Your Planning Meeting - How to prepare and what to expect!

If your application to access the NDIS has been successful, the next step is a planning meeting. What is a planning meeting? It is your chance to sit down face to face or over the phone with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC), Early Childhood partner or NDIS Planner (you will be linked to the coordinator that is most relevant to your situation), to start planning what will be in your NDIS Plan based on your needs. 

You know who will conduct the meeting, but have you considered whom you might like to bring to the meeting? You are welcome to bring other people into the meeting: a family member, a friend, an advocate or anyone else you would like. If you would like an advocate to come but need help arranging one to attend, contact your early childhood partner, LAC or NDIA planner.

The next step is to consider what you need to bring to the meeting. Being as prepared and organised as possible will help your planner understand what you need. After all, this really is the purpose of the meeting! Below is a checklist of what you should plan to bring:

-Any letters you have from the NDIA

-Your completed Booklet 2- creating your NDIS plan 

-Any other information or reports you think you think would be helpful for the NDIS to understand the impact of your disability and your circumstances. You can’t have too many supporting documents or reports. More is always better.

-Your bank details (these might be needed depending on the way you manage your NDIS funding)

-Your myGov login and password details (if you need help with this, talk to your early childhood partner, LAC or NDIA planner).

Once in your meeting, you will be asked lots of questions about your life, and how you are going in different areas of it. There are so many aspects, layers and elements to one’s life, which is what your planner is trying to understand. The more they understand, the better they will be able to develop a plan with the right support for you. Below are some questions that might be asked:

-Your personal details

-Where you live and your living arrangements

-Your informal supports provided by family and friends

-Your community and mainstream supports

-How you manage everyday activities

-Your safety, including equipment, accommodation or help to take care of yourself or your home

-The goals you want to pursue

-Ways to manage your plan (you can self-manage, be plan managed or NDIA managed)

-What social and recreational activities would you like to do now or in the future

-If you’d like to work or study now or in the future

-The support you need to use your NDIS plan

Remember it’s ok to ask the person doing your planning meeting to stop, repeat, or explain things, especially if your meeting is being conducted over the phone.

After your meeting, if there is anything important that you forgot to mention, you can email or call your early childhood partner, LAC or NDIA Planner on the number they gave you.

What are the next steps after your planning meeting? Your early childhood partner, LAC or NDIA planner will talk to you about how long it will take to get your approved NDIS plan. The NDIA must approve your NDIS plan initially, then once it is approved, your early childhood partner, LAC or NDIA planner will give it to you in person or mail a paper copy to your preferred address. Remember, during your planning conversation, you can ask for a copy of your plan in a variety of accessible formats. These include Braille, electronic text (on CD), large print or audio (on CD), or you can have it translated into your preferred language.

Once your plan has been approved by your early childhood partner, LAC or NDIA planner will be in touch to discuss your plan, help you access supports, and discuss your goals with you.

If you have any questions about the planning phase of your NDIS plan don’t hesitate to reach out to the team on 1300 467 284 or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110.