- →A Local Area Coordinator (LAC) is a free NDIA-funded role available to most NDIS participants
- →A Support Coordinator is an NDIS-funded role in your plan — not everyone has one
- →LACs help with planning and community connections at a general level
- →Support Coordinators provide more intensive, personalised help to implement your plan
- →You can have both — they serve different purposes and complement each other
Two of the most commonly confused roles in the NDIS are the Local Area Coordinator (LAC) and the Support Coordinator. Both help participants navigate the NDIS, but they serve different purposes, come with different funding arrangements, and suit different participants at different stages of their NDIS journey.
If you have seen both terms on your plan or in conversations with the NDIA and are not sure what the distinction is, this article breaks it down clearly.
What is a Local Area Coordinator (LAC)?
A Local Area Coordinator is a community-based person funded by the NDIA to help participants and their families understand and navigate the NDIS. LACs work for community organisations contracted by the NDIA — not for the NDIA directly — and their services are free to participants.
LACs can help you:
- ✓Understand your NDIS plan and what it funds
- ✓Find registered and unregistered providers in your area
- ✓Prepare for and attend your planning meeting
- ✓Connect with local community supports and informal networks
- ✓Request plan reviews or changes
- ✓Navigate the NDIS portal (myplace)
Most NDIS participants have access to an LAC. They are the general support layer of the NDIS — broad in scope, widely available, and not charged to your plan. The limitation is that LACs work with many participants at once and cannot always provide the intensive, case-by-case support that some participants need.
What is a Support Coordinator?
A Support Coordinator is an NDIS-funded role that appears in some participants' plans under Capacity Building — Support Coordination (CB Support Coordination). Unlike a LAC, support coordination is funded directly from your NDIS plan — it is not free, but it is funded by the NDIS if the NDIA determines it is reasonable and necessary for you.
A Support Coordinator's job is to help you:
- ✓Understand and implement all the supports in your plan
- ✓Find, shortlist, and connect with providers (and negotiate service agreements)
- ✓Coordinate multiple services so they work together cohesively
- ✓Resolve issues with providers or the NDIA
- ✓Prepare for plan reviews with detailed progress evidence
- ✓Build your own capacity to manage your plan independently over time
Support coordination is more intensive and personalised than what an LAC typically provides. A good support coordinator actively manages the complexity of your NDIS plan — especially if you have multiple providers, complex health needs, or are new to the NDIS and feel overwhelmed.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Local Area Coordinator (LAC) | Support Coordinator |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to participant | Free — funded by NDIA | Funded from your NDIS plan |
| Who has access | Most participants | Only if in your plan |
| Intensity | General / lower intensity | Personalised / higher intensity |
| Who employs them | Community organisation (NDIA contract) | Registered NDIS provider (your choice) |
| Main focus | Plan navigation + community connections | Plan implementation + provider coordination |
| Can you choose them | Assigned by region | Yes — you choose the provider |
Who gets Support Coordination funded in their plan?
Not all participants have Support Coordination funded in their plan. The NDIA funds it where it is determined to be reasonable and necessary — which generally applies to participants who:
- ✓Are new to the NDIS and have complex or multiple support needs
- ✓Have a complex disability with multiple allied health or service providers to coordinate
- ✓Are transitioning from hospital, school, or another system into NDIS supports
- ✓Have limited informal support networks (family, carers)
- ✓Have had difficulty implementing previous plans or understanding how to use their funding
If you feel you need a Support Coordinator but it is not currently in your plan, raise it at your next planning meeting or plan review. Come with specific examples of why your complexity requires more than what a LAC can provide.
What is Specialist Support Coordination?
There is a third tier: Specialist Support Coordination. This is a higher-intensity version for participants with highly complex situations — such as those with multiple diagnoses, significant behavioural or mental health needs, or involvement with multiple government systems (justice, child protection, etc.).
Specialist Support Coordination is funded at a higher rate than standard Support Coordination and is provided by workers with specialist qualifications. It is relatively uncommon and is only funded where clearly necessary.
Can you have both a LAC and a Support Coordinator?
Yes — and this is actually common. Your LAC may still be involved even if you have a Support Coordinator in your plan. They serve different functions and there is no rule against both being active. In practice, when a participant has a Support Coordinator, the LAC tends to step back from day-to-day coordination, but remains available for general NDIS navigation questions.