Psychosocial Recovery Coaching

NDIS Capacity Building support

A recovery coach supports people with psychosocial disability to set goals, build skills and take part in daily life and the community on their own terms.

The short answer

A psychosocial recovery coach supports people with psychosocial disability to set goals, build skills, connect with services and take part in daily life and the community on their own terms.

About Psychosocial Recovery Coaching

Psychosocial disability can arise from a mental health condition and can affect how a person manages everyday activities, relationships and taking part in the community. Recovery, in this context, is not about being cured. It is about living a life that has meaning to you, with the supports you need.

A recovery coach works alongside you. They help you work out what matters, set goals and take steps towards them. They can help you build skills, connect with services and community groups, and make sense of your plan and the supports available. The relationship is built on trust, and the coach respects your choices and pace.

Recovery coaching overlaps with support coordination, but the emphasis is on your personal recovery goals and on building your capacity. Ask providers about their approach, how they involve you in decisions and how they work with your other supports, such as clinicians and family.

Who is this service for?

People with psychosocial disability who want a coach to help them set goals, build skills and take part in daily life and the community.

What a typical session looks like

A recovery coach works alongside you to build the life you want while living with a psychosocial disability. Meetings might happen at home, in a cafe or on a walk, and they focus on what matters to you, such as routines, relationships, work, study or managing difficult days. The coach listens first and helps you set goals in your own words.

Support is practical and strengths-based. A coach might help you plan the week, prepare for an appointment, try something new or work out what to do when things get hard. They also help you connect with services and community groups, and encourage you to make your own decisions, even when the path is not straight.

Who delivers this support

Recovery coaches often have training in mental health, community services or lived experience of recovery. Some are peer workers who have their own experience of mental health challenges. Ask about their approach, how they work with your other supports, and whether they have experience with your particular situation.

How to choose a provider

• Ask about the coach's experience with psychosocial disability and lived experience.
• Find out how they help you set goals and review progress.
• Check how they work with your clinicians, family and other supports.
• Ask how they handle difficult times, including when you are unwell.
• Ask how flexible appointments are and where they take place.

Questions to ask a provider

• How do you work with me to set goals and decide what to focus on?
• What training or lived experience do you have?
• How do you support me on difficult days?
• How will you work with my doctor, psychologist and other supports?
• What happens if I am in crisis or feel unsafe?
• How will we review whether the coaching is helping?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Expecting a straight line of progress, when setbacks are a normal part of recovery.
• Setting goals that come from others rather than from you.
• Not telling the coach about a crisis plan or what helps when you are unwell.
• Keeping supports separate, so no one has the full picture.
• Stopping support at the first good stretch, before routines are secure.

Getting started

1. Think about what recovery means for you and what you would like to work towards.
2. Talk to your planner or support coordinator about whether this support is in your plan.
3. Meet a few coaches and choose someone you feel comfortable with.
4. Set a small first goal and review it together.

How it fits with the rest of your plan

Recovery coaching works with your doctor, psychologist, support coordinator and community supports. It is one part of a broader effort to help you live well, alongside treatment and everyday support. Because recovery is personal and often not linear, the plan should be flexible and reviewed as your needs and goals change.

Eligibility

You can use NDIS funding for Psychosocial Recovery Coaching if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

Funding

Capacity Building supports help you build skills and independence. If Psychosocial Recovery Coaching is in your plan, it is normally paid from a Capacity Building budget. These budgets are usually set for particular types of support, so check which one your plan uses. Many NDIS supports have price limits, so ask providers for a quote and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.

What it costs

Supports such as Psychosocial Recovery Coaching that are funded by the NDIS are paid at rates that follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which the NDIA reviews regularly. Many items have a maximum price, and some prices are higher in remote areas. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.

Support coordination providers on the NDIS register

11,962 NDIS providers list support coordination supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.

Providers listing support coordination

• 00 Towards your Horizon - SA; includes Glenelg South, SA
• 1 Abbira Care Services - VIC; includes Fraser Rise, VIC
• 1 All Care - SA; includes Findon, SA
• 1 Care Connect - NSW; includes Manly, NSW; Rooty Hill, NSW; Rosehill, NSW
• 1 Circle Of Care - VIC; includes Pakenham, VIC
• 1 Heart Care Services - NSW; includes Orange, NSW
• 1 In Town Services - SA; includes Mansfield Park, SA
• 1 The Helpers - NSW; includes Parramatta, NSW
• 10 Plus Care - VIC; includes Camberwell, VIC
• 121 Supports Hunter - NSW; includes Hamilton, NSW; Newcastle, NSW; Newcastle West, NSW
• 13 Care Solutions - VIC; includes Cobblebank, VIC
• 13 Health Service Organisation - VIC; includes Donnybrook, VIC

See all 11,962 support coordination providers

Listings by state and territory

• New South Wales (4,077)
• Victoria (3,565)
• Queensland (2,127)
• South Australia (1,131)
• Western Australia (999)
• Northern Territory (274)
• Australian Capital Territory (262)
• Tasmania (209)

Suburbs with the most listings

• Brisbane, QLD (541)
• Melbourne, VIC (444)
• Sydney, NSW (321)
• Central Coast, NSW (265)
• Perth, WA (245)
• Adelaide, SA (227)
• Blacktown, NSW (207)
• Parramatta, NSW (198)
• Liverpool, NSW (191)
• Tarneit, VIC (184)
• Geelong, VIC (177)
• Werribee, VIC (160)

Listings covering the most areas

• Permalink Support Services - 503 areas
• Nurse Next Door Batemans Bay - 413 areas
• Nurse Next Door Ballarat - 233 areas
• Nurse Next Door Armidale - 230 areas
• Nurse Next Door Wagga Wagga - 207 areas
• Nurse Next Door Canberra - 189 areas
• Huge Care - 188 areas
• Aligned Assist - 184 areas

Checking credentials

• Check registration Search the NDIS Commission's register of registered providers to see whether a provider is registered and for which types of support. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use unregistered providers.
• Ask about worker screening Ask whether workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check where their role requires one, and how the provider checks its workers' identity and qualifications.
• Get it in writing Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that describes the support, the prices, how to change or end it and how to make a complaint.

Regulation and safeguards

NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulates NDIS providers and handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports. Phone: 1800 035 544.
• National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Runs the NDIS. Contact them about your plan, your funding and eligibility. Phone: 1800 800 110.

Related services

• School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES)
• Self-management training
• Skill-building camps and classes
• Skill-building community access

Frequently asked questions

What is a psychosocial recovery coach?

A recovery coach supports people with psychosocial disability to set goals, build skills, connect with services and take part in daily life on their own terms.

What is psychosocial disability?

A disability that can arise from a mental health condition. It affects how a person manages everyday activities, relationships and participation in the community.

How is recovery coaching different from support coordination?

The two overlap. A recovery coach focuses on your recovery goals and building your capacity, and also helps you connect with supports. Ask providers how they describe their role.

What does psychosocial disability mean?

A disability that can arise from a mental health condition. It affects how a person manages daily activities, relationships and participation.

Is a recovery coach a therapist?

No. A coach supports goals, skills and connections, while therapy is provided by clinicians such as psychologists.

Can my family take part in my recovery goals?

Yes, if you want them to be. Discuss with your coach how family and friends can support you.

What is psychosocial recovery coaching?

It is support that helps people living with a psychosocial disability work toward their own goals, build skills and connect with community. The focus is on recovery as defined by the person.

Is a recovery coach the same as a therapist?

No. A coach helps with everyday life and goals, while a therapist provides treatment. They can work together.

What if I am in crisis?

A coach can help you use your crisis plan and contact the right services, but they are not an emergency service. In an emergency, call the appropriate emergency number or go to a hospital.

Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Psychosocial Recovery Coaching?

If Psychosocial Recovery Coaching is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

How do I find a Psychosocial Recovery Coaching provider near me?

Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.

Sources and further reading

• NDIS: how the NDIS works, plans and price limits
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: find a registered provider, make a complaint

Browse the NDIS and aged care provider directory