Preparing for your NDIS plan review

What a plan review is

An NDIS plan review is a check-in with the NDIA at the end of your plan period (or earlier if things change). It's where your funding is renewed — and where you can ask for more, less, or different supports based on how the last plan worked out.

Most reviews now happen as a conversation (in person, by phone or by video) with a planner, support coordinator or Local Area Coordinator.

When it happens

• End of your plan period. Plans usually run 12 months — your review is scheduled before it ends.
• Change of circumstances. If something significant changes — your health, your support needs, where you live, a carer's situation — you can request a Plan Variation or unscheduled review.

Before the meeting — what to bring

The more you can show what's been happening and what you need next, the better the meeting goes.

• How your last plan went. Which supports made a real difference, which didn't work, what was missing.
• Reports from your team. Recent letters from your GP, allied health, behaviour support practitioner, or anyone who works with you regularly.
• Your goals for the next 12 months. Specific, real-life goals. "Stay healthy" is fine; "Get to the pool twice a week with my support worker" is better.
• What supports you'll need to reach those goals. Hours per week of support worker time, therapy sessions, equipment, transport. Be concrete.
• Anything that's changed. A new diagnosis, a move, family changes, growing kids, a worsening or improving condition.

The meeting itself

Take your time. Bring someone with you — a family member, advocate, support coordinator. The NDIA can record the conversation if it helps you. If you don't understand something, ask them to explain.

Three things that tend to land well in plan meetings:

1. Talking about supports in terms of the NDIS framework — see Reasonable and necessary supports.
2. Linking each support back to a specific goal.
3. Showing the evidence — "my OT says I need X hours of practice between sessions" rather than just "I want more OT".

After the meeting

You'll receive your new plan, usually within a few weeks. Read it carefully — checking funding amounts and that each support category is set up the way you expected. If something's wrong, raise it sooner rather than later.

If you disagree with the outcome

You can ask the NDIA to review the decision within three months. If that's still not right, you can apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Disability advocates and community legal centres help people through this every day — their support is free.