Your first plan
Getting ready for your first NDIS planning meeting
Written September 2026 · 5 min read
Once someone is accepted into the NDIS, the next step is building their first plan. It starts with a planning meeting. It's a conversation, not a test, and a bit of preparation makes a real difference.
Before the meeting
Write down, in your own words:
- A normal day and week. Mornings, meals, school or work, getting around, evenings, sleep.
- What's hard, and what help it takes. Be specific and honest. Describe a typical day, including a harder one, not your best day.
- What support is in place now, including unpaid help from family.
- Goals. Small and practical is fine: "get to school without a meltdown", "cook a simple meal", "see friends once a week".
Bring your evidence and reports, or know which ones the NDIA already has.
At the meeting
The planner should explain how your evidence has shaped the plan. Ask questions. If something important to daily life hasn't come up, raise it. It's fine to have your notes in front of you, and to bring someone with you.
After the plan is approved
- You can usually start using the plan straight away.
- You should be offered a plan implementation meeting soon after approval. Say yes, it helps you understand how to actually use the funding.
- Note the plan's dates, and when the first check-in is likely to be.
- Keep the approval letter and plan with your other documents.
If the approved plan doesn't match the person's needs, you can ask for a review of the decision. The 3-month window counts from the date of the decision.
Sources
NDIS rules and processes change. If anything here doesn't match what the NDIS says now, go with the NDIS, and
let us know so we can fix it.
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PaperCalm is an independent tool. It isn't affiliated with the NDIS or the NDIA, and this isn't legal, medical, or financial advice.