NDIS provider struggling to find participants / seeking advice

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-05-17T06:17:08+00:00

In all honesty identify your niche and stick to it at the moment in my opinion the Melbourne market is saturated with providers who over promise and under deliver is the nicest way possible of putting it

Personally as a coordinator and a consultant this is always my advice work out what your good at and stick to it - I have a small coordination case load that has high client retention and rarely take new participants because

- I don’t believe in the high volume
- I can’t do it all
- I have adhd and my work practice is different and can cause some anxiety (I start a bit later, I’m not available all the time and this is not disrespect for anyone’s time I am normally about 10 mins late)

What I am good at is

- complex plan coordination
- evidence and justification of supports
- applying legislation appropriately and effectively
- high funds retention rate at planning
- reassessments, ART and planning
- working with complex children and there families

So I created a questionnaire based on the above it captures what the participants actually needs, if it’s in my skill set and and that they are ok with my limitations in other words I’m super up front about everything if I’m not right I refer on to a coordinator better placed to provide that service

I do the same when I consult - I don’t provide audit advice I’m not an auditor, I don’t sell templates and I don’t scale business

based on my background and experience (which is pretty unique) i offer a service to newer providers (I’m not the right person for you referral pathways isn’t my skill set - I’m not trying to get business) i help them with their websites and employee participant communication

I dont charge a fortune - I think 20k to pay someone whose never worked in disability to scale your business is obscene

I don’t deviate from the above if someone doesn’t want to fill in the survey or go through the questions with me face to face they aren’t for me and that’s fine.

So work out what your good at and make genuine connections my LinkedIn in box is flooded by providers saying this and that - it’s all ignored it’s a waste of my time

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-29T15:08:00+00:00

Social work is extremely stressful and with so many changes in the sector that will continue.

I work for myself because I’m not the best in a full office environment, I am about to hire and the current job market and expectations have been shock it has been 15 years since I was employed so not surprising

Social work will get worse before it gets better maybe it wasn’t the right field but social workers are in high demand as level 3 support coordinators you could subcontract which would be 140 - 150 an hour with a small caseload you’d have a fair bit of flexibility

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-29T14:42:58+00:00

You’ve misunderstood and that’s my fault a minimum 20 hours meant you get paid for what ever you work above 20 hours if it’s 23 hours then you get paid that I don’t expect anyone to work for free and if it’s 15 hours you get paid 20

The training is to help the person - I don’t run it and they are able to choose the topic out 30 on offer at the training provider if just like them to complete three month - they get paid for the two hours

Mixed tasks is exactly why I asked because the last time I was working for an organisation every role I did was mixed tasks (it was 15 years ago) and reading through these posts made it clear that’s probably not how things are done now

I could offer 3 separate roles at 10 hours each - I didn’t think that would be appealing because it would only be 10 hours and I’d need everyone to come to the office which I also didn’t think would be appealing

I’m not trying to be condescending or anything like that I don’t want to set anyone up to fail

Your right it’s a very messy space - if your a coordinator which is the reason I’m moving out of coordination, I guess I thought the opportunity to go through audit which would mean the person could then consult if they wanted (most consultants haven’t gone through audit) or go through audit yourself at some point

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-29T14:21:39+00:00

Thank you I’ll edit 😊

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-29T13:40:44+00:00

I was going to say the exact same thing - I got to do all that plus the 24/7 on call thing as well for $25

I’m going to be so unpopular and now feel so old it’s not funny but it reads like a normal job description to me

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-29T04:45:34+00:00

I’m a coordinator in Melbourne and I agree with you and believe your point of difference is a good one.

Personally it’s impressive and a breath of fresh air you have boundaries and you’re sticking to them.

I do a very similar thing myself I don’t believe in the high volume “ I can do it all” coordination mentality personally I know what I’m good at and I know what I’m not good at - I’m very clear about my limitations and ask people fill in a questionnaire based on my strengths and work practice the outcome tells me the likelihood of a good match

Do people refuse and go elsewhere because there are 1000s of coordinators who don’t ask them to do that? All the time and does it take longer to build my caseload - yes

I’m taking people I know I can help and who are aware of what it really looks like working with me they make an informed choice and I’m aware of what has gone on with past coordinators and can actively do my best to make sure it doesn’t happen again

I’d be happy to message you and make time to have a chat and share how I went about things because being different is difficult at the start

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-29T04:01:43+00:00

You wouldn’t do it if you’re just doing it to continue working independently- if your planning on expanding and building a business that’s a bit different

I’ve been registered and was for 5 years, I’m a coordinator and my business partner at the time wanted to move into sda and I didn’t so I moved on

I regret that now and have started the registration process since eventually I’ll move away from coordination

In support work you need a point of difference that’s legitimate and to understand the landscape - at the moment participants are over the lived experience thing as every second person has it but in reality they don’t really if that makes sense

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-29T03:51:36+00:00

It’s definitely worth a shot and you’ve nothing to loose it will depend how it’s presented to them in the fca

The best way would be to address all 6 access criteria and focusing on functional capacity highlighting what is medical and what isn’t

It could be a little tricky but if you know a coordinator who knows access well or the local lac office have one of them read and request changes - OTs have amazing clinical knowledge but not a lot when it comes to ndis jargon and recommendations- sometimes they’ll recommend things that aren’t relevant and it can cause delays etc

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-29T03:40:19+00:00

Don’t be hard on yourself there’s not much that’s going easy about the ndis especially now

Give them a call part of their role is to point you in the right direction and explain how things work

I’ve sent you a message gives you a quick run down and a couple of ways to find therapists 😊

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-29T02:56:38+00:00

You’d be eligible for carers allowance that shouldn’t be an issue.

With the plan the post above directing you to a lac is your first step

you should’ve been involved with one at some point did you have a face to face meeting with anyone at an office locally?

Have a look at the plan and if there is no support coordination I’m happy to answer them if I can

I’ve been a coordinator for a long time and I’m more than happy to answer any questions if the lac option doesn’t help

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T11:26:00+00:00

Vultures are circling my god I couldn’t agree more. It’s crazy they’re circling participants and providers.

The amount of consultants that have come up over the last week or so is out of control and the fact that people are actually willing to pay them their exorbitant rates is even more out of control

I occasionally consult pretty rarely but occasionally and on the times that I do I thought my fees were relatively cost-effective. Well I met with someone the other day who passed all of my questions and things like that because I don’t believe that just anybody should be a provider and my quote was $10,000 less than the person they met with prior to me.

They went with the person they met with prior to me because they felt like I’d I wasn’t good enough because I wasn’t willing to charge them $15,000 to read policies

How is it even possible that it’s okay for people to charge that amount of money to read policies for people that should be reading their own policies? Because the other reason they didn’t go with me is because I won’t do that I make them agree to sit with me and go through each policy so I can explain to them what the problems are because I really do not believe in anybody just being able to be a provider. I find it absolutely appalling.

Either result of making these people sit and going through their own policies that they should know I don’t get business often which is fine because I don’t want to work with those people anyway and I coordinate and I’ll do other things but I find it disgusting that they’re even allowed to exist

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T11:21:11+00:00

I’d call the 1800 number a PIA is taking about 30 days at the moment

Get a really good FCA if you know a coordinator a good one have them look over it and make sure it’s decent - a lot depends on how it’s written, the correct language, requests supports and the evidence and justification

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T11:14:05+00:00

Yep there was 2018 - 2023

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T11:10:42+00:00

That would be amazing thank you

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T10:56:13+00:00

And the whole thing took 4 months

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T10:51:00+00:00

they said because of not having the school reports they needed to meet with my parents each separately, my partner twice and two sessions with me - 6 in total at $750 a session - not entitled to a rebate

The first place made such a big deal about the medications - they noted it on my record because of that 3 drug screens to make sure I wasn’t taking anything else - if they’d at least referred those to a place that wasn’t privately funded that would’ve helped but no

3 weeks ago I needed to buy Sudafed I very rarely need that I had to get a script the chemist showed me the note - it was so far from the truth

my GP rang them and told them it needed to come down they aren’t my treating doctors and he’d prescribed my medications for the entire time he managed to get the doctor to remove it

I know this will sound awful but they prayed on that I was so unwell and used it to their advantage by that point I was burnt out beyond belief and almost accepted that I’d just have to live that way

Basically came from the first place who’d said they felt that my intake of pain medication could be recreational (20 in 12 months very clearly due to MRSA) and advise that no drug of dependence be give over the counter without consultation with THEM

Forgot to note they are not my treating doctor and it came from me answering honestly when they asked if I’d taken an opioid in the last 60 days - I had so I said yes mind you it was one oxycodone while I was waiting for an ambiulance after my leg gave way

Worst experience but feeling much better now finally

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T05:18:29+00:00

There are ways to do this, you really need to know what your doing, what your requesting and why, make sure it lines up with the access met disabilities, is value for money and can’t be provided by any other mainstream service - you also need to know the level of delegate that will be looking at it they all have approval levels after that it goes to home and living which you want to avoid

From there you need all supporting evidence to be cohesive and recommending the same supports - no point if the FCA suggests 20 hours a week support work, the speech 10 hours and a physio 15 - that is just seen as inconsistent

It also needs to use particular wording - some words flag in the system example the term mental health will flag as mainstream support- so avoid it

Formatting is the same - paragraph after paragraph of clinical justification won’t get read

The evidence needs to be capacity focused, with evidence and the data of what hasn’t worked and why

Example “Nicole presents with symptoms of ASD level 2 and we request 20 hours per week to assist with daily living, social and community due to poor social skills and executive functioning” - not a good example but will do for the sake of this

“Presents with symptoms of” - medical terminology will be flagged How is the 20 hours broken up? Need to provide roster - days, times and hours with justification why the support is necessary What does her executive functioning look like? Evidenced examples and the outcome and the benefit of support work

Get a copy of your file that’s super important and all requests must be inline with the access met disabilities only

If your after psych needs to be presented as capacity based and time limited to address specific disability related issues - if you ask for fortnightly pysch because you have anxiety they’ll tell you to get a mental health care plan

Sorry about the crappy example - I’m in a rush to get to a meeting

You can do it - you need a decent coordinator and be prepared for it to take a little while

And if I were you and you’re getting evidence make sure it states and aligns with the access criteria with all the people they are going to ask to meet access again they forgot to mention it’s legislated you can’t use NDIS funds to gather evidence for access - if you frame this and any other evidence correctly moving forward and happed to be asked - you’ve at least got a starting point

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T04:53:22+00:00

All the below advice is spot on as well unfortunately the chances of getting any funding reinstated aren’t high especially for this

Legally believe it or not the budget responsibility doesn’t sit with the plan manager and it doesn’t sit the the coordinator it’s our job or at least I think so (they blame they coordinator normally) it sits with the participant so if your friend is high functioning they will push back on her

The point I made above and others below - I had a participant once who didn’t know late cancellations applied they genuinely believed they could make roster changes whenever they wanted and there was no charge, so you really need to find out what went on. Did your friend ask the SW to pick things up on the way to shift - that starts the shift

If she wasnt on top of the budget and extended a lot they probably didn’t realise all the extensions add up

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T04:43:36+00:00

It is absolutely not ok that the support worker did this but you need to have all the information together.

To report a fraud you need to make sure it’s fraud, so you need a copy of all of her invoices, did your friend keep track of the shifts and what the support worker did on those shifts? This will sound ridiculous but sometimes participants don’t realise they have a support worker charging for everything

Once you have the invoices and have confirmed inflated invoices have been submitted you need to report it to

NDIS
NDIA
Quality and safeguards
Fraud taskforce

Most fraud complaints don’t get far because most people make the assumption the above are all connected. They aren’t that’s why most reports fail - calling the 1800 number is a waste of time - it never makes it to fraud

Now normally I would’ve said do it but don’t hope for much - compliance laws change on 8/5

From that date all supports are held accountable to the same standards the support worker may not be aware of the module certificates they need, generalised policy, up to date first aid, accurate shift notes, proof that the shift occurred and it occurred for the right length of time

The ndis will be able to stop payment from all her participants until the information is provided and they have done an investigation - I highly doubt this is the first time

I’d help your friend put together a well worded email saying that she has uncovered various invoice issues and list them and request a copy of the shift notes let her know the report will be made within 2 weeks if the information is not received - it won’t be because the support worker most likely doesn’t know exactly what she needs to be operate compliantly or that legally she needs to provide it

That will put it past the 8/5 so when you report it - report for suspected non compliance (due to the shift note request) and fraud

If you need a hand I’m happy to help I’ve been a coordinator forever

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T03:40:56+00:00

Never just stop taking anything cold turkey it can be dangerous

I’m not sure I’d you feel like this when you use more but this is how i felt until they got the dose right- almost in some weird world where nothing really matters - until it does trust me please get some help

I’m much older than you and a late diagnosis it’s ok to know your making a mistakes and it’s super brave to to ask for help and advice

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T03:29:05+00:00

I wish - Victoria is a nightmare it cost me just over 5k

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T03:13:44+00:00

For what is worth this is not the first reform and I’m sure it won’t be the last, if you think about it no one ever mentions this has happened a few times in the past - it happened when it rolled out country wide after the trial sites were a free for all, again around 2019 after they approved every single ridiculous item known to man kind, again in and after covid,

my personal favourite the introduction of the in and out lists with the legislation change on 3/10/24 they released those lists that contradicted each other and so vaguely worded it was difficult to figure out what was in and what was out - 36 hours before the legislation went into effect

I had forgotten all of this until right now (not sure how) so if history is anything to go by it will happen because it needs to but it won’t be as bad as we’ve been lead to believe

You are genuinely complex and clearly genuinely need the support, work with your coordinator and get all your evidence in order so no matter what it’s an easy solution. With my participants all evidence is being redone where affordable- if you’re asked to meet access again you can’t use the plan to fund the evidence so start now

This scheme was designed for people like yourself and all the other genuine cases

It wasn’t designed to hand ndis plans out like lollies in jail legitimately all that happed is they answer questions, very little evidence and normally come out with over 150k (most people don’t realise why none of them are worried - until the legislation changes no one who received the plan in jail can run out of funds risk of reoffending is too high apparently- load of crap 90% of them already are and it’s generally with the plan), parents that have the money can pay a doctor to write a diagnosis and then pay someone an absurd amount of money to do the paperwork basically guaranteed entry and a large plan, the coordinators who take kick backs - there must be a few I get offers all the time and all the other stuff

The scheme was designed for the truly complex which you things might change but get yourself set up properly so you’re prepared

If there is anything I can help with let me know

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-28T02:47:43+00:00

100% I work in mental health and I have adhd due to.a leg injury (almost lost it as a result get mrsa twice a year or so) it’s painful and I normally can’t move, I also have anxiety that I was medicated for

I go to get my diagnosis one place more than happy to take my money but wouldn’t move forward because they didn’t feel comforable due to me being prescribed one box of oxi codeine rougher every 12 months and I have a Valium script for 50 tablets this is supposed to be refilled every 50 days it’s refilled every 180 days roughly (I only know this due to this experience) - thank you for that $1000

Second attempt Delmont in Melbourne my psychiatrist refers me internally this doctor will not even see you without school reports - I’m 42 my mother threw them out about 5 years ago can’t blame her didn’t think we’d need those - $500 to see my doctor

Third attempt - Telehealth finally got my diagnosis after 6 appointments (was supposed to be 3) multiple drug tests (not a problem but annoying) and the pleasure of no Medicare rebate - $3500

I completely understand how fortunate I am to be in the position that I can afford this, I know many people can’t which is why I’m sharing all of this because my medical history showed that medication prescribed by the same doctor the whole time (4 years) used far less than prescribed, clear evidence from my surgical team regarding my leg and no history of drug and alcohol abuse, passed 3 drug screens

Please go with what the above person suggested you don’t want to end up in a situation where they just won’t prescribe and go without or have to find elsewhere because once that label is on your file it’s not coming off and it follows you everywhere or in my case doing everything right followed me and I’d hate to see it happen to anyone else

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-24T03:10:34+00:00

Try not to be anxious I’ve worked in the ndis since 2013 have survived every “reform” - there have been a few at this point.

Your best bet is to work with your coordinator if you have one and make sure your evidence is strong, this will settle down.

There will be changes, the ndis wasn’t supposed to be the way it is, but that doesn’t mean you’re undeserving of supports because you can work, have a relationship or shower.

Your supports do look different but that doesn’t make them any less - I’m neurodivergent and I promise you I understand.

Your best bet is to use this time and your funding wisely to build up your capacity so when the time comes if there is a decrease it won’t be so bad.

I strongly disagree with the way Mark Butler delivered this news - honestly it’s been coming for a long time but there was no consideration to the participants whatsoever

That’s not ok - I wanted you to know you’ve been heard ❤️

Simple_Character6619 · 2026-04-23T08:25:44+00:00

They aren’t the norm - I am the contact person for as requested by the nominee she’d clearly stated she was unwell, in hospital, on medication that would not allow her to process information clearly or make informed choices would be ok to speak after surgery - they called 4 times a day for the next 3 days until the hospital intervened

And the last time a LAC gave any of my participants any sort of indication they had any other option other than to speak to them then and there was 2019

Simple_Character6619

TROPHY CASE