Local Area Coordinator(LAC) with a client and family

Who is an NDIS Local Area Coordinator (LAC)?

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About Local Area Coordinator

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Local Area Coordinators (LACs) are professionals who work to support individuals with disabilities and their families. LACs assist in the planning and coordination of NDIS supports. They play a crucial role in helping participants navigate the NDIS, understand their plans, and connect with appropriate services and supports.

The main responsibilities of an LAC

  • Assisting people to navigate the NDIS.
  • Providing planning and coordination for people with disabilities to maximize their choice and control over the services they use.
  • Supporting people with disabilities to create and work towards their goals.
  • Building capacity for individuals to make their own decisions and choices.
  • Helping individuals access the supports they need to live the life they choose.
  • Developing community connections.
  • Helping individuals understand and access the NDIS, including workshops or talking about the NDIS.
  • Assisting with an NDIS plan if the individual is eligible for supports through an NDIS plan.
  • Implementing the NDIS plan by assisting individuals to understand and use the supports in their NDIS plan to help them achieve their goals.
  • Applying for a plan reassessment by checking in with individuals during their plan to see how they are going and if the plan is working well for them.

Local Area Coordinators also support communities and multiple levels of government to create a more inclusive society and deliver improved outcomes for all people with disabilities. They have strong connections in the community and can help individuals connect with supports in their local area, including community groups, recreational activities such as sporting clubs, performing arts groups, and other social networks.

Difference Between a Local Area Coordinator and a Support Coordinator

both Local Area Coordinators (LACs) and Support Coordinators are roles within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia. Here are the main differences between the two:

Role and Function:

  • Local Area Coordinator (LAC): LACs primarily focus on engaging with individuals with disabilities, helping them understand the NDIS, and assisting in the planning and coordination of their supports. They work with participants to develop their NDIS plans and link them to community and mainstream services.
  • Support Coordinator: Support Coordinators are more directly involved in implementing the NDIS plans. They assist participants in navigating and accessing services, coordinating different supports, and ensuring that the supports are effectively delivered to meet the participant’s goals.

Engagement Stage:

  • LACs: Engage with individuals during the planning stages, helping them understand the NDIS, identifying goals, and creating plans.
  • Support Coordinators: Typically engaged after the planning stage to assist with the practical implementation of the NDIS plan.

Connection to Services:

  • LACs: Focus on linking participants to community and mainstream services based on their goals and needs.
  • Support Coordinators: Actively coordinate and connect participants to various services, providers, and community resources to meet the goals outlined in the NDIS plan.

Advocacy and Empowerment:

  • LACs: Advocate for participants and empower them to make informed choices during the planning stages.
  • Support Coordinators: Continue to advocate for participants but play a more hands-on role in supporting them to exercise choice and control over their supports.

Ongoing Support:

  • LACs: Their involvement may reduce after the planning stage, and they might not be as directly involved in ongoing support coordination.
  • Support Coordinators: Provide ongoing support throughout the duration of the NDIS plan, assisting with changes, addressing challenges, and ensuring the participant’s goals are met.

Local Area Coordinator in Darwin, NT

Local Area Coordinator (LAC) partner, Fannie Bay, 0820

Sources:

(1) https://ndis.bsl.org.au/local-area-coordination/what-is-local-area-coordination/.
(2) https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/what-ndis/whos-delivering-ndis/local-area-coordination-partners.
(3) https://www.ndis.gov.au/contact/locations/-33.8857%2C151.2416/50/357.
(4) https://auspirecare.com.au/local-area-coordinator/.
(5) https://ndsp.com.au/blog/ndis-news/who-is-an-ndis-local-area-coordinator-what-do-they-do/.
(6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Disability_Insurance_Scheme.

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