What a recovery coach does
Recovery coaching is built around recovery oriented practice: you lead, and the coach helps you build on your strengths and work towards the life you want. A recovery coach will usually:
- Spend time with you, and the people important to you, to understand your needs and goals
- Work with you to design, carry out and adjust a recovery plan
- Help you understand and use your NDIS plan
- Find and connect you with NDIS providers, mental health services and community activities
- Coordinate your supports so they work together, including through hard periods
- Help you prepare for plan reassessments and gather evidence
Who it is for
Recovery coaching is for NDIS participants with psychosocial disability, meaning disability that arises from a mental health condition. It suits people whose condition can be episodic or fluctuating, because a coach is expected to understand that recovery is not a straight line and to adjust support as things change.
Recovery coach or support coordinator?
The two roles overlap. Both help you use your plan and connect with providers. The difference is focus: a support coordinator works across all types of disability and concentrates on putting your plan into action, while a recovery coach has mental health knowledge and works on recovery, resilience and connection as well as coordination.
Most participants with psychosocial disability have one or the other, chosen to suit their needs. In some situations a plan can fund both. Ask during your planning meeting which fits you best.
Qualifications and lived experience
Under the 2026/27 NDIS pricing schedule, a recovery coach must hold at least a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, a Certificate IV in Mental Health or an equivalent tertiary qualification in a related field, or have at least 2 years of demonstrated professional experience in mental health related work.
You can choose a coach with lived experience of mental ill health and recovery, who uses that experience in their work. Many people find this builds trust quickly.
Cost and funding
Recovery coaching is funded from the support coordination category of your Capacity Building budget. Your provider must be recorded as one of your my providers in the NDIA's system, or their claims are rejected. The 2026/27 national price limits are:
- Weekday daytime: $110.44 an hour
- Weekday evening: $121.68 an hour
- Saturday: $155.41 an hour
- Sunday: $200.39 an hour
- Public holiday: $245.36 an hour
What is changing
Since 27 August 2026 only you, your nominee or your guardian can request an unscheduled reassessment. Your recovery coach can help you prepare one but cannot lodge it for you.
From 1 July 2028 support coordination is being replaced by a new support coordination and connection service funded directly by the NDIA. Recovery coaching sits in the same budget category, so watch how the redesign treats it as details are released. Until then, recovery coaching continues as it does now.
Choosing a recovery coach
- Ask about their experience with your type of mental health condition
- Ask whether they have lived experience, if that matters to you
- Check how often they can meet, and how they support you during a crisis or a bad patch
- Ask how they work with your psychiatrist, GP, case manager or clinical team
- Agree hours, rates and cancellation terms in a written service agreement