What is an NDIS plan meeting?

It is a conversation where you talk about your life, goals and support needs so an NDIS plan can be built around you. It is not a test, and there are no right or wrong answers. The person you meet with uses the conversation to shape your plan, so it helps to describe your daily life and challenges clearly and honestly.

How should I prepare for the meeting?

Think about your goals, both short and longer term, and walk through a typical week to identify where you need help. Gather information about your current supports and any evidence, such as reports from therapists or doctors. Writing a few notes beforehand means you are less likely to forget something important. Preparation helps the conversation reflect your real needs.

Can I bring someone with me?

Yes. You can bring family, a friend, a carer or an advocate to your plan meeting. Having someone with you can help you feel more comfortable, remember important points, and speak up about your needs. Some people find it helpful to have someone who knows their situation well to add detail or support them during the conversation.

What should I talk about in the meeting?

Describe your life honestly, including the parts that are difficult because of your disability. Talk through your goals, the supports you currently use, and who already helps you, such as family or carers. It can be tempting to say you are coping fine, but being open about where you struggle helps ensure your plan reflects your real support needs.

What happens after the meeting?

Your plan is developed based on what you discussed, including your goals, typical week and support needs. Once it is ready, you can see what is included and how your funding is organised. Read it carefully. If something does not look right, you can ask questions and seek help from a Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator to understand your options.

Your NDIS plan meeting — what to expect and how to prepare

What happens in a planning conversation, and how to get a plan that fits your life.

The planning meeting, sometimes called a planning conversation, is where your NDIS plan really takes shape. It is a chance to talk about your life, your goals and the support you need, so the plan that follows reflects what matters to you.

This guide explains what a plan meeting is, who runs it, how to prepare, what to talk about, and what happens afterwards. It is general information from Novida, an independent directory, to help you feel ready for the conversation. It is not advice from the NDIA.

In this guide

A plan meeting is a conversation about your life, goals and support needs.
It is run by a planner, Local Area Coordinator or Early Childhood partner.
You have one when your first plan is created and around reassessment.
Preparing your goals, a typical week and your current supports helps a lot.
You can bring family, a friend or an advocate for support.

What a plan meeting is

A plan meeting is a conversation where you talk through your situation so that an NDIS plan can be built around your needs. It is not a test, and there are no right or wrong answers. It is a chance to explain your life and what would help you.

During the meeting you will usually discuss your daily life, the things you find difficult because of your disability, the goals you want to work towards, and the supports you already have or think you need. The person you meet with uses this conversation to help shape your plan.

You will typically have a plan meeting when your first plan is being created, and again around the time your plan is reassessed. Because the conversation feeds directly into your plan, it is worth taking the time to prepare so you can describe your needs clearly.

Who runs it

Your meeting might be run by an NDIA planner, a Local Area Coordinator, or, for young children, an Early Childhood partner. These are the people the NDIS works with to help build and support plans.

A Local Area Coordinator is often a local point of contact who can help you understand the NDIS, prepare for your meeting, and connect with services in your area. For younger children, Early Childhood partners have specific experience supporting families of young children.

Whoever runs your meeting, their role is to listen and gather the information needed to develop your plan. You can ask them questions at any point, and it is completely fine to ask them to explain anything you are unsure about. This is your plan, and the conversation should work for you.

How to prepare

A little preparation makes a big difference. Before the meeting, think about your goals, both short and longer term. These could be about daily living, health and wellbeing, learning, work, relationships or being more involved in your community.

It also helps to think about a typical week. Walking through an ordinary week, and where things are hard or where you need help, gives a clear picture of your support needs. Note down the tasks or times of day that are most challenging because of your disability.

Gather information about your current supports and any evidence you have, such as reports or letters from therapists, doctors or other professionals. This kind of evidence helps show what supports are reasonable and necessary. Writing a few notes beforehand means you are less likely to forget something important on the day.

What to talk about

In the meeting, focus on describing your life honestly, including the parts that are difficult. It can be tempting to say you are managing fine, but the plan is based on this conversation, so it helps to be open about where you struggle and what support would make a difference.

Talk through your goals and what you want to work towards, as well as the supports you currently use, whether funded, informal or from mainstream services. Explaining who already helps you, such as family or carers, gives a full picture of your situation.

It is a good idea to bring a list of questions. You might ask how your budget will be organised, how your plan will be managed, what to do if your needs change, and who to contact if you have questions later. You can also ask how the supports you discussed connect to your goals.

After the meeting

After the conversation, your plan is developed based on what you discussed. The information you shared about your goals, your typical week and your support needs all feeds into how your plan is put together.

Once your plan is ready, you will be able to see what has been included and how your funding is organised across your budgets. Take the time to read it carefully so you understand what supports are funded and how you can start using them.

If something does not look right, or your needs were not fully captured, you can ask questions and seek help to understand your options. A Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator can help you make sense of your plan and begin putting it into action. You can also find guidance on the process on ndis.gov.au.

Frequently asked questions

What is an NDIS plan meeting?: It is a conversation where you talk about your life, goals and support needs so an NDIS plan can be built around you. It is not a test, and there are no right or wrong answers. The person you meet with uses the conversation to shape your plan, so it helps to describe your daily life and challenges clearly and honestly.
Who will run my plan meeting?: Your meeting might be run by an NDIA planner, a Local Area Coordinator, or, for young children, an Early Childhood partner. Their role is to listen and gather the information needed to develop your plan. You can ask them to explain anything you are unsure about, and it is fine to ask questions throughout the conversation.
When do I have a plan meeting?: You usually have a plan meeting when your first plan is being created, and again around the time your plan is reassessed. Because the conversation feeds directly into your plan, it is worth preparing beforehand so you can describe your goals and support needs clearly, whether it is your very first plan or a later reassessment.
How should I prepare for the meeting?: Think about your goals, both short and longer term, and walk through a typical week to identify where you need help. Gather information about your current supports and any evidence, such as reports from therapists or doctors. Writing a few notes beforehand means you are less likely to forget something important. Preparation helps the conversation reflect your real needs.
Can I bring someone with me?: Yes. You can bring family, a friend, a carer or an advocate to your plan meeting. Having someone with you can help you feel more comfortable, remember important points, and speak up about your needs. Some people find it helpful to have someone who knows their situation well to add detail or support them during the conversation.
What should I talk about in the meeting?: Describe your life honestly, including the parts that are difficult because of your disability. Talk through your goals, the supports you currently use, and who already helps you, such as family or carers. It can be tempting to say you are coping fine, but being open about where you struggle helps ensure your plan reflects your real support needs.
What happens after the meeting?: Your plan is developed based on what you discussed, including your goals, typical week and support needs. Once it is ready, you can see what is included and how your funding is organised. Read it carefully. If something does not look right, you can ask questions and seek help from a Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator to understand your options.

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.