How to Prepare for a NDIS Plan Review/ Reassessment Meeting

NSC
Feb 1
3 min read

Updated: Apr 21

How to Prepare for a NDIS Plan Review Meeting

As a NDIS participant or a carer of a NDIS participant, you may be wondering, "How do I prepare for the NDIS plan review meeting once I receive a phone call or letter informing me that the meeting is coming up?"

As a support coordinator, I’ve seen many NDIS participants, and their families fail to prepare adequately for these meetings. This can lead to insufficient funding or budgeting to cover necessary therapies, dissatisfaction with the NDIS plan, and the need to apply for internal or external reviews. These reviews can take months to resolve, causing stress, wasting time on paperwork, and leaving both participants and NDIS staff in limbo.

To avoid these issues, it's important to take some time to prepare. Here are some steps that may help you secure the funding and support you need during your plan review meeting:

1. Understand the Purpose of the Meeting

The plan review meeting is an opportunity for the NDIS planner, the participant, carers, parents, representatives, or support people (such as support workers or coordinators) to discuss:

What worked well in your current plan.
The goals you've achieved.
What didn’t work as well.
Any changes in your circumstances.
Any questions you have about how your plan is being managed.
Whether you'd like to change how you manage your funding.
Your new goals for the next plan.

2. Prepare the Necessary Documents

Make sure to bring the following documents to the meeting:

A copy of your current NDIS Plan.
Reports from therapists (e.g., Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, Psychologists, Behaviour Therapists) outlining the support provided, how often it was delivered, and how it helps you achieve your goals for the coming year.
A Carer/Impact Statement: This letter, written by a carer or parent, describes how the participant’s disability is impacting their life and the lives of those around them.

3. Think Ahead and Be Clear About What You Need to Discuss

Remember, this meeting is about you, and it’s important to take control and communicate your needs clearly. Consider the following points:

What goals will shift in the next 12 months and why? For instance, if your daughter turns 13 in March, you might aim to enhance her social participation and community involvement.
Have there been any recent changes or impacts that necessitate extra support? For example, if you've been diagnosed with a health condition like cardiac disease, you might require additional help from home care workers to allow time for rest and recovery.
Are there any changes that call for adjustments to your support? For instance, if your son's behavior has worsened over the past three months, you might need increased assistance from a behavior therapist or psychologist to manage his behavior.

Prepare to discuss any changes or challenges in your situation so the planner can assist you in obtaining the necessary support.

4. Create the draft plan (this is an example)

Current goals

Next goals

I would like to develop my skills and capacities in all areas

I would like to improve my social and adaptive skills to interact and play with my peers

I would like to be able to say simple one-word phrases and learn how to use a communication device to express my needs

I would like to be supported to sleep consistently and for longer periods

I would like to have short breaks away from my parents to increase her independence and sustain informal supports

Short term:

I would like to develop social skills and community participation

I would like to be supported by support work to develop my self-care and independent skill

I would like to develop strategies to reduce behaviour of concern

Intermediate term

I would like to develop my skills and capacities (speech, Ot, behaviour therapist)

I would like to develop my interests and strengths to reduce anxiety and control emotion

Long terms:

I would like to able to interact others in community

I would like to build skills and develop my independence

Summary of updated recommendations from health Professionals

Areas/skills/ capacity needs to be supported	Recommended by	Actions/ plan
CB Social, community civic participation	Paediatrician, Psychologist, speech therapist, OT and Behaviour therapist	Start/develop the CB budget
Support Coordination	Psychologist and behaviour therapist	Start/develop the CB budget: 24 hours/ year
Speech therapist specialise in AAC/ LAMPs	Paediatrician, Speech therapist	Increased to 46 hours/ year
Psychological support	Psychologist	14 hours/ year
Occupation therapy	OT	25 hours a year
Behaviour support therapy Behaviour technician/AHA:	Behaviour therapist	40 hours a year 80 hours a year
Music therapy	Psychologist,	22 hours a year