10 things to know before your first NDIS plan meeting
A short checklist for anyone walking into their first NDIS plan meeting — what to bring, what to ask, and what to expect.
May 2026 · 5 min read
If your NDIS plan meeting is coming up — your first one or your tenth — here are ten things we wish more people knew. None of this is legal or financial advice; it's just what we hear works.
Before the meeting
- You can take someone with you. A family member, an advocate, a support coordinator. You don't have to do this alone.
- The NDIA can record the meeting — just ask. It's helpful if you want to refer back to specifics later.
- Bring recent reports from your team. A letter from your GP, your OT, your psychologist, your specialist. Recent (within 12 months) and specific about how disability affects daily life.
- Have your goals ready. Three to five real-life goals, not abstract ones. "Get to the pool twice a week" works; "stay healthy" doesn't say enough.
- Know what supports you need to reach those goals. Hours of support worker time per week, therapy sessions, equipment. Be concrete.
During the meeting
- Take your time. The meeting is for you. If you need a break, take one.
- Talk about supports in the NDIS framework. The planner's decisions hinge on whether something is "reasonable and necessary" — see our short guide on what that means.
- Link every support back to a goal. "I need X support because it helps me do Y." That's the language that lands.
- Ask what's in your plan before you leave. Get a clear picture of the categories and budget the planner is recommending — not just "we'll send it through".
After the meeting
- Read your plan carefully when it arrives. If something's wrong, you have three months to request an internal review. Don't wait.
If it all feels like a lot
It is a lot. Plan meetings can be high-stakes and the language gets technical fast. Lean on the people around you — a support coordinator, an advocate, a Local Area Coordinator. Their help is usually free, and they do this every week.
If you're prepping for your first review specifically, our preparing for your plan review guide goes deeper on what to bring and what tends to land well.
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