Supporting people with a disability is a shared responsibility.

It is the job of mainstream services to fund certain supports, while it is the job of the NDIS to fund other supports. If someone should be providing a support, the NDIS cannot provide it.

The supports that people with disability receive with the NDIS must be considered reasonable and necessary. In the past, this did not include many health supports. But from October 2019, the NDIS will include and pay for more health supports that are related to your disability. You can learn more about what health supports the NDIS will now fund here.

It's important to get ready for your planning meeting. 

To find out what you can get in your NDIS plan, use this guide from Summer Foundation

The following tools ask important questions about your strengths, supports, needs and hopes. You can pick one or more of these to complete and take to your planning meeting.

  • Tips for your planning meeting

    If you are eligible for the NDIS, a staff member from the NDIA will contact you to make a time for a planning meeting. This person is known as a planner.

    It is important to pre-plan for your planning meeting. This is so you can:

    • Figure out what is important to you
    • Have time to think of everything you want to say at your planning meeting
    • Use your pre-planning tools to help you during your meeting
    • Tell the planner what you need support with
    • Have the best chance of getting the support you need

    How to pre-plan:

    • Pick a tool that you would like to use
    • Ask for help to get your answers. People you can ask are family, carers or support staff. They can help to write down, record, take pictures or draw your answers
    • Take these answers to your planning meeting
    • Invite those that you want to come along to your planning meeting

    About your planning meeting

    At the planning meeting, the planner will ask you about your life. They want to understand your goals and needs. This helps them to make a plan which matches your needs and goals.

    You can read more about how to prepare and what to bring to your planning meeting here.

    This is YOUR planning meeting. It is important to remember that you can invite other people to come along. These people can be there for support, or to help you to explain your needs and ask questions.

    If you don't have family, friends or a service provider to come to the meeting, there are other people you can ask. These people are advocates. Their job is to listen to you, speak up and stand up for you.

    If you need help, you can ask a family member, friend, carer or advocate. You can find an advocate in your area by clicking here.

    A good planning meeting will:                                   

    Have people you have invited there with you, to help and support. These support people could be family, friends, your guardian, service provider staff.

    It is important to share as much as you can about yourself and your life with the NDIA planner. This will give you a better chance of getting the supports you need.

  • Your planning meeting checklist

    What do I take to my NDIS planning meeting? (Summer Foundation)
    This checklist guides you on how to prepare for your planning meeting.

  • Mental health workbook

  • Brainstorming worksheets

    Gifts of the Head, Heart and Body (WAiS)
    Use this worksheet to help you identify your strengths.

    Conversations with my Planner (WAiS)
    Use this to help map what is important to you.

  • Interactive workbooks

    What would a great life be for me? (Summer Foundation)
    Use this workbook to think about your goals.

    If circumstances change (Summer Foundation)
    Use this workbook to help you prepare for changes in your life.

  • Easy-read workbook

    Thinking About A Good Life (My Choice Matters)
    Use this workbook to think about your life and what you want.

  • Aboriginal tools

    My Dreamin' Circles (NSW Government)
    Use this tool to help you map out your life and what you want.

    Who Is Important To Me (WAiS)
    This tool will help you to think about the people who are important to you.

    Yarning With My Planner About a Good Life for Me (WAiS)
    This tool will help you to think about all parts of your life and what is most important to you.

    This Is Me (WAiS)
    This tool will help you to think about your goals and dreams for the future.

    Shannon's Story (WAiS)
    This booklet will help you to plan for the NDIS.

If you are unhappy with the decision the NDIS has made about your eligibility, you can request that this decision be reviewed. You can find out more here.

Funded by the Department of Communities Disability Services.