What to Ask at Your First NDIS Planning Meeting

A planning meeting shapes what support someone receives for the next period, and most people walk into their first one with no idea what will be asked. It is not a test and there is no trick to it. But preparation makes a real difference, because the plan is built from what you are able to describe on the day.

Here is what to prepare, what to bring and what to ask.

Before the meeting

Write down what an ordinary day looks like. Not a good day and not the worst one. An ordinary day, hour by hour. Where is help needed, how long does it take, and what happens when nobody is there to help? This one document does more work in a planning meeting than anything else you can bring.

Describe the hard parts plainly. Most families understate. Years of coping make difficult things feel normal, and people describe them in the way they have learned to manage them rather than as they are. If getting out of the house takes ninety minutes and two people, say exactly that.

Gather your evidence.

• Reports from therapists, specialists and doctors, the most recent you have
• Letters from school, work, a day program or a support worker
• Any assessment that describes functional capacity rather than diagnosis
• Your own notes about what has changed in the last year

Think about goals in the person's own words. Goals drive what gets funded, especially in capacity building, and they work best when they are specific and belong to the person. I want to catch the bus to work on my own is a better goal than I want to be more independent.

Bring someone with you. A second person who takes notes, prompts you on the things you forget and keeps the conversation on track is worth a great deal. A family member, a friend or an advocate can all attend.

The eight questions to ask in the meeting

• How will my plan be managed? Agency managed, plan managed or self managed. Ask what each one means for which providers you can use.
• Will support coordination be included? In a first plan, a support coordinator is often the difference between a plan that gets used and one that sits there.
• Which budget does each support sit in? Core, capacity building and capital work differently and carry different flexibility.
• How flexible is each part? Core supports are generally the most flexible. Knowing where funding can move matters later.
• What happens if circumstances change? Ask how to request a change rather than waiting for the next scheduled reassessment.
• When does the plan start, and when will it be reassessed?
• How will I receive the plan, and how long will it take? The Participant Service Guarantee sets out expected timeframes.
• What is not funded, and why? If something you asked for is not included, ask directly what evidence would be needed.

What not to do

• Do not minimise. Saying we manage is kind, and it is also how support gets missed.
• Do not describe only the best days, or only the worst. Describe the usual ones.
• Do not assume anything carries over from an earlier conversation. Say it again.
• Do not agree to something in the meeting because disagreeing feels awkward. You can ask for time.

After the meeting

• Read the plan line by line when it arrives. Check the goals are the ones you discussed and the supports match what was agreed.
• Check the wording of the goals carefully. Vague goals make it harder to justify supports later.
• If something is wrong, ask about a decision review. There are formal processes with time limits, so do not wait and hope.
• Start using the plan. Unused funding is one of the most common reasons a plan is reduced at the next reassessment.

What to Do Right Now

• Write the ordinary day document this week, before anything else.
• Request reports from every therapist and specialist now. They take longer to arrive than people expect.
• Draft the goals in the person's own words, specific enough to point at a support.
• Arrange for someone to attend with you and agree who is taking notes.
• Print the eight questions above and take them in. Asking from a page is not awkward, it is organised.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I bring someone with me to the planning meeting?

Yes. A family member, a friend or an advocate. Independent advocacy services exist and are free. The Disability Advocacy Finder, now part of the Ask Izzy website, lists services near you.

Q: What should I take to an NDIS planning meeting?

A written description of an ordinary day, recent therapy and specialist reports, letters from school, work or a day program, your goals in the person's own words, and a list of questions. Take a second person if you can.

Q: What if I disagree with the plan?

There are formal processes for requesting a review of a decision and they carry time limits. Ask the NDIS what applies to your situation, or speak to an advocate, rather than waiting for the next reassessment.

Q: Do I have to choose providers at the meeting?

No. The meeting decides funding. Choosing providers comes afterwards, in your own time.

Q: How long does it take to receive the plan?

The Participant Service Guarantee sets out the timeframes the NDIS works to for each stage. Ask in the meeting what applies to your case.

Related Reading

• Support Coordination and Plan Management, the two line items most people cannot tell apart.
• Preparing for Your NDIS Plan Reassessment, what to do before the next one.
• What Is a Registered NDIS Provider, once funding is in place and you start comparing providers.
• Contact OneJesus Care, if you would like to talk through what to prepare.