Insurance for Support Coordinators: What You Actually Need
A practical guide to support coordinator insurance in Australia: professional indemnity, public liability, cover amounts, costs and what the NDIS requires.
The two policies you cannot practise without
What the NDIS actually requires
How much cover to carry
Workers compensation: mandatory the moment you hire
Other cover worth considering
How your business structure changes the picture
What it costs: a worked example
Claims-made vs occurrence, and run-off cover
Common mistakes and edge cases
Choosing a policy and where to get advice
How reform may reshape your requirements
Frequently asked questions
Do unregistered support coordinators need insurance?
In practice, yes. Standard support coordination registration is paused, so the Commission is not auditing you, but plan managers and participants almost always require a certificate of currency for professional indemnity and public liability before they will engage or pay you. Operating without cover also leaves your personal assets exposed to a claim.
How much professional indemnity cover should a support coordinator have?
The NDIS does not mandate a figure; it requires 'adequate' insurance. Market and contractual norms sit at $1M to $5M for professional indemnity, with $5M a common minimum, and $10M to $20M for public liability. Match any higher limit a specific contract, host agency or future panel requires.
How much does support coordinator insurance cost?
For a sole trader with no staff and low turnover, a combined PI and PL policy is often quoted in the low-to-mid hundreds of dollars per year, but pricing varies with turnover, cover level, excess and claims history. Get your own quotes rather than relying on a headline figure. Adding staff increases the premium and triggers compulsory workers compensation.
Is workers compensation compulsory for a support coordination business?
Yes, the moment you employ anyone, in every state and territory. It is separate from any NDIS requirement and cannot be waived. A sole trader with no employees generally cannot cover themselves under workers comp and should hold income protection instead. Note that deemed-worker rules can also apply to some contractors.
Does the NDIS require a specific amount of insurance?
No. The NDIS Practice Standards and provider registration rules require insurance that is appropriate and adequate for your operations, including professional indemnity and public liability, without naming a dollar amount. Auditors check that cover exists and is reasonable for your service scope. Future commissioned panels may set their own minimums.