Support Connection is a Level 1 support coordination category funded under the Capacity Building Supports budget in your NDIS plan. It provides short-term, low-intensity assistance for participants who are generally able to manage parts of their NDIS journey but need help getting started or navigating specific elements. The main focus is on building the participant’s skills and confidence to independently understand and implement their NDIS plan over time.
This support is particularly valuable in the early stages of a participant’s journey with the NDIS. It includes guidance in interpreting plan budgets, identifying relevant service providers, understanding what is and isn’t covered, and learning how to make informed choices about the services and supports you engage.
For participants living with psychosocial disabilities, some relating to mental health, this same entry-level support may be delivered as NDIS Recovery Coaching. While Recovery Coaching shares many functions with Support Connection, it incorporates a more specialised, mental health-informed approach. Recovery Coaches work collaboratively with participants to support their individual recovery journey, build resilience, and strengthen both formal and informal support networks.
In both cases, the ultimate goal is to empower participants to take charge of their supports, reduce reliance on coordination over time, and build capacity for greater independence.
Support Connection is a Level 1 support category funded under Capacity Building – Support Coordination in your NDIS plan. It’s designed to assist participants in understanding and using their funded supports more effectively. For participants living with mental health conditions, this entry-level support is often referred to as Recovery Coaching.
At Achora, we provide personalised assistance to help you:
Support Connection or Recovery Coaching (Level 1) is specifically designed for participants who have relatively low support complexity but still require assistance in understanding and implementing their NDIS plan. It offers an empowering, short-term level of guidance for those who need help building the confidence, knowledge, and skills to eventually self-manage their supports.
This type of support is ideal if:
You’re new to the NDIS and feeling unsure about where to start: Beginning your NDIS journey can be overwhelming, especially when you’re unfamiliar with the language, systems, and processes. Support Connection provides hands-on guidance to help you understand your funding categories, how to use your budget effectively, and what steps to take next.
You have a psychosocial disability and would benefit from mental health-informed support: Recovery Coaching offers a specialised, trauma-informed approach for participants with mental health challenges. Recovery Coaches work alongside you to support your personal recovery goals, help manage periods of instability, and maintain engagement with services.
You’re capable of managing some elements of your plan but need help connecting the dots: If you feel confident doing things like choosing providers or booking appointments but struggle with understanding your funding structure or service agreements, this level of support offers just enough guidance to bridge the gap and get you fully up and running.
You’re new to the NDIS and feeling unsure about where to start: Beginning your NDIS journey can be overwhelming, especially when you’re unfamiliar with the language, systems, and processes. Support Connection provides hands-on guidance to help you understand your funding categories, how to use your budget effectively, and what steps to take next.
Compared to Level 2 (Support Coordination) and Level 3 (Specialist Support Coordination), Level 1 is less intensive and more capacity-building focused. It does not manage crises or coordinate multiple complex services but instead provides foundational tools to help you grow more independent in managing your supports.
By building this capacity early, Support Connection or Recovery Coaching can reduce your future reliance on external coordination and help you become a more active and informed participant in your NDIS journey.
An NDIS Recovery Coach or Support Connector will work with you to:
We help break down your NDIS funding categories and explain how your budget can be used to meet your goals.
We guide you in finding suitable providers, therapists, local programs, or community groups based on your needs and preferences.
We support you in strengthening connections with family, friends, and community networks. It’s important to remember that informal supports are just as vital as formal ones.
We help you build capacity in managing appointments, budgets, and service agreements, so you feel more confident and in control.
Entry-level assistance in understanding and using your plan
New participants or those with moderate support needs
More hands-on support, coordination of multiple providers, crisis response
Participants with more complex support needs
Complex case management, multiple systems, risk management
Participants with high risks or intensive supports
Entry-level assistance in understanding and using your plan
More hands-on support, coordination of multiple providers, crisis response
Complex case management, multiple systems, risk management
New participants or those with moderate support needs
Participants with more complex support needs
Participants with high risks or intensive supports
To receive Support Connection or Recovery Coaching, the funding must be specifically included in your NDIS Capacity Building – Support Coordination budget. This category is not automatically added to every plan. It must be requested and justified based on your goals, needs, and level of independence.
There are several key opportunities when you can request this support:
When you first meet with an NDIS planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC), you’ll discuss your goals, challenges, and the types of supports that will help you achieve greater independence. This is your opportunity to explain why you need assistance understanding your plan and connecting with appropriate services. If you’re new to the NDIS or have a psychosocial disability, be sure to mention that you’d benefit from entry-level support coordination or recovery coaching to help you get started.
f you’re approaching the end of your plan, or feel your needs have changed, you’ll be invited to take part in a plan reassessment. This is another opportunity to request Support Connection or Recovery Coaching if it wasn’t included previously. You can also ask for it to be continued if it has already been part of your current plan and you’ve found it valuable.
If something significant changes in your life, such as a new diagnosis, increased support needs, a mental health episode, or a change in your informal supports, you can submit a Change of Circumstances form to the NDIS and request additional or different types of support coordination. This can include moving from Support Connection to Recovery Coaching, or adding this support for the first time if you’re facing new challenges.
Recovery Coaching can include many of the same tasks as Support Coordination, but it is mental health-specific and includes a strong focus on recovery-oriented practice. It’s only available to participants with a psychosocial disability.
Recovery Coaches typically have lived or learned experience in mental health and may hold qualifications in peer work, counselling, or social work. They understand the mental health system and work collaboratively with you and your supports.
Yes. If you have complex needs, you may be funded for both. Especially if different skill sets are required to manage different areas of your life.
The number of hours varies depending on your plan and needs. It’s important to discuss this during your plan meeting and request the right amount to meet your goals.
How Achora Can Help
Navigating NDIS planning conversations and paperwork can be tricky. Especially when you’re not sure what to ask for or how to explain your needs. That’s where we come in. At Achora, we support participants and their families through every stage of the planning process. Whether you’re attending your first plan meeting, preparing for a reassessment, or responding to a change in your situation, we’ll help you:
We believe everyone deserves the right support, especially when starting their NDIS journey. Let us help you access the guidance you need to take those first steps with confidence.
Living with a mental health condition can feel like riding an unpredictable wave. Some days you’re energised and in control. Other days, even getting out of bed or replying to…
Your home should be a place of comfort, safety, and independence. No one should have to call for help every time they take a shower, or feel like getting from…
Invoicing might not be the most exciting part of your day, but under the NDIS, it’s one of the most important. Whether you’re a provider delivering supports or a participant…
Contact Us today for a personalised conversation about how we can help you get the most out of your NDIS plan.
