Winning Work Through the NDIS Request for Service Process
How support coordinators win referrals through the NDIS request for service process: channels, fast responses, conflict rules and what changes by 2028.
What a request for service actually is
Where RFS referrals come from
Getting on the radar so referrals reach you
How to read and triage an incoming RFS
Responding fast: the acceptance mechanics
How this plays out: a worked example
Conflict of interest when accepting RFS work
Common mistakes that cost coordinators RFS work
Price limits versus what you actually earn
How reform changes the RFS channel
Your next move
Frequently asked questions
What is a request for service in the NDIS?
It is the referral a Local Area Coordinator, NDIA planner or other party sends to a support coordination provider asking them to take on a specific participant whose plan includes support coordination funding. It names the participant, plan dates, funded level and the reason coordination was included. It is an invitation to make contact and agree a service, not a binding contract.
How do support coordinators receive requests for service?
Mostly through the regional LAC / Partners in the Community organisations, NDIA planners for complex plans, hospital and health discharge teams, and direct participant or provider referrals. There is no single national RFS portal, so the practical step is knowing which LAC partner covers your area and how they prefer to send referrals.
How fast should I respond to an NDIS request for service?
Same day where possible. Referrers often send the same request to multiple coordinators and allocate to whoever confirms capacity and contacts the participant first. Acknowledge immediately, confirm or decline within 24 hours, and make first participant contact within about two business days.
Do I need to be registered to accept a request for service?
For standard support coordination (group 0106), mandatory registration was paused in December 2025, so registration is not currently forced. For Level 3 Specialist Support Coordination (group 0132), registration remains mandatory, so you cannot accept a Level 3 RFS without it. Confirm both positions at ndiscommission.gov.au.
Will the request for service process still exist after the 2028 reforms?
The open-market RFS model is scheduled to be replaced by a commissioned support coordination panel from 1 July 2028 under the Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill 2026, subject to passage and the Senate inquiry reporting on 14 August 2026. If it proceeds, panel selection rather than open referral will largely determine who receives work. Verify against health.gov.au before relying on the dates.