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 manage your NDIS plan — finding providers, resolving problems, reviewing your budget, preparing for plan reviews. They are the person who works behind the scenes so your supports keep running smoothly.
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 everyone has support coordination funded in their plan. Simpler plans with straightforward goals often don’t include it. More complex plans — or participants with multiple providers, challenging circumstances, or large support budgets — typically do.
If support coordination is not in your current plan and you think it would help, it is worth raising this at your next plan review. A support coordinator can write a letter to the NDIA supporting the request.
A worked example: how the two roles work together
Alex lives in Marrickville and has an NDIS plan covering autism and psychosocial disability. Their plan funds both support work (Core Supports) and support coordination (Capacity Building).
Alex’s support worker comes Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. They help Alex get up, prepare breakfast, and manage the sensory load of the morning routine. On Wednesdays they go to the weekly rec group together. Once a month they do a bigger outing — the Marrickville markets, a trip to the fish markets, a game of bowling. The worker knows that Fridays are harder than Mondays and adjusts the pace. They don’t need a briefing each time; they already know.
Alex’s support coordinator spends a few hours each month working behind the scenes. This month she is monitoring the Core Supports budget (Alex tends to run low by October), preparing for an upcoming plan review, and dealing with an issue where one of Alex’s allied health providers changed their billing practice. She checks in with Alex by phone every fortnight — not just to troubleshoot, but to update her notes on what is working and what is not before the plan review.
Neither role could replace the other. The support worker makes each day workable. The coordinator makes the whole system work.
When coordination hours run low
Support coordination is a Capacity Building line with a fixed dollar amount for the plan year. It runs out. When it does — or when it looks like it might — there are a few options.
If you still have some hours left: Prioritise the highest-value tasks. Preparing for a plan review is the single most important use of remaining coordination hours — a well-prepared review can unlock significantly more support. Issue resolution (a provider who is not delivering, a billing problem) also earns its time back quickly.
If coordination hours are already gone: Providers are not obliged to continue coordination work without funding, but most will help with genuinely urgent matters. Plan review prep is the most common exception — a good coordinator knows that a well-resourced participant is worth a small investment of unbilled time.
If you regularly exhaust coordination before year end: This is evidence for your plan review. Document the hours you needed and when they ran out. The NDIA will not simply increase funding without evidence, but a pattern of running low — with a record of what the hours were spent on — is exactly the kind of evidence that works.
If your circumstances have changed significantly mid-plan (a new diagnosis, a housing crisis, a major shift in support needs), you may be able to request an unscheduled plan review before your plan end date. A support coordinator can help you request one and prepare the supporting documentation.
What Tegrity offers
Tegrity provides both support work and support coordination across Inner West, South Sydney and Canterbury-Bankstown. Our coordinators work with participants who have complex or high-need plans, and our support workers focus on community participation and daily support. They work together but are separate services funded separately.
Frequently asked questions
Can my support coordinator also be my support worker?
Technically yes, and some smaller providers do this. The NDIS Code of Conduct does not explicitly prohibit it. However it creates a conflict of interest — the coordinator’s job is to help you find the best available supports, which is difficult if they are also one of your providers. It also means a single point of failure if something goes wrong. We recommend keeping the roles separate, especially for complex plans.
What if I don’t have support coordination funded but want it?
You cannot add it mid-plan without an unscheduled review. However, if your circumstances have changed significantly — a new diagnosis, a crisis, a major change in living situation — you can request an unscheduled review and make the case for adding support coordination. A letter from a treating professional or existing provider supports this. Raise it at your next scheduled plan review if a crisis review is not appropriate.
How much does support coordination cost under the NDIS?
The NDIS Pricing Arrangements (updated annually from 1 July) set the maximum hourly rate for Support Coordination. The rate for Level 2 Support Coordination has increased each year — check the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits at ndis.gov.au for the rate that applies to your plan. Specialist Support Coordination, for participants with particularly complex needs, is funded at a higher rate. Your plan will specify how many hours are funded; you can use those hours with any registered provider you choose.
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.