In recent months, the role of a support coordinator has proven exceptionally challenging. It requires not just emotional resilience, but also considerable strength and perseverance—qualities that deserve celebration!
Support Coordinators play a critical role within the NDIS, guiding participants through an ever-developing system. Without them, many individuals would struggle to navigate this complex landscape.
Let’s take a ride down memory lane ~~
Over the past sixteen years, significant progress has been made. Today, more people with living with disabilities have access to funding and essential supports, with sectors such as the justice system, mental health, and child services integrating into a system designed to enhance people living with disability build their independence and skills.
The definition of an insurance scheme :
"An insurance scheme is an agreement where a person pays a company in exchange for coverage of specific costs if an accident occurs. The basic principle is that policyholders pool their risks and losses are paid out from their collective premiums."
How does this concept relate to the NDIS?
The NDIS Framework upholds key principles ingrained in human rights, emphasising the dignity and respect of people with disabilities, the right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and the ability to participate fully in community life. The funding is sourced from the government and distributed as funding to those who make access to the Scheme. (Source: NDIS Website)
However, as one former Local Area Coordinator (LAC) put it, “the insurance scheme label is misleading. It’s not in line with the legislation, principles, or ethos of the NDIS.” This insight suggests that the NDIS may not have been initially designed to be a long-term solution or to accommodate its current participant load of 661,267 (as of June 30, 2024), raising concerns about its sustainability from the outset.
Previous discussions have highlighted the issues, and the NDIS has acknowledged, through its recent review, that reinstating foundational supports to be run within States and Territories should happen, sooner rather than later. The Minister for Disabilities in WA, Don Punch spoke recently at the NDS convention alluding to the State Government working towards building these services.
The current approach, involving cuts to participant plans, is seen as a potential path toward stabilising the Scheme. Is it fair, will it cause problems, will it weed out shonky providers – only time will tell if the new policies and procedures will make a difference to participants in the long run.
We have said it before and we will stand behind it again, Support coordinators are not just facilitators or implementers, they are advocates, allies and agents of change.
They assist participants to dream, plan and live out their goals, creating a pathway for inclusivity. We should honour and acknowledge their work and unpaid hours they put in.
Unfortunately in the current climate, the NDIS is stuck on fraudulent activity and dodgy providers. There has even been a recruitment drive by the NDIS in recent months to work on the "fraud taskforce".
But what about those that continue to work hard behind the scenes - they are the good and the great support coordinators who feel left out of the conversation. A bit of praise and a “great job” goes a long way in making their day a little lighter and the work load seem a little easier.
These are some key points the NDIS should consider when they cut vital funding:
There has been no increase in support coordination funding in 10 years
That support coordinators have run through mazes, clutching overwhelming forms, paperwork and processes. (which changes every month) For participants who are dealing with pain or crisis daily - a person walking alongside them, to help them understand the intricacies is vital.
They help unpack NDIS plans, they clarify services, intercede when things go wrong and introduce participants to a wide range of resources and opportunities that match up with their client’s unique situation and needs.
Everyday, coordinators support people to build a solid foundation that they need for stability, wellness and self-advocacy.
They do more than make connections to services, they build relationships within the sector, which are rooted in trust and respect. This type of relational approach is key to a role that requires the delicate balance of both and advocate and navigator.
For some participants, this the first time in their lives that they feel truly heard and understood within a system that is often impersonal and bureaucratic.
Coordinators strive to create independence, with the knowledge that their support is time sensitive. That was one of the first tenets of support coordination when the Scheme rolled out Nationally in 2019. Coordinators have always known this. Perhaps the NDIS needs to understand that their original intent is not always practical or achievable.
Life doesn’t always go according to plan, and support coordinators are there for participants when challenges arise. This can involve sudden changes to health, accommodation, mental health and family dynamics. Once addressed, the participants can be left with strategies for resilience and coordinators are instrumental in this function.
Support Coordinators are under appreciated. They assist to navigate, foster independence, and are facilitators to changing the lives of the participants they serve. They are genuine, caring and empowering people in this difficult environment.
The journey toward inclusivity within our society isn’t just about politicians making a name for themselves, government, policies and funding: it’s the ability for some individuals who dedicate their time and resources to helping others navigate, aspire and thrive.
Perhaps we need a “Support Coordinator Day”. So, thank you to all those coordinators who make a difference, it’s a tough gig. Celebrate your hard work, your wins and the relationships you have created with your customers.
We wish you well, as always
The Lama Care Team
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