When a participant is approved for NDIS support, most are funded for either Level 2 Support Coordination or Psychosocial Recovery Coaching, or Level 3 Specialist Support Coordination (SSC) in addition to Level 2 Support Coordination.
 
A participant is more likely to benefit from Specialist Support Coordination when they have high and complex support needs, such as:
 

• rare, multiple, or dual diagnoses
• significant psychosocial or functional complexity
• a history of trauma
• limited or no informal supports
• frequent involvement with multiple service systems

 
Specialist Support Coordination supports participants to navigate and access both NDIS-funded and mainstream/community supports, particularly where coordination is complex or high risk. Participants funded for SSC may also be eligible for Supported Independent Living (SIL) and/or Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). In these cases, the Specialist Support Coordinator often takes a lead role in liaising with SIL and SDA providers and managing complex service relationships on the participant’s behalf.
 
Participants receiving SSC commonly have large allied health and support teams. Depending on the participant’s level of engagement and functional capacity, the Specialist Support Coordinator works closely with these teams to ensure continuity of care, coordination of appointments, and that supports remain effective and aligned with the participant’s goals.
 
Specialist Support Coordinators bring a specialised skill set, often with backgrounds in psychology, social work, or similar disciplines. These skills are essential for managing high-risk or complex situations, coordinating multiple stakeholders, and ensuring the participant’s voice, choice, and control remain central to all decision-making.

​Getting started with your first NDIS plan can feel overwhelming, but the first 90 days are a valuable window to set yourself, or your child, up for success. This is the time to get familiar with your plan, understand each budget category, and confirm that your goals align with the supports you're arranging. Reviewing your plan carefully and noting any unclear items will help you make confident decisions from the start. It’s also a good idea to begin documenting what’s working well and what might need adjustment for future reviews.

Setting up services early helps you build momentum and avoid delays in accessing the supports you need. Start by identifying which providers you want to work with, checking their availability, and confirming their pricing is in line with the NDIS Price Guide. Once booked in, keep track of appointments, service agreements, and spending so you stay within budget and avoid gaps in support. Clear communication with providers from day one makes expectations easier to manage and minimises the chance of misunderstandings later on.
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A support coordinator can make this entire process smoother by helping you understand your plan, connecting you with appropriate providers, and troubleshooting challenges along the way. They can also guide you through common pitfalls such as over-committing your budget, waiting too long to set up services, or misunderstanding what's claimable. Their role is to empower you to build confidence and independence in navigating the NDIS, so don’t hesitate to draw on their experience and ask questions whenever something isn’t clear.

.Your NDIS plan is essentially a budget and support roadmap designed to help you live day to day and work towards your personal goals. But life does not stand still. Health can shift, living arrangements can change, or the supports you rely on may no longer be available.

When your plan no longer fits your real needs, you do not have to wait until the plan expires to get help. You may request a plan review anytime. If there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate the changes going on for you.

A plan review is when the NDIS looks at your current plan again to decide whether it still matches what you need currently. This is a normal cycle in the system and can be especially critical when safety, independence, or wellbeing are at risk.

You might consider requesting a review if:

1. Your health or capabilities have changed - this includes feeling more fatigued or unable to do as much as before and need extra support at home or in the community to feel safe.
2. Your existing support is inadequate – because the level or type of support you need has changed.
3. Your personal life situation has changed - moving house, leaving hospital, changes to family support, or an unsafe living situation can all significantly affect your support needs
4. Your plan was established on incorrect information – if your plan assumed family providing substantial care but they are unable to, or there are missed crucial details like needing specialised care, a review or variation may be the warranted.

To help the review process and to be able to evidence what you need, we suggest keeping records of letters from your GP or allied health professionals, hospital discharge summaries, records of safety incidents, and a short personal statement outlining what has changed and how it affects your day-to-day life. 

If your plan no longer reflects your reality, reach out to Hera Support to discuss whether a review could help you stay safe, supported, and on track.

At Hera Support, our Support Coordinators can help you identify what is not working, gather the right evidence, present your situation clearly to the NDIS and be with you during the review meeting to advocate on your behalf should you want us to.
 
Consider a plan review if you can tick any of these:

Quick checklist
1.I feel less safe than I did when my plan was approved.
2.My health or functional capacity has changed.
3.I now need more help with daily tasks.
4.My plan assumes family care that is no longer possible.
5.I have had a recent hospital stay or major medical change.
6.I have moved or my living situation has changed.
7.I have had falls, accidents, or other safety incidents.
8.My current funding does not cover what I realistically need.
9.My plan missed important details about my functions and/or abilities to manage on my own.
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Write down what changed, when it changed, and how it impacts your daily life. This gives your review request structure and helps your Support Coordinator build the strongest case.

A major change to the National Disability Insurance Scheme affects the way thousands of Western Australians access their disability support. Most participants are now receiving their funding in quarterly instalments. The changes impacts all new plans created from May this year and is already being felt across the sector as support providers adjust to tighter funding windows and reduced flexibility.

HERA’s Operations Lead, Alison Palmer said the move was designed to prevent participants from exhausting their budgets too early in their plan. But she warned it could create new challenges for both participants and providers.

“Most support funding is now only being released on a quarterly basis,” she said.

“The intent is to prevent overspend and stop funds running out before the plan ends, but it does change how we deliver support.”

The changes will affect anyone receiving a new plan. Participants with existing plans will not be impacted until they undergo a review, meaning thousands of people will transition onto the quarterly structure over the next few months.