When the NDIA approves your plan, every support category in it is assigned a management type. How your funding is managed decides who pays your invoices, what record-keeping is your responsibility, and – importantly for choosing a provider like INREACH – whether you can use unregistered providers alongside registered ones.
There are three options: self-managed, plan-managed, and NDIA-managed. You don't have to pick just one – different support categories in the same plan can be managed differently, and you can change your mind later.
These three options remain the foundation of how NDIS plans work through the Scheme's current reforms. The NDIA had planned to introduce a broader "new way of planning" from September 2025, but after feedback from the disability community that rollout was pushed back to a gradual introduction from mid-2026. Plan managers, self-managers and NDIA-managed arrangements continue to operate as described below while that transition takes place.
The Three Options at a Glance
| Self-Managed | Plan-Managed | NDIA-Managed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who pays your providers | You do – either claim funds first and pay the provider, or pay the provider and then claim reimbursement | A registered plan manager pays invoices on your behalf | The NDIA pays registered providers directly through the provider portal |
| Registered or unregistered providers | Either – full choice | Either – full choice | Registered providers only |
| Who keeps the records | You do – invoices and receipts must be kept for 5 years | Your plan manager keeps invoices and claim records for you | The NDIA manages the financial records |
| Negotiating prices | You can agree prices above or below the NDIS price limits with your provider | Claims must stay within NDIS price limits, whether the provider is registered or not | Limited to NDIS Pricing Arrangements and price limits |
| What it costs you | No separate fee, but you take on the admin and cash-flow yourself | Funded separately in your plan – doesn't reduce your other budgets | No separate fee |
| Good fit for | People who want full control over budgeting, providers and negotiating rates | People who want the choice of unregistered providers without doing the paperwork | People who want the NDIA to handle payments, using only registered providers |
What This Means When Choosing a Provider Like INREACH
Because INREACH Supports is a registered NDIS provider (Provider Number 4050014375), we can be engaged by participants no matter how their plan is managed. The difference is in how the paperwork flows, not in whether you can work with us:
1 Self-Managed
You engage us directly, we invoice you, and you either pay us and claim reimbursement or claim the funds first and pay our invoice. You could also use an unregistered provider for some supports if you chose to – the choice is entirely yours.
2 Plan-Managed
We invoice your registered plan manager directly, and they pay us from your funding and keep the records. As with self-management, you could also choose an unregistered provider for some supports – plan management doesn't restrict you to registered providers only.
3 NDIA-Managed
We claim directly through the NDIA's provider portal once we're recorded as your provider. Because NDIA-managed funding can only be used with registered providers, this is where our registration status matters most – an unregistered provider simply isn't an option for these supports.
In short: unregistered providers are only ever an option for the self-managed or plan-managed portions of a plan. For anything NDIA-managed, the provider must be registered – which INREACH is, across every service we deliver.
How to Switch Your Management Option
You're not locked into your current arrangement. You can ask to change how all or part of your plan is managed at any time – you don't need to wait for a scheduled plan review or a new plan to be created.
- Talk to your my NDIS contact, or raise it at your next plan meeting
- Call the National Contact Centre on 1800 800 110
- Email or use webchat through the NDIS to request the change
- Tell the NDIA which category you want to change (for example, moving Core supports from NDIA-managed to plan-managed) – you don't have to change your whole plan at once
- If the NDIA agrees, they'll update your current plan without requiring a full reassessment
If you're moving to plan-managed funding for the first time, you'll also need to nominate a registered plan manager so the NDIA can add the Improved Life Choices funding to your plan.
Thinking about self-managing but not sure you're ready? You don't have to start from scratch. Where it meets NDIS funding criteria, the NDIA can include capacity-building supports in your plan to help you learn how to budget, keep records, and make claims – and you can lean on family, a Support Coordinator, or self-manager peer networks along the way. Many participants build up their confidence gradually and need less of this support over time.
Where INREACH Stands
- INREACH Supports is a registered NDIS provider (Provider Number 4050014375)
- We work with participants regardless of whether their plan is self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed
- We deliver SIL, high intensity daily personal activities, community access, and therapy supports across Ipswich, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast
- Not sure which category your funding sits in, or whether you're eligible for a service? Our team and your Support Coordinator can help you check
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use unregistered providers if my plan is NDIA-managed?
No. For any part of your plan that is NDIA-managed, you must use providers registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Unregistered providers are only an option for the parts of your plan that are self-managed or plan-managed.
Does plan management cost me anything out of my other supports?
No. Plan management is funded as its own item in your plan, under the Improved Life Choices category. It does not reduce the funding available in your other budgets, such as Core or Capacity Building.
Can I mix management types within the same NDIS plan?
Yes. Your plan does not have to be managed the same way across every category. For example, your Core supports could be self-managed while your Capital supports are NDIA-managed, or you could add plan management for just one category.
How do I switch to a different management option?
You can ask to change how your plan is managed at any time, including mid-plan, without waiting for a new plan or a full plan review. Speak with your my NDIS contact, call the National Contact Centre on 1800 800 110, email the NDIA, or raise it at your next plan meeting.
Is INREACH Supports a registered NDIS provider?
Yes. INREACH Supports is a registered NDIS provider (Provider Number 4050014375), which means we can be engaged by participants regardless of whether their plan is self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed.
Not sure which management option is right for you?
Our team can talk you through how your plan is managed, check whether our services fit your funding, and help with next steps. You can also read our NDIS Eligibility Guide or Plan Review Guide for more on shaping your plan.