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The NDIS can be complex, particularly when multiple services, providers and mainstream systems are involved.
We've answered some of the questions participants, families, guardians and professionals commonly ask us about Specialist Navigation and the role of a WIRU Specialist Navigator.
A concise guide for professionals considering WIRU Specialist Navigation
Not every support belongs within the NDIS. Specialist Navigation can help identify the right pathway.
Specialist Navigation provides a higher level of coordination for NDIS participants with complex circumstances.
It can help when multiple providers, services or mainstream systems need to work together, when there are barriers to accessing appropriate supports, or when existing support arrangements are at risk of breaking down.
The aim is to help the participant establish coordinated, effective and sustainable supports while building greater understanding, capacity, choice and control.
Specialist Navigation is designed for participants whose circumstances require a higher level of expertise and coordination.
This may involve complex risks, multiple service systems, significant barriers to accessing supports or situations where several professionals and organisations need to work together.
Depending on your circumstances, your Navigator may help you:
understand and implement your NDIS plan
identify appropriate providers and services
coordinate multiple supports
navigate health, mental health, justice, housing and other mainstream systems
identify barriers or gaps in your support arrangements
bring providers and professionals together
support complex transitions
respond when support arrangements are at risk of breakdown
understand your options and make informed choices
strengthen your capacity to navigate your own supports
monitor how your supports are working together
provide information and reporting relevant to your NDIS plan and goals
The exact role will depend on your individual circumstances, goals and NDIS plan.Can WIRU help me connect with mainstrea
Yes. Not every support a participant needs is funded by the NDIS.
An important part of Specialist Navigation is helping participants understand which needs may be supported through the NDIS and which may be better addressed through mainstream, government or community services.
Depending on your individual circumstances, goals, consent and eligibility, WIRU may assist you to identify, connect with or make referrals to services such as:
housing and homelessness services
medical and primary health services
hospital and specialist health services
community and forensic mental health services
drug and alcohol services
advocacy services
legal and community legal services
family and carer supports
financial counselling and emergency relief
Centrelink and other government services
education, training and employment services
community and culturally appropriate supports
guardianship, advocacy and decision-support services
domestic and family violence services
justice and reintegration supports
other specialist government or community services relevant to the participant's circumstances
Depending on a participant's circumstances and eligibility, WIRU may also assist with referrals to specialist government services for people with exceptional or complex needs.
In South Australia, this may include the Department of Human Services Exceptional Needs Unit (ENU). In Queensland, our Specialist Navigators can assist participants to identify and connect with the relevant Queensland Government pathway across health, mental health, housing, disability, justice or other mainstream systems.
Our role is to help identify the appropriate pathway, make connections between services and reduce gaps between the NDIS and the broader systems involved in a participant's life.
A Specialist Navigator coordinates and navigates supports. They do not replace the professionals or services responsible for delivering those supports.
For example, Specialist Navigation is not:
therapy or counselling
psychology or psychiatric treatment
medical or clinical treatment
direct disability support work
personal care
accommodation or SIL support
behaviour support therapy
plan management
legal representation
emergency or crisis response
Where another professional or service is required, your Specialist Navigator can help identify appropriate options and coordinate with those services as part of your broader support network.
No. Our Navigators are qualified Social Workers, but the NDIS service they are engaged to provide through WIRU is Specialist Navigation.
Their Social Work qualifications provide professional knowledge and experience that inform how they understand complexity, navigate systems, identify barriers, collaborate with professionals and support participant choice and control.
They are not engaged as the participant's therapist or counsellor through the Specialist Navigation service.
Specialist Support Coordination/Navigation is a specialised NDIS registration group subject to additional NDIS Practice Standards and certification auditing requirements. These standards recognise the specialist knowledge and capability required when supporting participants with high-risk and complex circumstances.
As part of WIRU's professional and audit requirements, our Specialist Navigators maintain professional standing with their relevant professional body. At WIRU, that profession is Social Work, and our professional body is the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
All WIRU Specialist Navigators are qualified Social Workers who maintain current professional membership and accreditation with the AASW.
This provides an additional framework of professional ethics, accountability and ongoing professional development, while bringing recognised Social Work knowledge to the Specialist Navigation role.
No.
Your Navigator provides information, explores options and helps coordinate supports so that you can make informed decisions.
Participant choice and control remain central to Specialist Navigation.
Where a participant has a guardian, nominee or other formally appointed decision-maker, WIRU works within the relevant decision-making arrangements while continuing to support the participant's involvement wherever possible.
No.
WIRU can help you identify and compare suitable providers based on your needs, preferences, circumstances and NDIS plan.
The choice of provider remains with you or the person authorised to make that decision.
Because Specialist Navigation is the only NDIS service WIRU provides, we do not need to direct participants towards WIRU-owned support work, accommodation or other disability services.
Yes.
With appropriate consent and in accordance with any formal decision-making arrangements, we regularly collaborate with families, nominees, guardians, advocates, providers and other professionals involved in a participant's support.
For complex circumstances, this collaboration can be an important part of ensuring everyone understands their role and supports work together effectively.
Yes.
Where relevant to the participant's Specialist Navigation needs, our Navigators can participate in meetings and case conferences with the participant's support network and relevant professionals.
Meetings may take place in the community, in professional settings, at our meeting hubs or online.
No.
WIRU is not an emergency or crisis response service.
Our Specialist Navigators can assist with planning, coordination and identifying appropriate supports when there is instability or risk of support breakdown, but emergency situations should be directed to the appropriate emergency or crisis service.
Yes. This is an area in which WIRU has particular experience.
Our Specialist Navigators work across the interfaces between the NDIS and systems such as health, hospitals, community and forensic mental health, justice and corrections, guardianship, housing and other mainstream services.
Our role is to help coordinate these interfaces where they are relevant to the participant's NDIS goals and support arrangements.
No.
WIRU does not provide Supported Independent Living, accommodation or direct support services.
We can, however, provide Specialist Navigation around complex housing and support arrangements where this falls within the participant's funded Specialist Navigation role.
No.
WIRU does not manage or administer your NDIS funding.
Depending on how your plan is managed, financial administration is undertaken by your Plan Manager or, for Agency-managed supports, by the NDIA.
As part of Specialist Navigation, WIRU may monitor how your funded supports are being used, identify potential gaps or funding pressures, and work with you and your support network to help ensure your plan is being used effectively.
We may also prepare reports for the NDIA about the progress of your supports, how your funding is tracking, any barriers or risks identified, and your ongoing support needs.
Where appropriate, your Specialist Navigator will work collaboratively with your Plan Manager, the NDIA and other relevant members of your support network.
Specialist Navigation is generally funded for a set number of hours within your NDIS plan, so it is important that this time is used purposefully.
At WIRU, the first 12 weeks are typically an intensive establishment period. During this time, your Specialist Navigator will work with you to understand your plan, identify priorities, connect appropriate services and providers, establish your support network and address any immediate gaps or barriers.
Once your supports are established, the level of Navigator involvement may reduce and be used more strategically across the remainder of your plan. This helps preserve your available hours for ongoing coordination, changes in circumstances, complex transitions, support issues and reporting when required.
How your hours are used will always depend on your individual circumstances, available funding and support needs.
WIRU also provides access to a Community Engagement Consultant and Accredited Social Work, Post-Graduate Masters Students at no additional cost.
Participants can make an appointment with our Community Engagement Consultant or Social Work Student to discuss additional needs, general questions or community and mainstream service options that may not require the involvement of their Specialist Navigator.
Where appropriate, we can provide general information and help identify possible community, government or mainstream pathways.
This is a free WIRU service and does not use your allocated Specialist Navigation hours.
WIRU takes the privacy and confidentiality of your information seriously.
We use Splose, a secure electronic practice management system, to manage participant records and service information.
For Australian users, Splose states that data is stored in Australia using Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure and protected by encryption while being transmitted and while stored. Splose also operates in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles.
Within WIRU, participant information is only accessible to authorised personnel according to their professional role and responsibilities.
If you would like to know more about how WIRU collects, stores, uses or shares your information, you are welcome to contact our team.
WIRU provides Specialist Navigation across South Australia and Queensland.
Our Navigators work in the community and can also participate in online meetings and multidisciplinary case conferences where appropriate.
We have professional meeting hubs in North Adelaide and Brisbane for meetings by appointment.
You can begin by making a referral or contacting our team.
To commence Specialist Navigation services, WIRU requires an NDIA Request for Service (RFS).
For a PACE Request for Service, please provide:
WIRU Community Health & Well-Being Pty LtdOrganisation ID: 405 012 6847
Once the RFS is received, we will guide you through our consent and Service Agreement process.
Specialist Navigation across South Australia and Queensland.
Established in South Australia, WIRU now provides Specialist Navigation across:
South Australia Metropolitan, regional services and Remote Communities.
Queensland Brisbane, Southeast Queensland and selected regional areas.Face-to-face and remote service options are available depending on location and participant needs.
Looking for Specialist Navigation?
Whether you are a participant, family member, nominee, guardian or professional referrer, our team can help you understand whether WIRU is the right fit. To get started:
1. Contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110
2. Request a PACE Request for Service. Provide the NDIS with our details;
WIRU COMMUNITY HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING PTY LTD
Organisation ID 405 012 6847
Specialist Navigation is what we do.
Professional Social Work expertise is what informs how we do it.
Independent. Boutique. Focused on complexity.
Are you a Social Worker and need professional supervision?
Do you require Psychology, Counselling or
Social Work Supervision?
You can email us at hello@wiru.org
We're here to help. Get in touch with our team today.
Need our Specialist Support/Navigation Service?
Contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110 and request a PACE Request for Service
to WIRU COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PTY LTD using Organisation ID 405 012 6847
Acknowledgement of Country
WIRU Community Health & Well-Being acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and recognise the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country, culture and community.We are committed to culturally respectful, safe and inclusive practice across the communities we support.
Inclusive Practice
WIRU welcomes people of all backgrounds, cultures, identities and communities. We are committed to providing a respectful, inclusive and safe service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and LGBTIQA+ people.
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