The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) gives participants the freedom to access supports that help them live more independently, achieve goals, and improve quality of life. But managing those supports - and the associated funding - can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Choosing the right management style determines how your NDIS funds are handled, who pays your providers, and how much flexibility you have in spending your budget.
The Three NDIS Plan Management Options
You have three ways to manage your NDIS funds:
1. NDIA-Managed
When your plan is NDIA-managed, the National Disability Insurance Agency directly manages your funding. You can only use registered NDIS providers - unregistered providers cannot be paid from NDIA-managed budgets.
What this means in practice:
- Fewer provider choices - restricted to registered providers only
- No financial administration on your part - the NDIA handles payments directly
- Less flexibility in how and where you spend your budget
Who it suits: Participants who want minimal administrative involvement and are comfortable with a more limited provider network.
Flourish Health is an NDIS-aligned (unregistered) provider. We work exclusively with plan-managed and self-managed participants. If your plan is NDIA-managed and you want to access our services, you can request a change to plan-managed or self-managed funding at your next plan review.
2. Plan-Managed
With plan-managed funding, a registered Plan Manager acts as your financial intermediary. They receive invoices from providers and pay them on your behalf, tracking your spending and keeping you informed of your budget.
What this means in practice:
- Access to both registered and unregistered providers - including Flourish Health
- No out-of-pocket financial administration - your plan manager handles it
- Regular budget statements so you can track spending
- An NDIS-funded line item covers the cost of your plan manager (it doesn’t come from your other supports budget)
Who it suits: Participants who want flexibility in provider choice without the full administrative burden of self-management. The most common arrangement for people new to the NDIS.
3. Self-Managed
Self-managed participants receive their NDIS funds directly and manage payments themselves. This offers the greatest flexibility.
What this means in practice:
- Access to any provider - registered, unregistered, or informal supports
- Full control over how you spend within your plan’s goals
- You are responsible for paying invoices, keeping records, and managing your budget
- NDIS may ask you to provide acquittals demonstrating funds were spent on disability-related supports
Who it suits: Participants who want maximum flexibility and control and are comfortable with financial administration (or have support to manage it).
Comparing the Three Options
| Feature | NDIA-Managed | Plan-Managed | Self-Managed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider choice | Registered only | Registered + unregistered | Any provider |
| Works with Flourish Health | No | Yes | Yes |
| Administrative burden | None | Low | High |
| Budget control | Low | Medium | High |
| Extra cost to you | None | None (NDIS-funded) | None |
Can You Change Your Plan Management Type?
Yes. If your current plan is NDIA-managed and you want to switch to plan-managed or self-managed, you can request a plan variation or raise it at your next plan review.
Contact your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or Support Coordinator to discuss your options. You can also contact the NDIS directly on 1800 800 110.
Working with Flourish Health Under Plan Management
If you are plan-managed or self-managed, accessing Flourish Health is straightforward:
- Contact us to discuss your goals and check availability
- We provide a service agreement outlining our services and rates
- After each session, we invoice your plan manager (if plan-managed) or you directly (if self-managed)
- Your plan manager processes the payment - you don’t need to do anything
Our standard rate is the current NDIS allied health rate: $193.99 per hour.
Get in touch:
- Phone: (03) 7043 7778
- Email: admin@flourishhealth.com.au
- Online referral form - no GP referral required
