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First Support Australia

Name: First Support Australia
Address: 108 Archer St, Shepparton VIC 3630, Australia, AU
Telephone: 1800 008 989

108 Archer St, Shepparton VIC 3630, Australia

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About First Support Australia

First Support Australia is an NDIS-registered provider based in Shepparton, Victoria, serving participants across Goulburn. They offer 2 types of support including support coordination and behaviour support.

Services First Support Australia provides

Support coordination
Behaviour support

Understanding support coordination under the NDIS

Choosing the right support coordination level depends as much on your situation as your funding. Most participants who are stable, with simple plans and a few familiar providers, do well with Level 1 (Support Connection, $80.06/hr) — a coordinator who points you towards the right informal and community options without managing day-to-day details. Level 2 (Coordination of Supports, $100.14/hr) suits the majority of participants with a mix of allied health, support workers and capacity-building goals — the coordinator actively brokers services, troubleshoots issues, and keeps your plan on track. Level 3 (Specialist Support Coordination, $132.83/hr) is reserved for high-complexity situations: housing transitions, mental-health crises, multiple-system involvement, or escalating risks of harm. The NDIA expects evidence (allied-health reports, case manager letters) to justify Level 3 funding.

Independent versus in-house coordination is a meaningful choice. Coordinators who work for a parent provider that also delivers therapy or support work can have an inherent conflict of interest in suggesting providers — even when handled honestly. Independent support coordinators (those without therapy or SIL services attached) can refer freely across the market. Both arrangements are legitimate; the right choice depends on the strength of your existing provider relationships.

A practical test for any coordinator is the response-time question: how long do they take to reply to a non-urgent email, and what's their plan when their primary contact is on leave? Slow communication is the most common complaint logged with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission about support coordinators.

Allocated coordination hours are visible in your NDIS plan under Capacity Building — Choice and Control. Burning through them in the first quarter of your plan is a common mistake; ask your coordinator for a quarterly hour-tracking statement.

What to ask before choosing an NDIS provider

Before signing a service agreement with any NDIS provider, including First Support Australia, it’s worth having a conversation about a few key things. What are the hourly rates, including loadings for evenings, weekends and public holidays? What cancellation fees apply, and what notice period do they require? Who will your regular support worker or practitioner be, and what happens if they’re sick or on leave? How does the provider handle complaints? These questions are standard — any reputable provider will have clear answers.

If First Support Australia is registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, they’re bound by the NDIS Code of Conduct and must meet service standards audited by approved quality auditors. This covers everything from worker screening to incident reporting. Unregistered providers can still be used by plan-managed and self-managed participants but aren’t subject to the same oversight.

It’s also worth understanding your service agreement before you sign it. The agreement should clearly state the supports being delivered, the price per hour or unit, any cancellation policy, how travel charges are handled, and how either party can end the agreement. Under the NDIS, you can usually change providers, subject to the notice and cancellation terms in your service agreement. If a provider’s service agreement doesn’t include a reasonable exit clause, that’s worth questioning.

If you’re unsure about any aspect of choosing a provider, your support coordinator or local area coordinator (LAC) can help. They can explain what to look for, accompany you to initial meetings, and assist with setting up service agreements that protect your interests. Keeping records of your interactions with providers — save invoices, note key conversations, and track whether the services delivered match what was agreed — will make plan reviews smoother and provide evidence if you ever need to raise a complaint.

NDIS supports in Goulburn

The Goulburn service district covers 49+ suburbs and hosts 234+ registered NDIS providers. Participants in this area typically access services in their local community, though many providers including First Support Australia travel to clients at home. Travel charges under the NDIS are capped and must be agreed in your service agreement before work begins.

Most participants in Goulburn access a mix of services — commonly sda, community nursing and occupational therapy. Whether you’re looking for ongoing support or need a specific assessment, comparing providers in your area is the best way to find the right fit for your goals and circumstances.