NDIS Support for Psychosocial Disability
Specialist support coordination and psychosocial recovery coaching for participants living with mental health conditions on the Gold Coast and Central Coast.
What is psychosocial disability?
Psychosocial disability is the term the NDIS uses for a disability that arises from a mental health condition. It doesn't refer to the diagnosis — it refers to the functional limitations the condition creates in a person's daily life.
A person with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, complex PTSD, borderline personality disorder, or treatment-resistant depression may have a psychosocial disability if their condition significantly limits their ability to participate in everyday activities — managing self-care, maintaining relationships, holding employment, or living independently.
The NDIS doesn't fund mental health treatment (that sits with the health system). What it does fund are supports that help a person live, participate, and build independence despite their mental health condition.
The supports available under the NDIS
Psychosocial Recovery Coaching
A Capacity Building support specifically for participants with psychosocial disability. A recovery coach works alongside the participant over time — building daily structure and routine, developing coping strategies, reconnecting with community, and working toward greater independence. It's not therapy, but it requires clinical awareness to do it well.
At Thrive, Katarina leads our recovery coaching practice. As a registered mental health nurse and psychotherapist with over 20 years of clinical experience, she brings depth to the coaching relationship that most coaches can't match.
Specialist Support Coordination (Level 3)
For participants whose psychosocial disability creates high complexity — frequent hospitalisations, multiple services, active clinical risk — standard coordination often isn't sufficient. Level 3 coordination requires professional qualifications relevant to the participant's primary disability. For psychosocial participants, that means mental health clinical experience.
Katarina leads our Level 3 practice and coordinates participants where the clinical picture is central to the support plan.
Support Coordination (Level 2)
For participants with psychosocial disability whose situation is less acute, Level 2 support coordination helps build and maintain the support network — finding providers, managing service agreements, preparing for plan reviews, and coordinating across services.
Oliver leads our Level 2 practice and works across the Gold Coast and Central Coast.
Core Supports for Daily Living
When a person's mental health significantly affects their ability to maintain basic daily tasks — cooking, cleaning, personal care, getting to appointments — Core supports fund assistance with those tasks during difficult periods.
Why clinical background matters in this space
Psychosocial disability is one of the most complex areas in the NDIS. Plans that work well require coordinators and coaches who understand the clinical picture — not just the support logistics.
For participants with active mental health conditions, a support network that isn't clinically aware can miss deterioration signals, over-support in ways that undermine recovery, or fail to navigate the interface between NDIS supports and the health system.
Katarina's background as a registered nurse and psychotherapist means she can sit alongside a psychiatrist's care plan, not just around it. She can recognise clinical risk, respond appropriately without overstepping, and communicate in the language of both the health system and the NDIS.
Frequently asked questions
What is psychosocial disability under the NDIS?
It's the NDIS term for a disability arising from a mental health condition. The key is functional impact — how the condition limits your ability to participate in everyday activities — rather than the diagnosis itself.
Is recovery coaching the same as therapy?
No. Recovery coaching is a Capacity Building support focused on practical recovery goals — building routine, developing strategies, reconnecting with community. It doesn't involve clinical assessment, diagnosis, or formal therapeutic intervention. However, a recovery coach with clinical training brings awareness and judgment that enhances the coaching relationship.
Can I have both a recovery coach and a support coordinator?
Yes — and for many participants with complex psychosocial needs, having both is the right answer. The roles are distinct: the coordinator manages the support network; the recovery coach works directly on recovery goals and daily functioning. Where both are provided by the same organisation, communication is easier and the participant benefits from a coherent approach.
Talk to Katarina or Oliver
If you're living with a mental health condition and trying to understand what NDIS support you're entitled to, Katarina and Oliver are happy to talk through your situation.