NDIS Specialist Support Coordination
The team at Ark Support Coordination are experts in helping participants navigate the complex world of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) through support and specialist support coordination in Perth and Western Australia.
Through the use of a strong service delivery model that has been developed with and by parents of children and adults with complex disabilities, Ark Support Coordination consults regularly with all stakeholders to understand what families expect and need from an NDIS support coordinator. As a result, Ark is equipped with a tailored service that enriches the lives of NDIS participants.
Organising your NDIS plan
Our expertise in specialist support coordination in Perth, the South West and the Kimberley ensures you and your family understand and implement your NDIS plan effectively.
With coordinators that work alongside those who are important to you, Ark aims to meet your needs through optimising your informal support network (family, friends and community), as well as your formal support network (NDIS providers, agencies and other services).
Our Specialist Support Coordinators can:
Help you understand your NDIS plan
Navigate the "My Place" portal
Identify and negotiate with suitable service providers
Assist with the necessary documentation and paperwork
Support your choices
Assist during crises
Work to solve complex systemic barriers to living a good life
Our goal at Ark is to connect you with the support you need, in order to live the life you choose. Our support and specialist support coordination services ensure that eventually, you won’t need us.
We’re here with you every step of the way
We understand that navigating the NDIS system can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Not only are our specialist support coordinators experienced in simplifying the process, but they’re in it, with you, every step of the way.
Professional, experienced NDIS Specialist Support Coordinators
The team at Ark are highly-skilled, tertiary-educated professionals who go above and beyond for our clients across the state. Many in our team have lived experience of disability, giving them a unique perspective of the challenges presented by the NDIS, as well as the enormous opportunities when services are accessed effectively. Experience, values and work ethic gives Ark an edge when it comes to NDIS support and specialist support coordination in Perth and across Western Australia.
Through our blog, you can learn more about the day-to-day duties of specialist support coordinators, and understand more about what they do or don’t do.
We have Specialist Support Coordination in Western Australia, when you need it.
NDIS social workers have a comprehensive understanding of marginalisation and systemic barriers. Our team comes from an extensive social work background, with further qualifications in psychology, counselling and health science. With expertise in working with individuals who have extremely complex support needs, including supporting NDIS participants interfacing with the justice system, hospital discharges, child protection, dual diagnoses, palliative care and homelessness.
Our specialist support coordinators in Perth and Western Australia use their expertise and knowledge to achieve positive outcomes in these challenging areas.
FAQs
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Support and specialist support coordinators do a lot, but there are some things that they can’t do. A support coordinator is unable to provide advocacy to NDIS participants. This is because the NDIS views advocacy as failing to meet section 34 of the NDIS Act 2013 (f) which states “The support is most appropriately funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme”. The NDIS states advocacy should be provided by services funded by the Department of Social Services (DSS). Your support coordinator is able to provide advice and refer to specific advocacy providers funded by DSS.
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The NDIS provides funding to pay for support services for Australians living with a disability. To join the NDIS and access our support coordination in Perth and Western Australia, you must be:
Under 64 years of age
A permanent Visa holder or Special Category Visa holder
A person with a disability that’s likely to be permanent, making it difficult to take part in everyday activities.
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Support coordination is not automatically granted to you if you ask for it, unlike Plan Management, for example, which every NDIS participant is entitled to access. When you have your planning meeting, you will need to demonstrate why support coordination is a “reasonable and necessary” support in your situation.
Section 34 of the NDIS Act 2013 establishes the criteria for what can be defined as “reasonable and necessary” support. NDIS funding should only be provided and used if it meets this criteria. The six criteria are as follows:
The support will assist a participant to reach the goals and aspirations outlined in their participant statement.
The support will facilitate the participant’s social and economic participation.
The support represents value for money, relative to benefits achieved and costs of alternative supports.
The support is considered good practice and is likely to be beneficial to the participant.
The support takes into account what is reasonable for parents, carers, informal networks and the community to provide.
The support is most appropriately funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
You will need to go into your planning meeting well prepared to demonstrate how support coordination would help you. A good place to start is by discussing how support coordination will help you “build capacity”.
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No, support coordination and plan management are separate services that can be provided and funded under the NDIS.
The role of a plan manager is to help participants keep track of their budget, providing updates and reports when necessary. Support coordination provides participants with assistance with regard to their NDIS plans, helping to connect their clients with providers and any other services they might need.