Your First NDIS Planning Meeting: A Guide to Maximising Support

If you're new to the NDIS, the prospect of your first planning meeting may feel daunting and overwhelming. 

In this blog, we'll examine the topics that will be discussed during the meeting, what to prepare ahead of time, and what to bring with you. By being well-prepared and actively participating in the meeting, you can ensure the best possible outcome from your planning meeting, setting you on a path towards a more fulfilling and supported life. 

What will be discussed during my planning meeting?

Your first planning meeting and future planning meetings will all follow a similar format.

The planner or your Local Area Coordinator (LAC), who are experienced professionals in the disability sector, will ask questions about different areas of your life, your needs and the goals you'd like to pursue. 

You will also discuss choosing the best way to manage your plan.

All the information provided during the meeting will help you develop the right support plan. 

Your daily life and needs

The beginning of the meeting will be dedicated to learning more about you, your daily life, and your needs. After introducing themselves, the planner or the LAC will ask questions about your personal details, your current situation, and how much support you require in your daily activities. 

For example, to learn more about you, they may ask about your living arrangements, employment status, interests, social circle, etc. These questions are designed to help them understand your lifestyle and needs better.

Next, to establish the level of support you require in your daily life, they will ask you to rank your ability to engage in certain activities, such as those related to mobility, health, and relationships. 

It's a good idea to provide as much detail as possible so that your planner or LAC can understand your daily life well. 

Your current goals

The next part of the meeting will focus on understanding your current goals so that you can live life to the fullest. 

Sharing your goals is not just a formality, it's essential to the meeting. Any NDIS funding you receive will be directly linked to these goals, so it's crucial to be clear and specific about what you want to achieve.

Your planner or LAC will ask about your short-term and long-term goals and the outcomes you envision as possible with NDIS funding. 

Taking some time to think about your goals ahead of your planning meeting can make a big difference and ensure you receive the right amount and types of funding to pursue them. 

Managing your plan

Lastly, you will discuss the different ways you can manage your funding (NDIA agency managed, self-managed, plan managed, or a combination) and decide how to manage your funds.

This is an important decision, so it's worthwhile to consider the best option for you before the meeting.

The right choice for you will depend on your circumstances and how much time you will allocate to managing your funds.

If you know someone who is an NDIS participant, ask them about plan management to gather insight from their perspective. 

What to bring to your NDIS planning meeting

It's a good idea to bring as many supporting documents as possible to help you illustrate your daily life and showcase your needs.

Supporting documents you may wish to bring with you include:

• Letters from doctors, therapists or employers

• Photographs or any other records that help paint a picture of your current situation and requirements 

It's important to start collecting supporting documents as early as possible so that there will be sufficient examples to present during the meeting.

What happens next?

After your NDIS planning meeting, you will receive an NDIS plan. This plan is a document that outlines the supports and services you are eligible for under the NDIS. It is based on what you talked about in your meeting and is designed to help you achieve your goals and live a more independent and fulfilling life.

This plan is based on what you talked about in your meeting.

If you'd like to learn more, contact us at Care With Dignity & Co. Our NDIS team can discuss what support would work best for you and answer any questions you may have about the planning process or the NDIS in general. 

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