NDIS Plan Management: Self-Managed, Plan-Managed, or Agency-Managed?

One of the first decisions in an NDIS plan is how your funding will be managed. There are three options, and you can even mix them across different funding categories.

Self-managed means you handle the funds directly — paying providers yourself and claiming back from the NDIS. This gives you the most flexibility, including the option to use providers who aren't NDIS-registered, but comes with more administrative responsibility.

Plan-managed means a separate, NDIS-funded plan manager handles the financial side for you — paying invoices and keeping track of your budget — while you retain the freedom to choose both registered and unregistered providers.

Agency-managed (or NDIA-managed) means the NDIA pays providers directly. This is the lowest-admin option, but it restricts you to NDIS-registered providers only.

There's no single right answer — the best option depends on how much administrative work you want to take on and how much flexibility you want in choosing providers.