Support coordination helps families make sense of an NDIS plan and turn its funding into real, working supports for your child. This guide explains what support coordination involves, how it's funded, and how to choose a Melbourne provider — and features a selection of local services to explore.
Melbourne CBD multidisciplinary practice offering Speech Pathology, OT, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Dietetics, Allied Health Assistance, Positive Behaviour Support, and NDIS Support Coordination/Plan Management for children, including babies. NDIS-funded services mentioned; no explicit ages, telehealth, or waitlist details given.
South Yarra & Blackburn VIC psychology practice offering individual, couple, sex counselling and child therapy (play-based, under 13) plus psychological assessments for ADHD/autism. Multilingual clinicians (Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, Malay, Portuguese). Accepts NDIS self- and plan-managed clients; new clients seen within 1-2 weeks.
Australia-wide psychology, counselling and behaviour support provider offering telehealth, in-clinic and at-home services for children, adolescents, adults and seniors. Supports NDIS plan- and self-managed participants, including autism and ADHD support, speech therapy referrals, early intervention and support coordination. AHPRA-registered psychologists; Medicare rebates may apply.
NDIS-registered provider offering psychology, behaviour support, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and support coordination across VIC, NSW, QLD. Services delivered via home visits, clinics, and telehealth nationwide; some services have waitlists (e.g., speech, OT) while others have no wait time.
NDIS registered provider offering behaviour support, psychology, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, and support coordination across multiple Australian regions. Services include home visits, clinic visits, and telehealth. Some services have waitlists; others show no wait time or notify-when-available status.
Multidisciplinary paediatric practice in Richmond, VIC offering Speech Pathology, OT, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Dietetics, Music/Art Therapy, Social Work, Counselling, Audiology, Positive Behaviour Support, Support Coordination and NDIS plan management; treats from 1-day-old babies to adolescents.
Karista is a free, independent referral service connecting NDIS and aged-care clients with providers including speech therapy, OT, psychology, physiotherapy, dietetics, behaviour support, and support coordination. Serves all ages from early childhood (0-8) through adult and aged (65+). No specific waitlist or telehealth details mentioned.
The OT Group offers Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, and Support Coordination via telehealth Australia-wide, with clinics in Moonee Ponds, Parkdale, and Bendigo, Victoria. No specific ages, NDIS registration, or waitlist details are mentioned.
Support coordination is a service that helps you understand and use your child's NDIS plan. A support coordinator works alongside your family to connect you with the right therapists and services, explain how your funding is structured, and help you get the most out of the budget available. For children, this often means linking you with speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, early intervention programs, and community supports — and helping you book, compare and coordinate them.
There are generally three levels of support under the NDIS: Support Connection (helping you build the skills to manage your own plan), Support Coordination (the most common level, helping you understand and implement your plan), and Specialist Support Coordination (for more complex situations involving multiple services or high-risk circumstances). Your coordinator does not deliver therapy themselves — their job is to help you navigate the system so your child gets the support they need.
Many families ask for support coordination when they feel overwhelmed after receiving a plan. You might benefit if you:
Support coordination funding is included in a plan by the NDIS when they consider it reasonable and necessary — it isn't automatic, so check whether your child's plan lists it.
Support coordination is available for NDIS participants of any age, including young children in early childhood approaches. For children under 9, the NDIS early childhood pathway often provides an Early Childhood partner who plays a similar navigating role, so ask how the two fit together for your child.
Your first meeting is usually a relaxed conversation, often at home, in the coordinator's office, or via telehealth. The coordinator will read through your child's plan, ask about your goals and your family's day-to-day life, and explain what your funding can and can't be used for. Together you'll usually map out a set of next steps — for example, which therapy types to prioritise, how to shortlist providers, and how to keep track of spending. Expect to be given clear timelines and to leave with a plan of action.
Support coordination is funded under the Capacity Building — Support Coordination budget in your child's NDIS plan. Because it's a specific funding line, you generally cannot use Core or other budgets to pay for it.
The NDIS sets price caps for support coordination that are reviewed each year, and hourly rates differ for Support Connection, Support Coordination (Level 2) and Specialist Support Coordination (Level 3). As a general guide, coordination sits in the tens of dollars up to around $190+ per hour for specialist coordination, with Level 2 commonly charged in the low-to-mid $100s per hour. These are indicative ranges only — always check the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and confirm exact rates with the provider before you start. Your coordinator should also tell you roughly how many hours your funding will stretch to.
Melbourne has a wide range of providers, from CBD-based teams to those in suburbs like South Yarra, Richmond, Carlton, Moonee Ponds, Travancore and Werribee. This page features a selection including Language For Life, Karista, The OT Group, Unify Disability Services and others. When comparing, consider:
Taking a little time to compare a few providers — and asking these questions upfront — will help you find a coordinator who genuinely fits your family.
Or read the full support coordination guide, or browse all Melbourne providers.
No. The NDIS only includes support coordination funding when they consider it reasonable and necessary. Check your child's plan for a 'Capacity Building — Support Coordination' line, and if it's not there, you can raise it at your next plan review.
A plan manager handles the money — paying invoices and tracking your budget. A support coordinator helps you understand your plan and connect with the right services. Some families use both, and they are funded from different budget lines.
The NDIS sets annual price caps, with rates varying by level of coordination. As a general guide, hourly rates range from the tens of dollars up to around $190+ for specialist coordination. These are indicative only — always confirm current rates and the NDIS Pricing Arrangements with your provider.
Yes, many Melbourne coordinators offer phone and video appointments alongside face-to-face meetings. Telehealth can be convenient for busy families or those living further from the CBD. Ask each provider what they offer.
It depends on how your child's plan is managed. If the plan is NDIA-managed, you must use NDIS-registered providers. Plan-managed and self-managed families can use unregistered providers too. Always confirm a provider's registration status before starting.