Support Connection (Level 1)
NDIS Capacity Building support
Help to understand a plan and connect with providers and community services, without ongoing coordination.
The short answer
Support connection is help to understand your plan and connect with providers and community services, without ongoing coordination.
About Support Connection (Level 1)
When a plan is new or complex, knowing where to start can be hard. Support connection gives you a short period of help to understand what is in your plan and to find and link with the providers and community services that can deliver your supports.
It is lighter than support coordination. There is no ongoing case management, and the focus is on getting you started and building your confidence to manage on your own. For some people that is all they need.
If you find you need more help later, such as managing several providers or resolving problems, a higher level of coordination may be a better fit. Ask your planner or a coordinator to talk through what suits you.
Who is this service for?
People who need help understanding their plan and connecting with providers and community services, without ongoing coordination.
What a typical session looks like
Support connection is the entry level of coordination. A connector helps you understand your plan and find the providers and community supports you want to use. Early meetings focus on your goals, what you want to try, and how to turn your budget into services.
They may help you compare providers, arrange first meetings and make sense of service agreements. The aim is for you to gain the confidence and knowledge to manage your own supports. Contact is lighter than higher levels of coordination, and the connector encourages you to take the lead.
Who delivers this support
Support connectors are often part of local organisations or coordination teams, and may have backgrounds in community services or disability support. Ask about their local knowledge and how they help people make informed choices. It is best to work with someone who explains the system in plain language.
How to choose a provider
- Ask how they will help you understand your plan.
- Find out how they help you find and compare providers.
- Check how they will build your confidence to manage on your own.
- Ask about how long the support usually lasts.
- Ask how you can get more help if you need it later.
Questions to ask a provider
- How will you help me understand my plan and what I can use it for?
- How do you help me find and compare providers?
- How will you build my skills and confidence to manage on my own?
- How do you keep in touch, and how quickly do you respond?
- What happens if my needs turn out to be more complex than expected?
- How will we know when the support has done its job?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Expecting the connector to do everything instead of building your own skills.
- Not being clear about your goals.
- Choosing providers without comparing options.
- Not asking about how the connector is paid, or about conflicts of interest.
- Not moving to a higher level of support when it is needed.
Getting started
- Read your plan and note the supports you want to set up.
- Contact coordinators and ask what they offer.
- Agree what you want to achieve.
- Review after the support ends and ask for more help if needed.
How it fits with the rest of your plan
Connection sits at the start of the coordination path, and some people later move to a higher level if their needs are more complex. It works with plan management, providers and community services. It is useful to be clear about what you want to achieve in the period, so you can tell when it has worked.
Eligibility
You can use NDIS funding for Support Connection (Level 1) 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 Support Connection (Level 1) 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 Support Connection (Level 1) 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
- Support Coordination (Level 2)
- Supported employment
- Tenancy and accommodation assistance
- Tenancy skills and sustainment
Frequently asked questions
What is support connection?
Help to understand your plan and connect with providers and community services, without ongoing coordination.
How is support connection different from support coordination?
Support connection is shorter and lighter. Support coordination involves more ongoing help to put supports in place and build your capacity.
Who can provide support connection?
Support coordination providers. Check what is included in your plan and ask providers what they offer.
What is the difference from support coordination?
Support connection is shorter and lighter. Support coordination involves more ongoing help.
Can I move to support coordination later?
Talk to your planner about changing the support if your needs change.
Do I need it?
It can help if you are new to the NDIS or unsure where to begin.
What is the difference between support connection and support coordination?
Connection is the lighter level and focuses on helping you understand your plan and find supports. Coordination goes further, with more help in managing supports and resolving problems.
Does a connector choose my providers?
No. They help you find and compare providers, but the choice is yours.
Will I still need help after this stage?
That depends on how you go. Some people are ready to manage on their own, while others continue with coordination.
Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Support Connection (Level 1)?
If Support Connection (Level 1) 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 Support Connection (Level 1) 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
Helpful reading
- How to choose an NDIS provider: 12 questions to ask before you commit: A practical checklist for comparing providers, from how a service fits your plan to what happens when something goes wrong.
- Registered or unregistered? What it means when you choose an NDIS provider: Registered and unregistered providers can both be legitimate, but the rules, checks and options for your plan are not the same. Here is how to think about the difference.
- How to change NDIS provider without losing support: You are allowed to change providers. A little planning means the new service is ready before the old one ends, and nothing falls through the gap.