participation or Daily Activities) | Capacity Building — Support Coordination (separate budget line) |
| Who they work with | The participant directly, in person | The participant, their family, and providers on the participant’s behalf |
| How often | As often as your plan funds — could be daily | Usually a few hours per month |
| Can be the same provider? | Yes. Many providers offer both, though your coordinator should remain independent enough to advocate for your interests | |
Do I need both?
Not every plan includes support coordination. The NDIA decides whether it meets the funding criteria for the participant’s circumstances and support needs.
If support coordination is not in your current plan and you think it would help, raise it with your NDIS contact when discussing a plan reassessment or change. A provider can document the support needs they observe, but the NDIA decides what is funded.
How the two roles can work together
A participant may use a support worker for daily routines, appointments and community activities, while a support coordinator checks that the services fit the plan, monitors the budget and helps address provider or service-agreement problems.
The roles complement each other, but one does not replace the other. The exact mix depends on the participant’s goals, funded supports and preferences.
When coordination funding is running low
Ask your coordinator for a clear view of the available budget, any funding periods and the work already completed. Agree which remaining tasks are most important and what can be handled directly by you, a nominee or your NDIS contact.
If circumstances or support needs have changed, contact the NDIA to discuss whether a plan change or reassessment process is appropriate. A coordinator can help organise relevant evidence, but cannot promise that funding will increase or that the NDIA will approve a change.
A provider should also explain what work can and cannot continue without available funding, before doing more billable work.
What Tegrity offers
Tegrity provides support work and Level 2 Support Coordination across our 37 listed Sydney service areas. We do not provide Level 3 Specialist Support Coordination. Our support work and coordination teams can communicate with consent, but they remain separate services with separate funding and service agreements.
Frequently asked questions
Can my support coordinator also be my support worker?
A provider may deliver more than one service, but it should identify and manage conflicts of interest, explain your options and respect your choice of provider. At Tegrity, support work and coordination remain separate services, and you can use us for one without using us for the other.
What if I don’t have support coordination funded but want it?
Talk with your NDIS contact about whether a plan change or reassessment process is available for your circumstances. Relevant evidence may help explain why coordination is needed, but the NDIA decides whether it is reasonable and necessary and whether it will be funded.
How much does support coordination cost under the NDIS?
The current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits set maximum prices for price-limited supports. Check the support item, effective date and location that apply. Your plan and funding arrangements determine the available budget. Tegrity provides Level 2 Support Coordination, not Level 3 Specialist Support Coordination.
Does Tegrity provide support coordination outside Sydney?
Our current service area is Inner West, South Sydney, and Canterbury-Bankstown — with regular work in Revesby, Bankstown, Padstow, Panania, East Hills, and surrounds. If you are outside this area, call us and we will tell you honestly whether we can help or recommend someone who can.
What is a service agreement and do I need one?
A service agreement is a written contract between you and a provider that sets out what supports will be provided, how often, at what cost, and how either party can end the arrangement. You are not legally required to have one, but it is strongly advisable — it protects both you and the provider and reduces disputes. NDIS-registered providers are expected to offer one. Read it before you sign, and make sure the notice period for ending the agreement is reasonable.
Can my support coordinator help me switch providers?
Yes — this is one of the most useful things a coordinator does. If you are unhappy with a support worker or provider, your coordinator can help you give proper notice, find alternatives, manage the service agreement transition, and make sure support does not stop in the gap between providers. If you do not have a coordinator, you can still switch providers yourself: check your service agreement notice period, notify the provider in writing, and engage a new provider. Your NDIS funding is yours to direct.
What is plan management and does it affect which support workers I can use?
Plan management means a plan manager handles the financial administration of your NDIS funds on your behalf — paying invoices, tracking your budget, and providing statements. If you are plan-managed, you can use both NDIS-registered and unregistered providers, which gives you significantly more choice. If you are NDIA-managed (agency-managed), you can only use registered providers. Self-management gives you full flexibility but you manage payments yourself. Most participants are on plan management or agency management; your plan will specify which applies to you.
Related guides
Not sure which service fits your plan?
Call us and we will work it out with you. No referral required to have a conversation.