How to find NDIS clients in 2026
Where participants and support coordinators really look for providers, and seven practical ways to win new clients, whether you are registered, unregistered or an independent support worker.
See how Supportd finds you clientsThe short answer
Most NDIS clients find a provider in one of two ways: a family searches online for a service in their suburb, or a support coordinator recommends someone they trust. To find more clients, make sure you show up in every suburb you serve, show that you have capacity, respond to every enquiry within a day, and build relationships with the coordinators near you.
Where participants actually look for providers
Understanding how families and coordinators search is the key to being found.
Google, by suburb
Most families start with a search like "ndis cleaning epping" or "sil camden". They want someone close by, and they want to know who has room now.
Support coordinators
A support coordinator helps a participant use their plan and is often the person who chooses the provider. One good coordinator relationship can bring you several clients a year.
Plan managers and LACs
Plan managers and Local Area Coordinators hear about unmet needs every week. They pass on names they trust, and they remember who answered the phone.
Word of mouth
Families talk to each other, at school gates, in community groups and in online forums. A great experience with one participant is often how you meet the next.
Directories and the Provider Finder
The official NDIS Provider Finder only lists registered providers and does not show who has capacity. Independent directories fill that gap, especially for unregistered providers.
Seven ways to find more NDIS clients
None of these need a big marketing budget. They work for a sole trader as well as a large provider.
Be findable in every suburb you actually serve
Families search by suburb and service, so a single page for your business is not enough. List each suburb you travel to and each service you offer, so you show up where people are looking.
Show that you have capacity
The question every family and coordinator asks first is "can you start soon?". Say clearly when you have room for new participants, and update it when that changes.
Build real relationships with support coordinators
Introduce yourself to the coordinators in your area, explain exactly what you do well, and follow up after every referral. Reliability is what they remember.
Answer every enquiry within 24 hours
Families often contact several providers at once. The first one to call back with a clear answer usually wins the client.
Be specific about who you are a great fit for
Languages spoken, cultural background, gender, experience with autism or psychosocial disability. Specific details help the right families choose you with confidence.
Keep what you earn
Some booking platforms take a percentage of every hour you deliver. Over a year that adds up to far more than a flat listing fee, so check what each channel really costs you.
Look after your reputation
Clear service agreements, invoicing after the service is delivered, and a simple way to raise concerns. Families talk, and coordinators listen.
Get found in every suburb you serve, with no commission
Supportd is an Australian NDIS directory with a page for every service in every suburb. Our pages have appeared in more than 120,000 Google searches since April. Families and support coordinators send enquiries through those pages, and our team hand matches each one to providers who cover that area.
Enquiries land in your own inbox, you set your own rates and you keep everything you earn. Registered, unregistered and independent providers are all welcome.
These are founding prices for our first 75 providers, locked in for life with a gold founding badge. After the founding round closes, new members pay $59 and $119 a month.
Claim your founding spotCommon questions
How do NDIS providers get clients?
Most new clients come from four places: families searching online by suburb and service, referrals from support coordinators and plan managers, word of mouth, and directories that show who has capacity. Providers who are easy to find in each suburb they serve, and who respond quickly, win the most work.
Can unregistered providers find NDIS clients?
Yes. Participants whose plans are self managed or plan managed can use unregistered providers. Only participants whose plans are NDIA managed must use registered providers. Unregistered providers do not appear on the official Provider Finder, so independent directories matter even more for them.
How do I find self managed NDIS clients?
Self managed participants choose and pay providers themselves, so they search for providers directly, usually by suburb and service. Being listed with your suburbs, services and capacity on a directory they use is the most direct way to reach them.
Is it worth paying to advertise an NDIS business?
Paid ads stop working the day you stop paying, and they get more expensive as more providers bid. A listing that keeps you visible in every suburb you serve, for a flat monthly fee, keeps working in the background. One participant who becomes a regular client is usually worth thousands of dollars a year.
How does Supportd help providers find clients?
Supportd gives you a page in every suburb and service you cover, shows families that you are taking new clients, and our team hand matches enquiries to providers in the right area. There is no commission. Plans are $49 or $99 a month for founding providers.
Ready to be found by more families?
Setting up your profile takes about five minutes.
Claim your founding spot