How to Prepare for Your First NDIS Planning Meeting?

So you’ve been told you’re in. Accepted into the NDIS. That letter or phone call arrives and it’s a mix of relief and nerves because now comes the part where you sit down with someone and actually talk through what support looks like. This first meeting is where the plan starts, where goals are put on paper, where what you say and what you bring can end up shaping the next year or more. It’s not something to just walk into blind. You don’t need to have it all perfect, but the more you’ve thought through what life looks like, what you need, what you’d like to aim for, the better it goes.

The person you meet depends on age. If it’s for a child under seven, you’ll meet with an Early Childhood Early Intervention coordinator, someone from the ECEI partner organisation. If you’re over seven, you’re sitting down with either a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or an NDIA planner. They’re the ones who take what you say and turn it into the starting plan. Whoever it is, they usually call or email to arrange a time. Could be in person, could be on the phone, sometimes even online.

It isn’t an interview, it’s not a test, but it matters. This is where the plan begins to take shape.

Goals come first

The NDIS runs on goals. It’s not about just handing over a list of supports you want. It’s about showing what you or the person with disability is working towards, and then linking supports back to those goals. If you haven’t done that before, it can feel strange. You sit there thinking “what’s my goal?” and sometimes the mind goes blank. But goals can be small or big. Short-term ones that could be done in twelve months, long-term ones that might take years. Both count.

Think about areas of life: home, school, work, friendships, health, independence, safety. If it’s a child, maybe the goal is being able to travel to school with siblings, or improving fine motor skills so they can dress themselves. If it’s an adult, maybe it’s learning to drive, staying healthy, keeping their own home running without relying too much on others. Some goals are about keeping things as they are (maintenance). Others are about building new skills (capacity building).

Writing them down helps. You don’t want to walk in and forget something important because the nerves get in the way.

Linking support to goals

Every goal needs the right kind of support. If the child’s goal is motor skills, maybe that means an occupational therapist. If the goal is improving emotional regulation, then a psychologist might be required. For adults, if the goal is cooking healthier meals and staying active, then maybe a dietitian and a personal trainer. It’s not just about listing goals, it’s about being ready to say what type of support could help achieve them.

If you already have allied health workers involved, ask them to write reports. A speech therapist saying “two sessions a week are required” or a psychologist writing “monthly therapy sessions needed.” Those recommendations are powerful because they back up what you’re asking for. Don’t leave it vague. Hours, frequency, duration, these details matter.

Also think about support hours outside of therapy. How many hours of in-home help are needed each week? What about community access? Do weekends feel empty? Write that down.

Looking for unmet needs

The meeting is also a chance to highlight what’s missing. Sometimes you don’t see the gaps until you write down what a week looks like. What happens on Monday? On Saturday? Who’s there, what activities, where are the empty spaces? A child might be busy at school during the week but have nothing at all on weekends. An adult might be getting by at home but have no transport to get into the community.

Unmet needs aren’t just about boredom, they’re about barriers. If there’s no equipment to help with mobility, that’s an unmet need. If there’s a gap in therapy, that’s another. If there’s no social participation, that’s something to flag. When you create even a rough schedule of a week, those gaps stand out. The planner can’t guess them, you have to say them.

Background information

The NDIS looks at the whole person, not just goals. It helps to bring background information. Not a polished essay, just notes.

• About me: age, where you live, who you live with.
• Daily life: do you go to school, do you work, what fills the day.
• Important people: family, friends, teachers, GP, community members.
• Existing services: therapy already happening, subsidised programs, community supports like church, sports, clubs.
• Assistive technology: any equipment you already use, or equipment missing that would make life easier.

These details give context. It shows not just what support you want but why it’s needed.

Choosing plan management

Another topic that comes up is plan management. Do you want to self-manage, plan-manage, or agency-manage? Self-management means maximum control but also maximum responsibility, paying invoices, keeping receipts, reporting to the NDIA. Plan management gives you choice but with someone handling the admin. Agency-managed means NDIA pays providers directly, but you’re locked to registered providers only.

Think about this before the meeting. It’s also the time to mention if you want support coordination written into the plan. That’s the role of someone helping you connect with providers and manage the complexity of services. If you think you’ll need that, don’t wait, bring it up.

Preparing yourself

The truth is, the first meeting can be overwhelming. However, with preparation, that is altered. Don’t be afraid to be honest. When something is not working, say it. If you need help, spell it out. In case you have too big goals, then grab a fork and place them on the table.

Bring notes. Bring reports. Bring a friend, if you get more comfortable. A clearer you are, the better is the plan which results from the meeting. General answers are the symptom of general funding, which is hardly beneficial.

Why all this matters

This first meeting isn’t just paperwork. It’s the foundation for your first NDIS plan. Whatever is written on that plan can form up what you will receive next year or two. When you omit something it is more difficult to include it afterwards. Unless you mention a goal, it may not be funded. Preparation implies strolling in preparedness, rather than scrambling to think of something.

Some people walk in unprepared and walk out disappointed. Others take the time to map out needs, goals, and supports, and walk out with a plan that reflects their real life. That’s the difference.

Final thoughts

Getting accepted into the NDIS is step one. The first meeting is step two. It’s the moment where your story is told, your needs are explained, and your goals are set. Take the time before that meeting to think about goals, supports, unmet needs, background info, and how you want your plan managed.

It doesn’t need to be polished. Just honest, clear, and as specific as possible. Because this meeting lays the groundwork, and what you say here can echo through your plan for months or years.