Since joining CPSN last year as Membership Services Officer, Rebecca McCabe has been instrumental in connecting our members to life-changing services. We talk to Rebecca about her new role in the support coordination team.
Rebecca rich understanding of disability services has made her a great asset to the support coordination team – a role which, despite its deep relevance to our member base, is still widely misunderstood and underutilized.
She understands that many people with disabilities go on with minimal support because there is an insufficient understanding of basic rights and services they are entitled to receive.
Rebecca observes that the most unfortunate myth around her new role is that many believe if you have a lot of friends and family to support you, you will not be eligible for support coordination, which is not the case.
We sat down with Rebecca to create a more solid understanding of support coordination, and how it can create a better quality of life for our clients.
What is your biggest accomplishment in this role to date?
My biggest accomplishment in this role to date is assisting a member in purchasing his first pair of Ankle Foot Orthotics (AFOs).
How can our members connect with support coordination?
Members can connect with support coordination by becoming a CPSN member and linking with our support coordination team.
How can support coordination help members?
Support coordination can help members to connect with the right service providers to make the most of their NDIS plan. The main task of a support coordinator is to help individual access and manage the most appropriate services and supports to achieve their NDIS goals.
A support coordinator can help members get an NDIS plan started, understand the budgets of a plan, and find suitable service providers. Support coordinators also manage any services you are accessing, prepare for your annual plan review and build your knowledge and ability to work with the NDIS.
What is your biggest tip for clients who want to use a support coordinator?
It is important to have a clear understanding of your goals and the types of services you would like to access to achieve these goals. Think about what you want to achieve in the next twelve months – it could be a physical goal like access to physiotherapy or new equipment, it could be wanting to have more independence from your parents, or it could help with something else. Think about what you want your life to look like and shape specific goals around that expectation.
At CPSN we know that for new members and clients, the NDIS is a maze that is constantly changing, and navigating it can feel overwhelming. Support coordination allows you to feel like you have someone in your corner to oversee the set-up of your NDIS plan in a way that makes the entire process easier.
Have a question about support coordination? Contact CPSN on Facebook or cpsn@cpsn.org.au
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