Prepare for Your NDIS Planning Meeting
Your planning meeting is where your NDIS plan is created. What you say — and how you say it — directly affects the support you receive.
- Prepare properly
- Explain your daily life clearly
- Ask the right questions
- Avoid common mistakes
📅 Your Planning Meeting Timeline
Here's what happens before, during, and after your meeting
1-2 Weeks Before Meeting
- Write down your goals (short and long-term)
- List all current supports (family, paid workers, therapists)
- Think through a typical day, week, and year
- Gather medical reports and assessments
- Write down questions you want to ask
1 Day Before Meeting
- Review your notes and goals
- Print or organize all documents
- Confirm meeting time and location (or video link)
- Brief your support person (if bringing one)
- Prepare examples of your hardest days
During Meeting (1-3 hours)
- Discuss daily life and what you can't do safely/independently
- Explain your goals and why they matter
- Describe risks without support (falls, isolation, carer burnout)
- Ask questions about budgets, providers, and plan length
- Clarify anything confusing
After Meeting (1-4 weeks)
- Wait for plan to arrive (usually by email)
- Review plan carefully when it arrives
- If happy: Start choosing providers
- If not happy: Request a review or call NDIS
- Set up your first supports
What is an NDIS Planning Meeting?
A planning meeting is a conversation between you (or your representative) and an NDIS Planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC).
Together, you will:
- Talk about your daily life
- Discuss your goals
- Identify the supports you need
- Decide how your plan will be managed
- Create your NDIS plan
The planner's notes from this meeting directly shape your funding.
Most planning meetings take 1–3 hours. If you feel rushed, confused, or unprepared, you can request more time or provide extra information later.
Who Will Be at the Meeting?
You (the participant)
Or your parent/guardian if you're under 18.
NDIS Planner or LAC
The person responsible for building your plan.
Support People (optional)
Family, friends, advocates, or support workers you choose.
📋 What to Bring: Priority Checklist
Organize your documents by importance
- Your written goals (short-term and long-term)
- List of current supports (who helps you and how often)
- Examples of daily tasks you can't do independently
- Your NDIS reference number
- Recent medical reports (GP, specialist letters)
- Allied health assessments (OT, physio, psychologist)
- Examples of risks without support (falls, wandering, carer burnout)
- List of questions for the planner
- Support person (family member, advocate, friend)
- Hospital discharge summaries
- Quotes for specific supports or equipment (if you have them)
- School reports (for children)
- Photos showing accessibility challenges
- Medication lists
How to Prepare for Your Planning Meeting
Good preparation can be the difference between a plan that works and a plan that needs reviewing.
Below are the 5 preparation steps the NDIS expects:
Think About Your Goals
Your goals guide what supports the NDIS can fund.
Short-term (next 12 months)
- Improve daily independence
- Build communication skills
- Get out more in the community
- Increase safety at home
- Reduce stress for carers
Long-term (beyond 12 months)
- Live more independently
- Study, volunteer, or work
- Improve health and wellbeing
- Build relationships and confidence
List Your Current Supports
The NDIS looks at what support already exists before funding new supports.
Informal supports (unpaid)
- Family help
- Friends
- Community groups
Formal supports (paid)
- Support workers
- Therapists (OT, physio, speech, psychology)
- Equipment or aids
Mainstream supports
- Healthcare
- Education
- Employment services
Describe Your Daily Life
Be ready to explain a typical day, week, and year.
Daily
- Morning routine
- Personal care
- Meals and medication
- Safety
Weekly
- Work, study, or appointments
- Social activities
- Therapy
Ask yourself
- Can I do this independently?
- What support do I need?
- What happens if I don't get help?
Gather Your Evidence
Bring documents that show:
- Diagnosis
- Permanency
- Functional impact
- Support needs
Decide How Your Plan Will Be Managed
NDIA-managed
- Registered providers only
- Least admin
- Least flexibility
Plan-managed (recommended)
- Use registered or unregistered providers
- A plan manager handles invoices
- Best balance of choice and ease
Self-managed
- Full control
- Full responsibility
🎯 How to Write Better Goals
Compare vague goals vs specific goals
❌ Vague Goals (avoid these)
"Be happier"
Too general - doesn't show what support is needed
"Get better at things"
Not measurable - planner can't link it to supports
"Go out more"
Unclear - doesn't explain barriers or support needed
✅ Specific Goals (do these)
"Attend community group weekly with transport support"
Clear activity + specific support needed
"Build showering independence with OT support"
Measurable skill + therapy type specified
"Join local exercise class with support worker"
Activity + frequency + support type = fundable
Common Planning Meeting Questions & How to Answer
The planner will ask these questions. Here's how to answer them well:
| They'll Ask | Why They Ask | How to Answer |
|---|---|---|
| "What are your goals?" | To shape your plan around what matters to you | Be specific: "I want to attend community activities weekly" (not just "be social") |
| "Tell me about a typical day" | To understand your daily support needs | Describe your HARD days, not your best days. Include what you can't do without help. |
| "What informal supports do you have?" | NDIS only funds gaps not covered by family/friends | Be honest: "Mum helps but she's exhausted" or "Dad works full-time and can't always be there" |
| "What happens without support?" | To assess risk and justify funding | Give specific examples: "I've fallen 3 times this year" or "I missed medication twice last week" |
| "How do you want to manage your plan?" | To set up payment method | "Plan-managed please" (gives flexibility + admin support) |
📊 Weekly Support Needs Calculator
Example: Map out your typical week to show support hours needed
During the Planning Meeting
The planner will ask you about daily life, goals, supports, risks, and strengths.
Tips that help in the moment
Be honest and specific
Explain what you can't do safely or independently. Use real examples from hard days.
Talk about goals
Link supports back to your goals. This is how the NDIS justifies funding.
Ask questions
If you don't understand something, ask them to reword it.
Take your time
You can pause, take a break, or ask for a follow-up meeting.
⚠️ Red Flags vs ✅ Green Flags
What hurts your case vs what helps your case
RED FLAGS (Avoid Saying)
- "I can manage on my own" → Shows you don't need support
- "I'm fine most days" → NDIS funds your hard days, not good days
- "My family helps me" (without context) → NDIS may not fund if family can do it
- "I don't really have goals" → No goals = no clear plan direction
- "Whatever you think" → You must advocate for what you need
- Not mentioning transport → Often forgotten but critical
GREEN FLAGS (Say These)
- "I need prompting for showering 7 days/week" → Specific frequency
- "On bad days, I can't leave bed safely" → Shows real impact
- "Mum helps but she's exhausted and needs respite" → Shows gap
- "My goal is to attend community group weekly" → Clear and measurable
- "Without support, I've fallen 3 times this year" → Demonstrates risk
- "I need transport to attend appointments and activities" → Don't forget this
Questions to Ask Your Planner
These questions protect you from gaps and misunderstandings.
About your plan
- How much funding will I receive in each budget category?
- How long will my plan last?
- When will I receive my plan?
- Can I move funding between categories?
About using supports
- What can I use my Core Supports for?
- Can I use unregistered providers?
- How do I find providers?
- What if I need more funding?
About plan management
- Can I have plan management?
- How do I choose a plan manager?
- Can I change how my plan is managed?
About reviews
- When will my plan be reviewed?
- Can I request an early review?
- What if I disagree with my plan?
After the Planning Meeting
If you're happy
- Receive your plan
- Review it carefully
- Set up supports
If you're not happy
- Request a review
- Request an internal review
- Contact an advocate
- Apply to the AAT
How we can support you after your planning meeting
Once your NDIS plan is approved, the next step is putting it into action. We tailor supports to match your goals and your real day-to-day needs.
Personal Care
Help with bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers, and safe mobility.
Social Participation
Support to join community activities, build confidence, and stay connected.
Transport Services
Safe, reliable transport to appointments, shopping, and social outings.
Daily Living Assistance
Help with household tasks, routines, meal prep, and staying organised.
Physiotherapy
Support to improve mobility, strength, balance, and physical wellbeing.
Occupational Therapy
Build everyday independence at home, in the community, or at work.
Planning Meeting Checklist
Print this or screenshot it. Bring it with you.
Before your meeting
- Write down your goals
- List all your current supports
- Think about a typical day/week
- Gather key reports
- Decide plan management
- Choose support person
- Write down questions
On the day
- Bring notes and questions
- Bring reports/documents
- Arrive early
- Have pen and paper
- Bring support person
Frequently Asked Questions
Need help before your meeting?
What part of your planning meeting are you most unsure about?
If you tell us your meeting date and what you're worried about, we'll help you prepare your goals, evidence list, and wording.