Psychosocial Recovery Coaches Explained
What an NDIS Psychosocial Recovery Coach does, how they differ from a support coordinator, lived-experience coaches, and how the role is funded.
A Psychosocial Recovery Coach is a support built specifically for people with a psychosocial disability. If you have seen the role in your plan and wondered what it actually involves, this guide is for you. It explains what a recovery coach does, how they differ from a support coordinator, what lived-experience coaching offers, and how the role is funded through the NDIS.
What a recovery coach does
How they differ from a support coordinator
Lived-experience coaches
How the role is funded
Getting the most from a recovery coach
Frequently asked questions
What does a Psychosocial Recovery Coach do?
A recovery coach walks alongside you as you work towards recovery. They help you understand your psychosocial disability, set and pursue goals, build skills and confidence, connect with supports and community, and plan for harder periods. Their focus is you and the life you want, at a pace that…
How is a recovery coach different from a support coordinator?
Both help you use your plan, but a support coordinator focuses on connecting and organising supports, while a recovery coach works through a recovery lens with a mental-health focus and more time to build your capacity over time. Our guide comparing the two roles explains this in detail, including…
What is a lived-experience recovery coach?
A lived-experience coach brings their own journey with mental health, or with supporting someone close to them, to the role. Many people find this helps them feel understood, and a coach who has walked a similar path can carry real hope for your recovery. Other coaches bring relevant qualifications…
How is a recovery coach funded?
A Psychosocial Recovery Coach sits within the Capacity Building part of an NDIS plan, because the role is about building skills, confidence and independence. If it suits your goals, it can be included when your plan is developed or at a reassessment. The level of support depends on your individual…
Does a recovery coach replace my mental health treatment?
No. A recovery coach works alongside your clinical mental health care, not instead of it. Treatment such as seeing a psychiatrist, GP or psychologist is funded through the health system, while recovery coaching is an NDIS support focused on your recovery goals and everyday functioning.