Preparing for your NDIS planning meeting

If you’re new to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), your first plan is your entry point and the start of your relationship with the NDIS.

Key points

A planning meeting will be held before you are able to start receiving NDIS funding
It will help the NDIS understand what areas you need support with
It’s important to think about what and where you need support before your meeting

What is a planning meeting?

Once you have been accepted into the NDIS, but before you can begin receiving any services under the Scheme, you and/or your nominee will be contacted by a National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) representative to have a planning conversation.

Your planning meeting will take place with an NDIA representative, such as a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or an NDIA Planner. You may choose to meet at the planner’s office location or they can come to your house. In some cases, for example if you live in a rural or remote area, the planning meeting may take place over the phone.

How do you prepare for a planning meeting?

Every NDIS plan is individualised. To make sure you get the best plan possible that suits your goals, it’s important to take the time to think about your life and the following questions:

Current supports

What formal supports are you currently receiving?
Do you receive therapeutic, behavioural or work supports? If so, how often?
If you need special equipment to go about your daily life, such as a wheelchair or communication devices, how often do you use it and will it need updating in the next year?
Have you had any modifications made around your home, like ramps or rails and do they suit your needs?

Informal supports

What informal connections do you have and who is important in your life at the moment?
Do you currently receive any informal support from your parents, family and friends?

Current activities

What regular activities do you attend during the week and what activities do you do occasionally? These could include community group activities, sports practice, art classes or volunteering. It’s important to list these no matter how big or small, and if you do them once a week or once a year.
How do you get to and from these activities and do you require any assistance while doing them?

Living arrangements

Where do you live and who do you live with?
Are you happy with your current living arrangements, would you like to explore other options or is your situation likely to change in the near future? For instance, you may be living with elderly parents who are your primary carers.
Will they need extra assistance themselves or move into aged care in the future which means they can no longer care for you?

Short-term and long-term goals

The NDIS aims to help you increase your independence and achieve what you want in life. Before going into your planning meeting with the LAC, have a think about what it is you would like to achieve in the short-term and maybe a few years from now.

These can be ‘big’ goals such as wanting to work towards moving out of home and living independently or smaller goals such as learning how to cook your favourite recipes by yourself.

Are the supports you are currently receiving helping you achieve these goals?
Are there barriers that are stopping you from achieving them?

Preparation is key

Taking the time to think about and write down this information will help you be as prepared as possible for your meeting.

To help you prepare for your NDIS planning meeting, we’ve put together guides on what to bring and what will happen during the meeting.