Local Area Coordinator (LAC)

A community partner who helps you understand and use the NDIS.

What it means

A Local Area Coordinator, or LAC, is a person from a community partner organisation that works with the NDIA to help people in the community. Their job is to help you understand and access the NDIS, connect with community and mainstream services, and use your plan once you have one. They are a friendly local point of contact who can guide you through the process.

LACs are free to use, and they are not the same as a support coordinator. Support coordination is a funded support written into an individual plan, while an LAC is part of the wider community support that the NDIS offers to help people find their way, whether or not they end up with an NDIS plan.

In practice

An LAC can help you understand what the NDIS is and whether it might be right for you, support you to make an access request, and help you get ready for your planning meeting. Once your plan is approved, they can help you understand it and take your first steps in using it.

LACs also focus on connecting you with things beyond the NDIS, such as community groups, local activities and mainstream services like health and education. Because their support is free and available in the community, they are often one of the first people someone talks to on their NDIS journey, especially if they do not have funded support coordination in their plan.

A real example

For example, when Tom's family first heard about the NDIS they were not sure where to begin, so they met with a Local Area Coordinator at their community partner's office. The LAC explained how the access process worked, helped them gather what they needed for the request, and later pointed them to a local community group, all at no cost.

Local Area Coordinator (LAC) — FAQs

What does a Local Area Coordinator do?
A Local Area Coordinator helps you understand and access the NDIS, connect with community and mainstream services, and use your plan. They can support you to make an access request, get ready for your planning meeting and take your first steps once your plan is approved. They also link you with things beyond the NDIS, such as local groups and mainstream services like health and education.
Do I have to pay for a Local Area Coordinator?
No. LACs are free to use. They work for community partner organisations that partner with the NDIA to support people in the community, and their help does not come out of any NDIS plan budget. Because their support is free and available locally, they are often one of the first people someone talks to when starting out with the NDIS.
How is an LAC different from a support coordinator?
An LAC is a free community-based helper who supports you to understand and access the NDIS and connect with local services, whether or not you have a plan. A support coordinator is a funded support written into an individual NDIS plan. So an LAC is part of the wider free community support, while support coordination is paid for from your plan.
Can an LAC help me before I have an NDIS plan?
Yes. One of an LAC's main roles is helping people who are just starting out. They can explain what the NDIS is, help you work out whether it might be right for you, support you to make an access request and help you prepare for your planning meeting. Their help is available in the community whether or not you end up with a plan.
How do I get in touch with a Local Area Coordinator?
LACs work for community partner organisations in your area, so you can usually contact your local community partner or ask the NDIS to point you to one. Because their support is free, anyone exploring or using the NDIS can reach out. If you do not know who your local partner is, contacting the NDIA is a good first step to being connected.

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