Self-managed Plans and Insight PBS

When you access NDIS services, your funding can be managed in one of three ways: self-managed, plan-managed, or NDIA-managed. Each option works differently, and the one in your current plan affects which providers you can work with and how payments are processed.

At Insight PBS, we accept plan-managed and NDIA-managed participants. We are not currently able to accept self-managed participants.

If your plan is currently self-managed and you’d like to access our services, this page explains your options, including how to change your funding management type so we can get started.

Your NDIS plan funding can be managed in one of three ways, or a combination of them. Here’s what each one means:

Self-Managed

You receive funding directly from the NDIA and manage it yourself. This gives you maximum flexibility — you can choose from both registered and unregistered providers, negotiate your own prices, and pay providers directly from your NDIS funds.

With that flexibility comes responsibility. You’re required to track your own budget, make claims through the myNDIS portal, pay providers on time, and keep detailed records of all spending for at least five years.

Self-management suits participants who have the time, capacity, and organisational systems to manage their own funding independently.

Plan-Managed

The NDIA funds a registered Plan Manager, who handles the financial side on your behalf. Your Plan Manager receives invoices from your providers, pays them from your NDIS budget, and takes care of financial reporting.

You still have choice and control over which providers you use — including both registered and unregistered providers — without having to manage the financial administration yourself.

Plan management is a popular middle ground: you keep flexibility over providers without taking on the administrative burden of self-management.

NDIA-Managed (Agency-Managed)

The NDIA pays your providers directly on your behalf. You choose your supports and providers, and the NDIA handles all payments through its own portal.

One difference to be aware of: with NDIA-managed funding, providers must be NDIS-registered. This is the most straightforward option administratively, and the NDIA takes care of all payments and reporting.

You can use a combination. Your plan doesn’t have to be entirely one type. For example, you might choose to self-manage one support category while having another managed by a Plan Manager or the NDIA. Your early childhood partner, LAC, or NDIA planner can help you think through what combination works best for your situation.

We want to be straightforward about this, because we think you deserve an honest explanation rather than a vague policy statement.

Over the past few years, we’ve worked with a significant number of self-managed participants and have experienced consistent and serious issues with unpaid invoices. Our internal data shows that over 90% of self-managed participants have not paid their invoices, not occasionally, but as a pattern. Many invoices have been left unpaid for years. 

Chasing unpaid invoices takes time and resources away from our clinical team, our administration team, and the participants we’re actively supporting. Unlike other payment arrangements, the NDIS does not assist providers in recovering unpaid invoices from self-managed participants, which leaves us with very limited options when payments don’t come through.

This decision wasn’t made lightly. We understand that the vast majority of self-managed participants are doing the right thing. But the sustained impact on our team and the sustainability of our services has made it impossible to continue accepting self-managed funding.

We remain committed to providing high-quality Positive Behaviour Support to every participant who needs it, and the good news is that changing your funding management type is a straightforward process.

If you’re currently self-managed and want to access Insight PBS services, you can change your funding management type through the NDIS. Here’s how.

Step 1: Complete a Change of Circumstances form

The NDIS Change of Circumstances form is the official way to request a change to how your plan funding is managed. You can download it from the NDIS website or contact the NDIA directly to request one.

When completing the form, go to Part G: I want to change how the funding is managed in my plan. This is where you indicate whether you’d like to switch to Plan-managed or NDIA-managed funding, either for all supports or for specific support categories.

Step 2: Submit the form

You can return the completed form in any of the following ways:

• Email: enquiries@ndis.gov.au
• Mail: NDIA, GPO Box 700, Canberra ACT 2601
• In person: Visit a local area coordinator, early childhood partner, or NDIS office in your area

If someone else is completing the form on your behalf, such as a family member, support coordinator, or nominee, you’ll need to provide consent before they can do so. You can give consent by calling the NDIA, sending a letter or email, or completing a Consent for a Third Party to Act on Behalf of a Person form.

Step 3: Wait for a decision

The NDIA is required to decide within 21 days of receiving your form. They’ll let you know in writing whether your request has been approved and whether it will be processed as a plan variation (a change to your current plan) or a plan reassessment (a new plan).

Once the change is confirmed and your plan reflects plan-managed or NDIA-managed funding, we can proceed with your referral.

While you wait, reach out to us.
You don’t have to wait until the funding change is finalised to get in touch. If you’d like to let us know a referral is coming, or if you have questions about what our service involves, we’re happy to talk through it now so we’re ready to move quickly once the change is in place.

We know that many people prefer to stay self-managed because they’ve had bad experiences with NDIS providers in the past. We get it, there are some bad actors out there. 

Luckily, you don’t have to change all your funding from Self-managed across. In the change of circumstance form, you can select to only have PBS funding managed differently. This leaves all your other supports alone to remain self-managed. 

You can see in the above image, you can request that only PBS funding is changed to NDIA or Plan-managed. The rest can stay self-managed.

If your plan is already plan-managed or NDIA-managed, you can refer directly. There’s no additional step required.

If you’re not sure which management type is in your current plan, the easiest way to check is through the myNDIS portal, or by calling the NDIA on 1800 800 110.

If your funding is plan-managed or NDIA-managed, you can refer directly. If you’re in the process of changing your funding type and want to let us know a referral is coming, we’re happy to hear from you now.