Support Coordination in New South Wales

What support coordination actually covers

A support coordinator helps you turn a plan on paper into services that actually start. They find providers with capacity, make the introductions, sort out service agreements, and step in when something is not working. There are three levels: Support Connection, Support Coordination, and Specialist Support Coordination for more complex situations.

How it's funded

Support coordination sits under Capacity Building, Support Coordination, and it is funded in hours rather than as an open budget. Find out how many hours you have before anything else, because that sets how much contact you can reasonably expect.

What to know in New South Wales

NSW is large enough that a coordinator's local knowledge varies a lot by region. Someone who works mostly across metropolitan Sydney may not know which providers have capacity on the Mid North Coast or in the Riverina. Ask which areas they cover and which providers they have placed people with recently. Specialist support coordination is in short supply across the state, so if your situation is complex, ask about wait times before you commit.

Choosing between providers

Ask early whether the coordinator's organisation also delivers your other supports. That is not automatically a problem, but a coordinator who refers you to their own employer has an interest in that recommendation, and they should be able to explain how they handle it.

Questions worth asking

• Which level of support coordination am I funded for, and how many hours?
• Does your organisation also deliver supports you might refer me to?
• How often will we actually be in contact?
• Who picks up my file when you are on leave, or if you resign?
• Which providers near me have capacity right now, rather than a waitlist?

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