How Does My Support Coordinator Work with OTs Under NDIS?

Navigating the world of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can be complex, especially when multiple professionals are involved in your journey. Two of the most important people you’ll meet on this path are your Support Coordinator and your Occupational Therapist (OT). Understanding how they function as a team helps ensure you get the maximum benefit from your NDIS plan.

What is a Support Coordinator?

A Support Coordinator serves as your personal NDIS navigator and advocate. Their main responsibility is to help you understand, implement, and make the most of all aspects of your NDIS plan. Support Coordinators aren’t typical service providers; instead, they focus on connecting you to the right services and supporting you to develop skills so you can manage your own supports into the future.

A great Support Coordinator will:

Translate the NDIS plan into your daily life: demystifying funding categories, explaining what you’re eligible for, and removing the confusion around confusing NDIS language.
Find and connect you to the best OTs: not just ticking a box, but matching you with professionals who have the right expertise—whether that’s working with children, aged participants, complex needs, neurological disability, mental health, or sensory processing.
Organise, coordinate, and empower: setting up introductions, briefing all providers on your preferences (for communication, privacy, culture, routines), and ensuring that each support works in harmony with the others.
Monitor, troubleshoot and adjust in real-time: proactively checking budgets, picking up on service gaps, managing cancellations, solving invoice problems, and helping you quickly adjust when goals, challenges, or priorities change.
Centre your voice in every step: ensuring your goals, dreams, and feedback drive the whole process—not just ticking off predetermined service boxes.

Most importantly, your Support Coordinator empowers you to make informed decisions and ensures you remain at the centre of your NDIS experience.

What Does an Occupational Therapist (OT) Do?

While your Support Coordinator steers the “big picture,” your OT works intimately in the fabric of your daily life. An OT’s expertise is in understanding how you perform tasks, overcome barriers, and function at your best—in ways that suit your own body, mind, home, and ambitions.

The OT’s NDIS role includes:

Comprehensive functional assessments: observing how you do things at home, in the community, at work, or at school. They reveal not just “can you” but “how can you, with what support, and how can it be safer, faster or more independent?”
Prescribing and trialling assistive technology: from simple aids (grab rails, reachers) to complex mobility devices, communication tech, sensory supports or custom equipment. Their detailed reports justify funding and help you trial real-world options before you choose.
Designing and justifying home modifications: OTs walk through your home and daily routine, identifying risks and opportunities—then work with builders, landlords, and the NDIS to ensure works are funded and completed as needed.
Skill-building and therapy: teaching vital life skills—from getting dressed, preparing meals, and managing money, to handling transitions, emotional regulation, or joining group activities—always tailored to your unique goals and pace.
Up-skilling families, support workers, and community partners: OTs empower your whole support network, educating them about best-practice strategies for communication, support, behaviour, or ADLs (activities of daily living).

How Does Your Support Coordinator Work with OTs?

Support Coordinators and OTs work best when they communicate openly and keep the participant’s goals as their mutual focus. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how this collaboration unfolds throughout your NDIS journey.

Identifying the Need for OT

A Support Coordinator begins by reviewing your situation and goals with you and your family. If there’s a potential need for Occupational Therapy, such as difficulties with mobility, self-care, access at home, or participation challenges in school or the community, the Support Coordinator will guide you in finding a suitable OT.

Key tasks at this stage:

Explaining the possible value of OT involvement for your goals.
Presenting qualified OTs, including reviewing backgrounds and experience.
Helping book initial assessments or trial sessions.
Preparing relevant records or prior reports so the OT has a clear picture of your needs.

Facilitating and Coordinating Assessments

Once an OT is engaged, the Support Coordinator plays a key role in organising the assessment process. This includes making sure appointments are booked, communication is clear, and funding is available for the assessment.

They also:

Translate “therapy speak” from the OT into everyday terms, helping you and your family understand what will happen and why.
Help collect background information, such as photos, past reports, or feedback from support workers, which the OT may need for a full picture.
Support you before, during, and after the assessment for smooth progress and comfort.

Interpreting and Implementing OT Recommendations

After an assessment, OTs provide detailed recommendations which may range from new equipment or home modifications to strategies and routines for daily life. The Support Coordinator’s role is to ensure you understand these recommendations, and then to implement them effectively.

They might:

Help you compare different equipment or suppliers.
Organise trials or demonstrations for assistive technology.
Source quotes and submit NDIS funding requests using the OT’s reports.
Liaise with builders, therapy assistants, or support staff to carry out home modifications or introduce new routines.
Clarify the meaning and expectations of the OT’s written reports so you can make informed decisions.

Support Coordinators also ensure nothing “slips through the cracks.” They track progress, keep everyone communicating, and check that recommendations are not just made but followed through successfully.

Communication is Key

For the participant, it can feel overwhelming to keep everyone informed and coordinated. This is where the support and communication skills of the Support Coordinator make a real difference.

Effective Support Coordinators:

Regularly check in with both the OT and with you, acting as the bridge between everyone involved.
Ensure that providers don’t work in silos—meaning, your OT’s advice is communicated to all relevant people (such as support workers, teachers, or plan managers).
Arrange team meetings or case conferences if issues are complex or if there are questions about implementation.
Address confusion or disagreements calmly, always prioritising your preferences and wellbeing.

Your Support Coordinator will also ensure that your voice is heard, especially when making big decisions or resolving difficulties with services.

Funding, Service Agreements, and NDIS Plan Management

Navigating the NDIS funding structure can be tricky. Support Coordinators share their expertise here, ensuring your plan is used efficiently and effectively. They will:

Explain where OT services fit in your plan budget—whether it’s in Capacity Building, Core Supports, or Capital funding.
Review service agreements with you for every provider, including your OT.
Make sure service agreements clarify session numbers, costs, cancellation policies, and what’s included.
Monitor expenses so that there are no surprises—and adjust bookings as necessary if budget limits are approaching.

The OT supplies the required reports and therapy breakdowns, while the Support Coordinator connects these pieces to the broader plan and ensures every step is compliant with NDIS guidelines.

Preparing for NDIS Reviews and Plan Adjustments

NDIS plans are reviewed regularly. This can be a stressful time, but your Support Coordinator and OT work together to make it smoother.

The OT provides updated, comprehensive reports detailing your progress, functional needs, and any new recommendations.
Your Support Coordinator gathers all supporting material, organises it, and makes sure everything is ready for your plan review.
Together, they prepare evidence to support applications for renewals or increases in funding, such as for home modifications, more therapy sessions, or higher-level supports.
Your Support Coordinator will also help you practice for the review, so you can confidently explain your achievements and future needs.

Real-Life Examples of Teamwork

Home Modifications

Suppose you need a ramp and grab rails installed at home for safety. Your OT conducts a detailed assessment and generates a report supporting this need. The Support Coordinator turns this recommendation into reality: securing quotes, managing builder schedules, and handling the paperwork for approvals.

Assistive Technology

If your OT recommends a communication device or a specialised wheelchair, your Support Coordinator will organise equipment trials, ensure the device suits your lifestyle, liaise with suppliers for fast delivery, and coordinate the funding application and necessary paperwork.

Integration at School or Work

For children and adults, an OT might suggest specific routines or adaptive methods for better participation. With your permission, the Support Coordinator communicates these recommendations to teachers or employers, arranges relevant training for assistants, and monitors progress across settings.

Troubleshooting and Advocacy

Support Coordinators shine when challenges arise. If recommendations stall due to budget issues, delayed equipment, or unclear communication, your Support Coordinator is your advocate. They:

Follow up with OTs, NDIS, or other providers on your behalf.
Document all issues and progress.
Help source alternative providers if needed.
Empower you to ask for what you need and escalate issues if required.

You and your family are always encouraged to discuss your experiences honestly. A Support Coordinator values your feedback and can act quickly to address concerns.

Tips for Maximising Success

Stay engaged: Ask questions and be involved in decisions.
Communicate openly: Let your Support Coordinator and OT know about changes in your needs or any barriers you face.
Keep records: Hold onto reports and correspondence for easier reviews or provider changes.
Review regularly: Unexpected changes happen—regular, honest review meetings help keep everyone on track.
Don’t hesitate to ask for change: You can request different providers or supports at any time.

Final Thoughts

The partnership between a Support Coordinator and Occupational Therapist is more than a professional arrangement—it’s a collaborative, practical force working for your independence, progress, and wellbeing. By understanding each role and how these caring professionals work together, you and your family are best positioned to direct your journey, advocate for your needs, and achieve your goals under the NDIS.

We’re an NDIS provider based in Sydney, offering allied health services for both NDIS participants and private clients.