Our team of Plan Managers and Support Coordinators assist people who live with disability with the financial administration of their plan as well as understanding how to get the most out of the NDIS. The NDIS supports people who live with disability through financial assistance and by helping them maintain their independence and right to choose their own support. Applying for the NDIS can be a complex process and one way we support people with it is by helping them understand the role of a Local Area Coordinator (LAC).

What is a LAC?

LACs are local organisations comprised of support staff who assist people living with disability by working with help to them to receive the best supports for their needs. They should have a deep understanding and awareness of disability and how living with a disability can have a huge impact on not only the individual, but also on their families and their carers. LACs are comprised of staff who are skilled in communicating with people who live with disability and their families and understand the challenges they face in day-to-day life.

LACs are not part of the NDIA; they can help put together and submit an NDIS plan but they do not have the ability to approve one. They are also not the same as a Support Coordinator, more on this below.

What does a LAC do?

LACs work with their community to help people living with disability achieve the support they need through the NDIS. They do this in the following ways:

• working to make their local community more accessible and inclusive for members who live with a disability
• conversing with individuals to gain an understanding of their unique needs and putting this information into practice by creating an NDIS management plan for eligible participants
• assisting people who live with disability access the NDIS for the first time and linking them with community supports in areas such as health, transport, and education
• working with existing NDIS participants to make changes to their NDIS plan in order to adjust their funding or to support their upcoming plan review meetings
• implementing approved NDIS plans and helping participants connect with supports who provide the services outlined as part of their plan
• providing NDIS participants with a thorough understanding of their NDIS plan by answering any questions, queries, or concerns they may have about their support or funding
• helping NDIS participants find NDIS plan implementation workshops through employment services organisations. Not everyone person who lives with a disability is eligible for an NDIS plan. If this is the case for you or someone you know then employment services can often provide relevant information and connect those in need with supports in their community.

What’s the difference between a LAC and a Support Coordinator?

A Support Coordinator works in a similar way to a LAC to coordinate services from a range of providers, help with service delivery issues, to help to build your capacity and your support network. However, Support Coordination is an NDIS funded support. To receive funding for Support Coordination, the NDIA must deem it reasonable and necessary.

Finding support in your local community

Once an NDIS participant has an approved plan in place, an LAC can then help them find the specific support they need. They can do this by:

• informing participants of the supports present in their community
• helping participants sustain informal supports such as friends, family, or relationships with local community members

If a person living with disability is not eligible for an NDIS plan they can still speak to an LAC about supports or assistance which are present and available to them in their community.

Further Info

If you need support finding an LAC, help getting the most out of your NDIS, or have any questions regarding the NDIS or any of these topics then give InFocus a call today on 1800 928 437 or email enquiries@infocusdisability.org.au