Supporting Learning for Children with Needs (SLCN) provides comprehensive Support Coordination for children, adolescents, and families across Melbourne (in‑clinic, home/school), and via telehealth across Australia. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), you don’t have to do it alone—our coordinators walk beside you, step by step.
The NDIS can unlock life‑changing supports—but it can also feel complex, time‑consuming, and confusing, especially when you’re juggling school, therapies, and everyday life. Support Coordination bridges the gap between your child’s NDIS plan and real‑world outcomes: connecting you with the right providers, arranging services, resolving issues, and building your confidence to manage supports over time. That’s exactly what SLCN is here to do.
Importantly, Australian guidance emphasises quality, child‑centred practice—placing safety, dignity, and measurable outcomes at the heart of supports. The NDIS Quality & Safeguards Commission’s resource for families of children outlines what good practice looks like, the rules providers must follow, and the questions you can ask to ensure services are safe and effective. SLCN’s approach aligns with these principles.
Support Coordination is an NDIS‑funded service that helps participants understand and implement their plan. Coordinators:
For parents and caregivers, a good coordinator is a calm guide and practical ally—someone who translates NDIS language into clear steps, keeps the bigger picture in view, and makes sure every hour of funded support is purposeful. SLCN’s coordinators specialise in children and families, with a deep understanding of developmental needs, school environments, and multidisciplinary therapy.
We begin with a friendly conversation and a review of your NDIS plan: funding categories (e.g., Capacity Building, Improved Daily Living), current supports, and what’s working or not. We listen to your child’s strengths, interests, and immediate priorities (e.g., communication, emotional regulation, social participation, daily living).
We then match appropriate providers and programs—speech pathology, psychology, occupational therapy, play therapy, social groups, behaviour support, and more—so your supports join up across home, school, and community. (SLCN also delivers many of these therapies directly, streamlining communication and goal tracking.)
We help set up service agreements, clarify costs and schedules, and ensure your child’s supports start promptly. If your plan is NDIA‑managed, we can help you use the NDIS Provider Finder to choose registered providers; if you’re plan‑managed or self‑managed, we’ll discuss the flexibility to include unregistered providers while still meeting quality standards.
Our coordinators share practical tools—tracking sheets, checklists, questions to ask providers—so you can make confident decisions between reviews. We aim to grow your knowledge of the NDIS, your child’s therapy priorities, and how to measure meaningful progress (communication, participation, independence, wellbeing).
We check in regularly to keep supports aligned to goals, troubleshoot barriers (waitlists, transport, or changing needs), and prepare clear, family‑friendly updates that inform paediatricians, schools, and other providers. This continual coordination reflects national guidance on quality supports for children—focusing on safety, dignity, and positive outcomes.
Australian guidance for children’s supports sets out what families should expect from providers:
SLCN’s team embodies these principles in everyday practice—translating complex systems into compassionate, doable steps for busy families.
We explain your plan line by line, identify immediate needs (e.g., psychology, speech, OT), and implement supports quickly—prioritising wait‑time realities and travel logistics. We’ll help you use tools like the Provider Finder for NDIA‑managed plans.
We coordinate therapy schedules, align goals across disciplines, and share progress updates so that speech targets, emotional regulation, and classroom accommodations reinforce each other rather than compete for time.
We liaise with teachers and provide clear summaries of supports, strategies, and reasonable adjustments to help your child participate and learn—consistent with child‑centred quality practice.
We prepare purposeful, plain‑language updates (and request provider reports, where relevant) to demonstrate outcomes and justify ongoing or revised supports. We’ll highlight functional gains and remaining needs to frame a strong review discussion.
While your plan will specify the funded level, families often hear about three tiers:
SLCN provides coordination tailored to children and families, with capacity to navigate complexity through clear action plans, collaborative provider engagement, and practical crisis response where needed.
SLCN is a multidisciplinary child therapy service—offering psychology, speech pathology, behaviour therapy, occupational therapy, play therapy, social groups, and assessments—available in clinic, at home/school, or via telehealth. Our coordinators understand these therapies deeply, which helps them connect families with the right support and keep goals aligned as your child grows.
When psychology is part of your plan, SLCN follows Australian best practice—drawing on Autism CRC’s assessment guideline and Australian ADHD guidelines—and coordinates CBT‑informed therapy for anxiety, mood, and emotional regulation. Support Coordination ensures these therapeutic efforts are scheduled well, monitored effectively, and usable at home and school.
Q: How do I know if Support Coordination is in my child’s plan?
A: Your NDIS plan lists funded supports and budgets. If Support Coordination isn’t included, we can discuss options and help you prepare for your next review. We can also show you how to search for registered providers if your plan is NDIA‑managed.
Q: Do you only work with SLCN therapists?
A: No. We coordinate across the broader community of providers (and school services) so your supports are the best fit. When you choose SLCN therapies, coordination is streamlined—but we’ll always prioritise your child’s goals and your family’s preferences.
Q: Can Support Coordination be done via telehealth?
A: Yes. We offer phone/video coordination nationwide to reduce travel burdens and keep momentum between appointments.
Q: How does Support Coordination improve outcomes?
A: By turning plan budgets into timely, well‑matched supports, aligning multidisciplinary goals, and troubleshooting barriers early—consistent with guidance on quality supports for children. Families report less stress and more confidence managing the NDIS.
The NDIS Commission’s guidance for children underscores provider duties (e.g., worker screening, incident management) and your rights as a participant family. We encourage questions, transparency, and shared decision‑making. SLCN’s coordinators practise within these standards and will help you identify quality providers who do the same.
Step 1 – Book an initial coordination session
We’ll review your plan, discuss goals, and create a short action plan (providers to contact, bookings to make, immediate priorities).
Step 2 – Implement supports quickly
We’ll help you connect with therapists and programs, confirm service agreements, and build a balanced weekly schedule that works for your family.
Step 3 – Monitor, adjust, and prepare for review
As your child progresses, we’ll realign supports, document outcomes, and help you prepare for plan reviews with clear, practical summaries.
If you’re ready to turn an NDIS plan into clear supports and real progress, we’re here to help.
👉 Learn more: SLCN Support Coordination
👉 Explore how SLCN therapy works: How it works at SLCN
Supporting Learning for Children with Needs (SLCN)
Helping families navigate the NDIS with clarity, confidence, and care—one step at a time.
