For agency-managed participants
NDIA-managed? Here's how your funding works — and your options.
If the NDIA manages your plan, it pays providers directly through the myplace portal, and those providers must be NDIS-registered. That's a smaller pool, so here's how agency-managed funding works and what to consider if you want to start online therapy sooner.
What agency-managed means
When your plan is NDIA-managed (also called agency-managed), the National Disability Insurance Agency pays your providers directly through its payment system. You don't handle invoices or claims — but there's a trade-off: you can only use NDIS-registered providers.
This is the key difference between the three management types:
- Self-managed — use any provider, registered or not. You claim and pay.
- Plan-managed — use any provider, registered or not. A plan manager pays.
- Agency-managed — registered providers only. The NDIA pays.
Being honest about fit
Because agency-managed funding is limited to registered providers, it's worth checking a provider's status before you get attached to them. We'd rather tell you up front than waste your time: if you're agency-managed, the most reliable path to online therapy with a provider of your choice is usually to move to plan management.
Your options if you want to start sooner
- Speak to your support coordinator or LAC about whether plan management suits you — it's free to add and opens up provider choice.
- Request a change at your next plan review (or sooner, if your circumstances have changed). The NDIA can move part or all of your plan to plan-managed.
- Talk to us first so you know what's involved — we'll explain the difference plainly and never pressure you into a switch that isn't right for your family.
See changing how your plan is managed for the practical steps, and the NDIS guidance on plan management for the official detail.
Common questions
- Can agency-managed participants use any provider?
- No. When the NDIA manages your funding, it pays providers directly, and those providers must be NDIS-registered. This is the main difference from self-managed and plan-managed arrangements, which can both use non-registered providers.
- I'm agency-managed and want to use Hey Sprout. What are my options?
- Talk to us and your support coordinator or LAC. Many participants ask the NDIA to move all or part of their plan to plan management at a plan review, which then lets them choose any provider. We'll walk you through what that involves before you decide anything.
- Why do so many therapy providers ask whether you're plan- or self-managed?
- Because those two arrangements let you choose freely, including online and non-registered providers. Agency-managed plans are limited to registered providers, so providers check your management type up front to tell you honestly whether they can help.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-06-14. NDIS rules change — check the official source for the current detail.