Great Support Coordination and Plan Management can help participants get the most from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) – and mostly that means being supported to be included in their communities and meet their goals.
That’s exactly why most of Australia and its political landscape united around the creation of our NDIS. There’s been growing talk and implied, or sometimes outright, negativity about those dubbed as “middlemen and women” – Support Coordinators and Plan Managers.
Along with the steady erosion of funding, this negativity is causing some organisations to relinquish their Plan Management and Support Coordination services.
Without these services, and in an increasingly complex NDIS, some participants just wouldn’t get what they need and deserve.
With millions of dollars going towards these services, it’s understandable that people are asking whether this money could be better spent on direct support for participants. But when done right, these services can be vital in ensuring that participants have real choice and control over their plans.
We think Support Coordination services and Plan Management are essential for some participants and we are proud of our teams who support their participants with capability, integrity, and with commitment.
We continue to grow these services at Ability Options because our Support Coordinators and Plan Managers do a great job, because people choose them, and to be ready for any iterations in services to help participants and families navigate the NDIS.
Deriding and underfunding these services is a short sighted and ill-informed approach.
This does not mean that some services don’t need improving, and we fully support the push to ensure that providers are registered to safeguard participants.
The role of Plan Managers and Support Coordinators
At their core, Support Coordination and Plan Management are in place to help people navigate a complex NDIS, and they should ultimately empower participants.
While there are concerns about the efficiency of, and costs associated with, these roles in some places – and arguably in services which are less likely to be registered – we believe that when these services are delivered effectively, with integrity, and held to account through the registration requirements, like ours are, they play a vital role in ensuring that participants get the most out of their NDIS plans.
These services aren’t just about handling paperwork, they’re about helping people make informed decisions, connecting them with the right providers, and ensuring their needs are met.
At Ability Options, we understand that the NDIS is complex. That’s why we’ve expanded our teams in Support Coordination and Plan Management to deliver high-quality, participant-centred services.
We know these services can help ensure that funding is spent wisely, and we’re committed to making sure that participants retain full control over their plans and choices.
NDIS reforms and ongoing challenges
The NDIS landscape is shifting. Changes like the introduction of the “in and out list” mean that some supports and services are now only eligible for funding under certain circumstances. This can complicate things, but it’s all part of the ongoing effort to make the system more sustainable so it can continue to support people who need it long into the future.
There’s also been a lot of conversation around the mandatory registration of service providers. The goal there is to ensure that everyone offering services under the NDIS is held to a high standard, which is a good thing for participant safety. But there are also concerns that it could limit the choices available to participants, especially if smaller providers get squeezed out.
It’s a delicate balance, and while some people worry about the impact of these changes, the overall aim is to make sure that participants can access safe, high-quality services they trust.
Proportionate registration should be welcomed, and proportionate registration should make sure participant choices are protected.
Choice and control: The heart of the NDIS
One of the core values of the NDIS is putting choice and control in the hands of the participants that the Scheme supports.
The NDIS is meant to be about choice—participants should have the power to decide what services and supports are best for them. Unfortunately, pricing concerns have raised doubts about how much control people really have when there are unethical providers gouging prices or taking advantage of the system or the participants who rely on them.
There are also some participants who need support to make choices, and these participants are highly vulnerable to poor practice, risks of abuse, assault, neglect, exploitation and fraud.
There’s been a lot of discussion about this, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) stepping in to crack down on unfair pricing practices and the discussions about proportionate registration.
It’s critical that pricing remains transparent and fair, so participants can make genuine choices based on what works best for them—not what costs the least for providers and it’s equally critical that our most vulnerable participants are safe, happy and supported and not left at risk.
What we’re doing at Ability Options
We’re committed to providing services that not only meet but exceed expectations. Our expanded teams in Support Coordination and Plan Management are here to make sure participants get the most out of their NDIS funding. We focus on clear communication, fostering informed decisions, operating with integrity, and making sure that our participants feel in control at every step of the way.
We’re also committed to navigating the evolving NDIS environment and making sure that our services stay flexible and responsive to change. As the system evolves, we want to make sure that our participants continue to have the support they need without unnecessary barriers or inefficiencies.
Looking ahead: Making the NDIS work for everyone
The NDIS has had its fair share of challenges, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to reshape how people with disabilities access support in Australia to meet their aspirations and be included in their communities. At Ability Options, we believe in the power of the NDIS to give people more choice, more control, and more independence.
We’ll continue to monitor the changes in the system, advocating for policies that protect participant rights and ensure that the NDIS remains true to its promise. We’re in this for the long haul and are proud to be part of a community that’s committed to improving the lives of Australians living with disabilities.
Ability Options celebrates our 50th birthday next year and our planning seeks to make sure we continue to deliver our Mission for the next 50.
