Difference between a Plan Manager and a Support Coordinator and a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) | MyCareSpace
Add to Favourites

Plan Manager vs Support Coordinator vs Local Area Coordinator (LAC)

Plan Manager vs Support Coordinator vs Local Area Coordinator (LAC)
Last Updated: June 2025

Let's Compare a Plan Manager and Support Coordinator

Plan management is a good choice if you want to have more control over your funding, but you don't want to handle the administrative tasks yourself.

A plan manager takes care of bookkeeping, pays invoices, and helps you stay on top of your budget, so you can focus on achieving your goals.

Your Support Coordinator is there to build your capacity - they should do such a good job that you don't need one after the first year of your NDIS plan!

Plan Manager Support Coordinator
Pays provider invoices, tracks your budget and keeps a record of your invoices. Helps you find, book and manage your services and supports.
Does not help you find providers. Can help you choose providers you need.
Pays your invoices which are sent to them by providers. Has nothing to do with invoices.
Provides monthly budget reports showing your spending and remaining budget. Provides reports about how your skills and capacity have improved.
Cannot help with problems you have about how a service was delivered. Will help you connect with a provider to solve any problems about how their service was delivered.
Generally cannot help you find other services (Plan Hero can help you). Can help you find and connect with the supports and therapies you need.
Is a stated support (funding) in your plan if you choose to be plan managed. Anyone can be plan managed. Is a stated support (funding) in your plan if the NDIS planner decides you qualify for it. Not everyone qualifies for it.

 

Let's Compare a Support Coordination vs. Local Area Coordinator

Task Support Coordinator (SC) Local Area Coordinator (LAC)
Build capacity to navigate NDIS Yes Yes
Help find providers Yes Yes
Monitor NDIS budget and supports Yes No
Negotiate with providers Yes No
Help resolve issues or crises Yes No
Provide ongoing support during the plan Yes No
Funded by NDIS plan Yes No (funded by NDIA)

NDIS THERAPY FINDER - FREE SERVICE

Our Connections Team at MyCareSpace are linked in with a range of providers offering telehealth services with availability. Let our team help you navigate the NDIS and find the right service for you.
Get started with Therapy

 

LET US FIND YOU A SKILLED SUPPORT WORKER

Let our Expert Team find you the right support worker: one that has experience with your disability and that you can rely on. It's FREE service.
Find me a support worker

 

Share this resource

How helpful was this resource?
How helpful was this resource?: 

More like this

NDIS Eligibility & Access
NDIS Pre-Planning Meetings
Understanding your NDIS Plan
MyCareSpace resources may be shared provided they are credited to MyCareSpace with backlinks to the original resource.
The A Lisr MCS Plan Hero The A Lisr
Meet the members of the Access Care Group
The Access Care group creates organisations made up of exceptional people, all working together to deliver life-changing support for people living with a disability, their carers and their families.

We strive to make the NDIS an easier place to be - one that is less confusing to navigate and where people can take advantage of their funding opportunity to find the supports that will help them smash their goals. Get to know all our family members.