How to Future-Proof Your Support Coordination Business for 2028
Future-proof your support coordination business before the 2028 commissioned model: the reforms that matter, what to fix now, and how to stay viable.
The one date that reshapes the profession: 1 July 2028
The plan management panel is your preview
Registration: what you must do now versus what is paused
Fix your invoicing before 1 December 2026
The viability squeeze: frozen rates for a seventh year
Conflict of interest is being scrutinised now — not in 2028
New-framework planning changes what you coordinate
What 'selectable' looks like: positioning for the panel
Common mistakes that undermine future-proofing
A 2026-2028 action checklist
Frequently asked questions
Do standard support coordinators have to register before 2028?
No. Mandatory registration for standard support coordination (group 0106) was paused in December 2025 with no set date, and the requirements will realign to the 2028 commissioned model. You should still run audit-ready systems so registration or enrolment is straightforward if and when it is required. Specialist support coordination (group 0132) remains mandatory to register now.
What is the single most important change to prepare for?
The move to a commissioned panel for support coordination from 1 July 2028, which replaces the open market. Your commissioner becomes the gatekeeper, so future-proofing means becoming selectable — clean conflict-of-interest records, demonstrable outcomes, reliable coverage — while staying financially viable through frozen rates. Confirm the date against health.gov.au/securingtheNDIS as the design consultation progresses.
How does the 90-day claim window affect me?
From 1 December 2026 you must claim within 90 days of delivering a service, down from two years, or you lose the claim entirely. Shift to weekly billing and reconcile claims within seven days, and action any rejected claim immediately rather than batching it. For solo practices on frozen rates, a lost claim is a direct hit to viability.
Are the frozen price limits the same as what I pay staff?
No. The support coordination price limits are the maximum you can bill a participant's plan and are set by the PAPL, frozen for a seventh year. What you pay an employed coordinator is governed by the SCHADS award (MA000100) under Fair Work, a separate figure that rises independently. The widening gap between the two is the core viability pressure, so model both before you hire.
Is provider enrolment the same as registration?
No. Enrolment is a lighter identity and oversight step for in-scope providers from 1 July 2027, distinct from audit-based registration. You could be required to enrol without being required to hold full registration, so treat them as two separate obligations and check the current scope against the NDIS Commission.