What Is an NDIS Planning Meeting?
Your NDIS planning meeting is the session where you sit down with an NDIA planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to discuss your situation, your goals, and the supports you need.
This conversation shapes your first NDIS plan — including what funding you'll receive, which supports you can access, and how your plan will be managed.
What the Planner Will Ask About:
- Your daily living situation and challenges
- What you can do independently and where you need help
- Your short-term and long-term goals
- What supports you currently receive (formal and informal)
- What additional supports would help you achieve your goals
The meeting typically lasts 1-2 hours. It can happen face-to-face, by phone, or via video call. The planner will take notes and ask follow-up questions to understand your needs fully.
Remember: This isn't a test. There are no wrong answers. The goal is to paint an honest picture of your life so the NDIA can provide reasonable and necessary supports.
Who Attends the Meeting?
You don't have to attend your planning meeting alone. In fact, bringing someone who knows your situation well can help ensure your needs are fully communicated.
Must Attend
- You (the participant)
- NDIA planner or LAC (conducts the meeting)
Can Attend (Your Choice)
- Your nominee or legal guardian
- Family member or carer
- Support Coordinator (if you have one)
- Therapist or health professional
- Trusted friend or advocate
Why bring support? Having someone else present can help you:
- • Remember important details you might forget
- • Feel more confident and less anxious
- • Communicate needs you find difficult to explain
- • Take notes while you focus on the conversation
- • Ask questions you might not think of on your own
Important: If you have a nominee, they can attend and speak on your behalf. If you're a Support Coordinator, you can help the participant prepare and attend with their permission.
Before the Meeting — Prepare Key Documents
Walking into your meeting with the right documents makes the process smoother and helps the planner understand your needs.
Essential Documents Checklist
✅ Identification
- • Driver's license or photo ID
- • Medicare card
- • Birth certificate (if no photo ID)
✅ NDIS Access Documents
- • NDIS access approval letter (you received this after being accepted)
- • Original access request form (if available)
✅ Medical & Assessment Reports
- • Recent GP letters or specialist reports
- • Occupational therapy (OT) assessments
- • Speech pathology reports
- • Physiotherapy assessments
- • Psychology or psychiatry reports
- • Any functional capacity evaluations
✅ Current Supports List
- • List of providers you currently use
- • Approximate costs (if you're paying for anything now)
- • Informal supports (family, friends, community groups)
✅ Equipment or Technology Quotes
- • Quotes for wheelchairs, mobility aids, or assistive tech
- • Recommendations from OT or other specialists
Don't panic if you don't have everything. The meeting can still proceed, but having documentation strengthens your case and helps the planner understand the full scope of your needs.
Pro tip: Make copies of everything. Give one set to the planner and keep one set for yourself.
Clarify Your Goals
Your goals are the foundation of your NDIS plan. They explainwhy you need funding and what you're working toward.
The NDIA wants to see goals that are:
- Specific: "Improve mobility" becomes "Walk 500m to local shops independently"
- Measurable: You can track progress over time
- Achievable: Realistic given your situation
- Relevant: Connected to your disability and daily life
Example Goals (Good vs Vague)
❌ Vague Goal:
"I want to be more independent."
✅ Specific Goal:
"I want to develop cooking skills so I can prepare 3 healthy meals per week independently with the help of a support worker."
❌ Vague Goal:
"I want to be happier."
✅ Specific Goal:
"I want to join a weekly art class at the local community centre to reduce social isolation and build confidence."
❌ Vague Goal:
"I need help with moving around."
✅ Specific Goal:
"I want to improve my mobility with physiotherapy twice a week so I can walk short distances without pain and reduce my reliance on a wheelchair."
Write down 3-5 goals before your meeting. Think about:
- • What you struggle with most in daily life
- • What you'd like to be able to do that you can't now
- • Activities you've stopped doing because of your disability
- • Skills you'd like to develop or regain
Categories to consider:
- • Daily living: personal care, meal prep, cleaning, shopping
- • Social participation: joining groups, making friends, community activities
- • Mobility: walking, driving, using public transport
- • Communication: speaking, understanding, expressing needs
- • Employment/education: working, studying, volunteering
- • Health management: therapy, medical appointments, mental health
Download the NDIS Plan Management Guide (2025)
A plain-English guide to how plan management works, what a plan manager does, how invoices are processed, and what to check before you choose a provider.
Think About Your Supports
The planner will ask what supports you need to achieve your goals. It's helpful to think through this before the meeting so you don't forget anything important.
Core Supports (Daily Living & Activities)
Help with day-to-day tasks and participation in the community.
- • Personal care (showering, dressing, toileting)
- • Household tasks (cleaning, laundry, meal prep)
- • Community access (getting to appointments, social activities)
- • Transport (taxi, rideshare, modified vehicle)
- • Consumables (continence aids, low-cost equipment)
Capacity Building (Skills & Independence)
Building skills, confidence, and connections to become more independent.
- • Therapy (OT, physio, speech, psychology)
- • Support coordination (help finding and managing providers)
- • Plan management (financial admin for your NDIS funding)
- • Skills training (cooking, budgeting, employment skills)
- • Social & community participation programs
Capital Supports (Equipment & Home Modifications)
Higher-cost items that help you live more independently.
- • Assistive technology (communication devices, hearing aids)
- • Mobility equipment (wheelchairs, walking frames, hoists)
- • Home modifications (ramps, bathroom rails, ceiling hoists)
- • Vehicle modifications (wheelchair lifts, hand controls)
Bring specific examples to the meeting:
- "I need a support worker 3 hours per week to help with cleaning and shopping."
- "I require weekly physiotherapy to manage chronic pain and improve mobility."
- "I need transport assistance to attend medical appointments twice per month."
Link supports to goals: Explain why each support helps you work toward a specific goal. This strengthens your case for funding.
Questions to Ask During the Meeting
Don't be afraid to ask questions during your planning meeting. This is your chance to understand how the NDIS works and what your rights are.
Important Questions to Ask
❓ How will my plan be managed?
Ask about the difference between self-managed, agency-managed, and plan-managed options. This is when you can choose plan management.
❓ What are my rights if I disagree with the plan?
You have the right to request an internal review or appeal to the AAT if you believe the plan doesn't meet your needs.
❓ How often will my plan be reviewed?
Plans are typically reviewed every 12 months, but you can request an early review if your circumstances change significantly.
❓ Can I switch plan managers later if I want to?
Yes. You can switch plan managers at any time during your plan without NDIA approval. It's a simple, free process.
❓ When will I receive my plan?
Plans are typically issued within 1-3 weeks. Ask how you'll receive it (email, mail, or online portal).
❓ What happens if I don't use all my funding?
Unused funding doesn't roll over to your next plan. Use it for approved supports or it expires when your plan ends.
❓ Can I use unregistered providers?
Only if you're self-managed or plan-managed. Agency-managed participants can only use NDIS-registered providers.
Write your questions down before the meeting and bring the list with you. It's easy to forget things when you're nervous.
Choosing How to Manage Your Funding
During your planning meeting, you'll be asked how you want your NDIS funding managed. This is one of the most important decisions you'll make.
Self-Managed
You handle all invoices, payments, and record-keeping yourself.
✅ Benefits:
Full control, can use any provider
❌ Drawbacks:
5-10 hours/month admin, risk of errors
Agency-Managed
NDIA pays providers directly on your behalf.
✅ Benefits:
Zero admin work
❌ Drawbacks:
Can ONLY use registered providers
Plan-Managed ⭐
A plan manager handles all admin for you.
✅ Benefits:
Can use ANY provider, zero admin, free service
❌ Drawbacks:
Must choose a plan manager
✅ Why Choose Plan Management?
Over 60% of NDIS participants choose plan management because it combines the best of both worlds: flexibility + professional support.
Forward Planning Plus offers:
- Valid, correctly submitted invoices processed within 1–2 business days
- Clear monthly statements in plain English
- Real human support (no call centres)
- 100% free — fully NDIS-funded
Read our detailed comparison of funding management options →
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Learning from others' mistakes helps you avoid common pitfalls.
❌ Mistake: Going in Without Clear Goals
Saying "I just need help" isn't enough. The planner needs specific, measurable goals to justify funding.
✅ Solution: Write 3-5 specific goals before the meeting.
❌ Mistake: Forgetting Reports or Documentation
Without evidence from professionals, it's harder to justify the supports you need.
✅ Solution: Gather all reports, assessments, and quotes beforehand.
❌ Mistake: Not Knowing Current Supports
If you can't explain what you already receive, the planner might duplicate or miss important supports.
✅ Solution: List all current formal and informal supports with approximate costs.
❌ Mistake: Assuming the NDIA Will "Fill in the Gaps"
The planner won't guess what you need. If you don't mention it, it won't be in your plan.
✅ Solution: Be thorough and specific about every support you need.
❌ Mistake: Being Too Modest or Downplaying Challenges
Participants often minimise their struggles because they don't want to "complain." This leads to underfunded plans.
✅ Solution: Be honest about your worst days, not your best days.
After the Meeting — What Happens Next
Once your planning meeting is complete, the NDIA will use the information you provided to create your first NDIS plan.
Timeline After Your Meeting
Within 1-3 Weeks
You'll receive your NDIS plan via email, mail, or the NDIS myplace portal.
Review Your Plan Carefully
Check that all your goals and supports are included correctly. Look for errors in funding amounts or categories.
Contact Your Planner If Needed
If something is missing or incorrect, contact your planner immediately to discuss corrections or request an internal review.
Set Up Plan Management
Contact Forward Planning Plus early to get set up before your supports start. We'll verify your budget, notify providers, and begin processing invoices immediately.
Start Using Your Supports
Begin booking services with your providers. Your plan manager handles all the invoices and payments.
Next Steps — Getting Started with Forward Planning Plus
Once you receive your NDIS plan, the next step is to set up plan management so you can start using your supports without the admin burden.
How Forward Planning Plus Helps From Day One
- Onboarding Call: We review your plan together, explain your budget categories, and answer any questions.
- Provider Setup: We notify all your service providers to send invoices to us and confirm our contact details.
- Invoice processing: valid, correctly submitted invoices are processed within 1–2 business days from invoice receipt — no chasing, no delays.
- Monthly Statements: Clear budget reports emailed to you every month showing exactly what's been spent and what remains.
- Ongoing Support: Call or email us anytime with questions. We respond within 24 hours.
Ready to get started? Contact us as soon as you receive your plan. The earlier you set up plan management, the smoother your NDIS journey will be.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens during an NDIS planning meeting?
During an NDIS planning meeting, you meet with an NDIA planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to discuss your situation, goals, and support needs. They ask about your daily living challenges, what help you currently receive, and what you'd like to achieve. This information shapes your first NDIS plan and determines your funding.
Can I bring someone to support me?
Yes. You can bring your nominee, carer, family member, friend, Support Coordinator, or therapist to help you communicate your needs. Having someone who knows your situation can help ensure nothing important is missed.
How should I prepare my goals?
Write down 3-5 clear goals that reflect what you want to achieve in daily life. Focus on specific outcomes like "improve mobility to walk to local shops independently" or "develop cooking skills with support worker assistance." Avoid vague statements—be as specific as possible about what you want to accomplish.
When will I get my plan after the meeting?
You'll typically receive your NDIS plan within 1-3 weeks after your planning meeting. The NDIA aims to issue plans within 21 days, though complex cases may take longer. Once you receive it, review it carefully and contact your planner if you have questions or concerns.
Download the NDIS Plan Management Guide (2025)
A plain-English guide to how plan management works, what a plan manager does, how invoices are processed, and what to check before you choose a provider.
Your First Plan Meeting Is a Chance to Shape the Support You'll Receive
With Forward Planning Plus, you'll have experts who make sure your funding works for you — right from day one.