A Level 3 plan may be included in an NDIS plan when more complex circumstances call for specialist support coordination. This is an individual decision made by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), not an automatic entitlement. Having a particular diagnosis or situation does not guarantee it.
This article explains what specialist support coordination is, how it differs from Level 2, and how you might raise it with your NDIS contact. It is written for participants, families, carers and authorised representatives who want to make informed enquiries.
What is Specialist Support Coordination?
Specialist support coordination is the NDIS’s Level 3 support coordination. It is for participants whose circumstances make it hard to put supports in place and keep them running safely.
Support coordination, in general, helps participants understand their NDIS plan, connect with providers, and use their funding. If you would like that bigger picture first, see our NDIS support coordination overview.
At Level 3, the focus narrows to complex barriers. Specialist coordinators work on things like:
- Risks in the support environment. Anything about a participant’s living situation, relationships or service arrangements that could affect safety or wellbeing, or the ability of providers to deliver supports.
- Service planning. Working out which supports are needed, in what order, and how different providers will work together.
- Stability of supports. Helping arrangements hold together after repeatedly breaking down.
Specialist coordination is not emergency response or medical treatment. It also can’t promise to remove every barrier. It is a planning and coordination service, and it is led by the participant’s goals and choices.
How Does a Specialist Support Coordinator Develop a Service Plan?
A specialist support coordinator can work with you and your support network to develop a service plan that addresses complex support needs. This sets out how providers will work together, which issues need attention first and how everyone will communicate.
For example, it may clarify responsibilities when disability, housing and health services are involved in your support. Your goals and preferences remain central, and relevant information should be shared with your consent. The service plan helps put your existing NDIS supports into practice; it does not replace your NDIS funding plan.
Working With Your Specialist Support Coordinator and Support Network
Working with a specialist support coordinator gives you an opportunity to explain what is working, where supports are breaking down and what you want to change. With your permission, they can involve family members, carers and relevant providers to identify practical ways forward.
This may include agreeing on communication arrangements, planning for unexpected changes and clarifying who will respond when service problems arise. You should remain involved in decisions, with clear explanations of proposed actions and opportunities to ask questions about your supports.
How Does an NDIS Plan Level 3 Differ From Level 2
Level 2, called Coordination of Supports, can also involve several providers and difficult situations. Level 3 specialist support coordination is not simply more hours or a “better” Level 2. The difference is in purpose and in the specialist expertise the work calls for.
|
Description |
Level 2: Coordination of Supports |
Level 3: Specialist Support Coordination |
|
Purpose |
Build the participant’s ability to understand, use and coordinate their supports |
Address complex barriers and risks that make specialist support hard to access or sustain |
|
Typical coordination work |
Linking with providers, setting up service arrangements, helping with plan use and review preparation |
Analysing why supports aren’t working, planning around risks, and working closely with the wider support network to build stable arrangements |
|
Specialist expertise |
Strong coordination skills and knowledge of the NDIS and local services |
Higher-level skills and experience managing complexity, risk and challenging service environments |
Both levels need to be included in your plan. Funding for one level can’t be used interchangeably with the other.
When Might Specialist Coordination Services be Considered?
There is no fixed checklist. The NDIA considers each participant’s circumstances, so the examples below are illustrations only. They show the kinds of situations where coordination can become complex.
-
Barriers prevent access to suitable supports. For example, providers may be unable or unwilling to deliver NDIS services because of risks they can’t manage.
-
Support arrangements keep breaking down. Supports may be set up but not last, leaving the participant without consistent help.
-
Many services are involved, and their approaches conflict. Health, housing, disability and other NDIS services may be working without a shared plan.
-
Risks in the support environment affect safety or well-being. These need careful, informed planning.
These situations matter because they go beyond arranging NDIS services. They may need someone with specialist support coordination skills to understand what is going wrong and plan a way forward.
A diagnosis alone doesn’t determine whether Level 3 specialist support coordination is included. What usually matters more is how your circumstances affect your ability to access and sustain supports.
A hypothetical example (not a real client or outcome)
Sam has several NDIS supports in their plan. Over the past year, two providers have ended their services after difficulties they felt unable to manage, and Sam’s family has struggled to find replacements. Sam’s health and housing services have different views about what is needed, and no one is bringing these together. As a result, Sam often goes without regular support.
This example shows a coordination problem: supports exist on paper but can’t be kept in place. It does not suggest Sam would be approved for Level 3 specialist support since that depends on the NDIA’s assessment of individual circumstances.
How to Discuss Level 3 With Your NDIS Providers
You can ask for specialist support coordination to be considered at a planning meeting or plan review. Your contact might be an NDIA planner or a Local Area Coordinator.
It can help to explain
-
The barriers you face. Describe what is making it hard to access or keep supports.
-
The impact on your supports. Give examples of what has happened, such as services ending or supports not starting.
-
What help do you need. Say what you would want a coordinator to do.
Reports from health professionals or current providers can help show your circumstances. Bring any that are relevant.
Level 3 needs to be included in your plan before this service can be delivered under that funding. We can’t give approval times or outcomes, as decisions are made by the NDIA. Check the NDIS website for current guidance on support coordinator levels.
What to Ask a Specialist NDIS Support Coordinator
Once Level 3 is in your plan, you choose who delivers it. These questions can help you find the right fit:
-
Experience. What experience do you have supporting people with circumstances like mine?
-
Qualifications. What qualifications and training do you hold? Specialist coordinators don’t all need the same professional registration, so ask what is relevant to your situation.
-
Service planning. How will you plan supports, and how will I be involved in decisions?
-
Communication. How and how often will we talk, and what happens if I can’t reach you?
-
Availability. Do you have capacity to start when I need you?
-
Fees. What will you charge, and how will your time be recorded and reported?
-
Consent. How will you get my consent before sharing information or contacting others?
-
Conflicts of interest. Do you also deliver other supports? How will you manage this
-
Working with my network. How will you work with my existing providers, family and other supports?
How VHCC May Assist Participants
VHCC offers specialist support coordination through its Ballarat team. If you are considering Level 3, you can learn more about our support coordinator services or contact us to discuss your needs and our current availability.
We can talk through your situation and what support might look like. We can’t promise acceptance, eligibility or outcomes, but we’d be glad to help you work out your next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Level 3 the same as Level 2 support coordination?
No. Both involve coordinating supports, but Level 3 is for complex barriers and risks and needs specialist expertise. It is a separate level and must be included in your plan.
Does a particular diagnosis automatically qualify me for Level 3?
No. The NDIA looks at your individual circumstances and how they affect your ability to access and sustain supports, not at a diagnosis alone.
Can I ask for specialist coordination to be considered?
Yes. You can raise it with your NDIS contact at a planning meeting or review. Explain the barriers, their impact and the help you need. The NDIA makes the final decision.
Can Level 3 be used if it isn’t included in my plan?
No. Level 3 must be included in your plan before the service can be delivered under that funding. Level 2 funding can’t be used in its place.
