How to Start a Support Coordination Business in Australia
Start a support coordination business in Australia: ABN, structure, registration, insurance, pricing and the 2028 commissioning reform, explained plainly.
The short version: what it actually takes
Registered or unregistered? Standard or specialist?
Choosing a business structure
Getting your ABN and registering
Insurance you cannot skip
What you can charge: the price limits
A worked example: does the maths work?
The reform you must plan around: commissioning from 2028
Billing, records and the shrinking claim window
Finding clients without breaching the rules
Common mistakes that sink new coordinators
Your next decision
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be registered with the NDIS Commission to start a support coordination business?
Not for standard support coordination. Mandatory registration for standard coordination (group 0106) was paused in December 2025 with no restart date, so unregistered providers can work with plan-managed and self-managed participants. You do need registration to deliver specialist support coordination (group 0132), and only registered providers can invoice NDIA-managed plans. Confirm the current position at ndiscommission.gov.au.
How much does it cost to start a support coordination business?
As a sole trader the setup is relatively low: the ABN is free, and your main upfront costs are professional indemnity and public liability insurance, bookkeeping or invoicing software, and any business name registration. A company structure adds ASIC fees. The bigger financial planning task is a cash-flow buffer, since NDIS payments and plan timing can be slow. The dedicated cost article in this hub breaks down the line items.
What qualifications do I need to be a support coordinator?
There is no single mandated qualification to deliver standard support coordination, but the NDIS Code of Conduct applies and you must be capable of doing the job safely. Relevant experience in disability, community services, allied health or case management is what referrers look for. Specialist support coordination expects appropriately qualified practitioners such as social workers or allied health professionals. Verify current requirements against ndiscommission.gov.au.
How much can a support coordinator charge per hour?
You bill against NDIS price limits, indicatively around $80.06 per hour for Support Connection, $100.14 for Coordination of Supports and $190.54 for Specialist Support Coordination as at the 2026-27 PAPL. These are billing ceilings, not wages, and have been frozen for a seventh year, so confirm the current figure in the PAPL at ndis.gov.au before quoting.
Is now a good time to start given the 2028 reforms?
It can be, but start with the changes in view. Support coordination moves to a commissioned panel from 1 July 2028, so the open market is ending. Build documented outcomes, clean compliance and a viable cost base rather than relying only on open-market referrals, and follow the plan management panel rollout from 1 October 2027 as a preview. Verify all dates against health.gov.au/securingtheNDIS.