Psychosocial Recovery Coaching

A recovery coach is an NDIS funded worker who has mental health knowledge; this can include someone with lived experience. A recovery coach who has lived experience is able to use their experience from their own mental ill health and recovery to inform their work. 

A recovery coach is designed to assist those with psychosocial disability to receive the best possible support for their individual needs in order to achieve their goals. This is different from a support coordinator as a specific diagnosis is not required to obtain funding for a support coordinator, and a recovery coach has better mental health knowledge and experience to be able to assist you with psychosocial supports and services. 

A recovery coach is a more tailored approach than a support coordinator for those with psychosocial disability. 

A recovery coach can: 

• Spend time with you, and those important to you, to get to know you and understand your needs
• Assist you with finding out about different services and supports and how these could help you
• Assist you with getting support from mental health services
• Provide ongoing support and engagement
• Help you to better understand the NDIS and increase your awareness of choice and control

For most people, it is recommended that if you have a recovery coach, you do not need a support coordinator as it is a better use of your NDIS plan and funds, however you are able to choose to have both. 

Important things to consider when choosing a recovery coach:

1. Are they someone you get along with and find easy to talk to?
2. Are they a good listener?
3. Do they have lived experience of mental ill health and recovery?
4. What are their qualifications and experience?

If you currently have a support coordinator and feel as though a recovery coach may be a better fit for you, speak with your support coordinator or Local Area Coordinator.