What should I bring to my NDIS planning meeting?

Bring any reports and assessments about your disability, notes on your current supports, a list of your goals, and questions for your planner. It also helps to bring a support person, family member or advocate. Having your information organised means you can make the most of the time and cover everything important.

How do I set goals for my NDIS plan?

Think about what you want to achieve in daily life, both soon and further ahead. Goals might include living more independently, joining community activities, working, studying, or improving your health and wellbeing. Write them in your own words. Clear, personal goals help your planner build a plan that supports the life you want.

Can I bring someone to my planning meeting?

Yes. You can bring a family member, friend, carer, support worker or advocate to your planning meeting. Having someone with you can help you feel comfortable, remember key points, and speak up about your needs. Let your planner know in advance if someone will be joining you.

What happens after the planning meeting?

After the meeting, the NDIA prepares your plan based on what you discussed and your assessed needs. Once you receive it, read it carefully to check the supports and goals match the conversation. If something looks wrong or missing, you can raise it and ask for changes to be considered.

What questions should I ask my NDIS planner?

Ask how your funding is organised, how you can choose and pay providers, and how your plan is managed. You might also ask what to do if your needs change, how to track your budget, and when your plan will be reassessed. Good questions help you understand and use your plan confidently.

Preparing for your NDIS planning meeting

Your planning meeting shapes your first NDIS plan. The more clearly you can describe your goals and your daily support needs — with evidence — the better your plan will fit your life.

Documents to bring

Any letters or reports from your treating professionals
Evidence of how your disability affects everyday tasks
A list of the informal supports you already have (family, friends, community)
A list of any current providers or services you use
Your NDIS access letter and NDIS number

Think about your goals

What you want to achieve in the next 12 months
Longer-term goals — where you want your life to head
Everyday things that are hard now and the support that would help
Work, study, community and social goals, not just personal care

Know your support needs

A typical week and where you need help
Capacity-building supports you may want (OT, physio, psychology, speech, exercise physiology)
Assistive technology or home changes that would help
Who you’d like to deliver your supports, if you have a preference

Questions to ask

How will my funding be split into budgets, and how do funding periods work?
How do I use my plan and pay providers (agency, plan or self-managed)?
What happens if my needs change during the plan?
Who is my main contact after the meeting?

After the meeting

Check your plan matches what you discussed
Note the start and end dates and your budgets
Start finding providers who can deliver your supports
Ask for a review if something important is missing

Good to know

Bring a support person or advocate — a second set of ears helps.
Talk about function and goals, not just your diagnosis.

Why this checklist

Your NDIS planning meeting shapes the supports you will receive, so it pays to walk in prepared. This checklist helps you gather the right documents, think through your goals, and know your support needs, so your first plan genuinely reflects the life you want to live.

Many people find the meeting moves quickly, and it is easy to forget important details on the day. Having everything ready means you can focus on the conversation instead of trying to remember what to say, and nothing important gets left out.

How to use it

Before the meeting, collect any reports, assessments and evidence about your disability and daily support needs. Jot down your goals, both short and longer term, whether that is building independence, staying connected to your community, working, or studying.

Think about the support you use now and what is missing. Write down questions you want to ask your planner about how funding works, choosing providers, and managing your plan. After the meeting, note what was discussed and check the plan carefully once you receive it to make sure it matches what you talked about. If anything is unclear, follow up with your planner or Local Area Coordinator.

Benefits of preparing it beforehand

Preparing beforehand gives you confidence and helps your planner understand your situation fully. When you can clearly describe your goals and daily challenges, your plan is more likely to include the supports you actually need.

It also reduces the chance of gaps or a plan that does not fit. A little preparation now can save you from having to seek changes later, and it helps you feel like an equal partner in the conversation about your own life.

Above all, being ready lets you focus on what matters most: describing the life you want and the supports that will help you get there, rather than worrying about paperwork on the day.

Preparing for your NDIS planning meeting — FAQs

What should I bring to my NDIS planning meeting?: Bring any reports and assessments about your disability, notes on your current supports, a list of your goals, and questions for your planner. It also helps to bring a support person, family member or advocate. Having your information organised means you can make the most of the time and cover everything important.
How do I set goals for my NDIS plan?: Think about what you want to achieve in daily life, both soon and further ahead. Goals might include living more independently, joining community activities, working, studying, or improving your health and wellbeing. Write them in your own words. Clear, personal goals help your planner build a plan that supports the life you want.
Can I bring someone to my planning meeting?: Yes. You can bring a family member, friend, carer, support worker or advocate to your planning meeting. Having someone with you can help you feel comfortable, remember key points, and speak up about your needs. Let your planner know in advance if someone will be joining you.
What happens after the planning meeting?: After the meeting, the NDIA prepares your plan based on what you discussed and your assessed needs. Once you receive it, read it carefully to check the supports and goals match the conversation. If something looks wrong or missing, you can raise it and ask for changes to be considered.
What questions should I ask my NDIS planner?: Ask how your funding is organised, how you can choose and pay providers, and how your plan is managed. You might also ask what to do if your needs change, how to track your budget, and when your plan will be reassessed. Good questions help you understand and use your plan confidently.

Explore more NDIS resources

Official NDIS sources

Novida is an independent directory, not the NDIA. We explain each form in plain English and link you to the official copy — always download and submit the current version from the official website, as forms are updated from time to time.