With the NDIS fully rolled out now, the question everyone is asking is: “how do I prepare for my NDIS first planning meeting to make sure I can use my child’s funding to best help them?”
What is the NDIS planning meeting?
The NDIS planning meeting is a meeting (often done over the phone) with a NDIS representative (NDIS planner). During this meeting the planner will ask you questions about your child, their immediate needs and goals.
What questions will they ask at my first NDIS planning meeting?
At your NDIS first planning meeting, your planner will want to get to know you and your child. Some examples of questions they may ask are:
- your personal details
- your community and mainstream supports (ie. other government support you receive)
- how you/your child manage every day activities
- your safety, including equipment, accommodation or help to take care of yourself/your child or your home
- the goals you/you child want to pursue (for example: “I would like to improve my listening so I can follow instructions in class” or “I want to be able to better manage my emotions”)
- ways to manage your plan
- the support you need to use your NDIS plan.
Plan goals are extremely important for your NDIS first planning meeting
You can only spend your funding on services that help your child to meet the goals included in their plan. If you have goals that are not in your child’s plan, you cannot use the NDIS funding to achieve these goals. So, it’s important to think about your child’s goals BEFORE the planning meeting.
Think carefully about what you would like your child to achieve in the next 12 months. Nobody can tell you what your goals will be because they are specific to your child, however they might include things like:
- Improve receptive language – ability to follow instructions, pay attention when others are speaking to me
- Improve expressive language – to be able to express my needs and wants
- Reduce frustration around learning tasks
- Make new friends at school
- Transition to mainstream schooling
- Get a job
Bring someone else with you
A trusted friend or family member can help jog your memory during the planning meeting to make sure all your goals are discussed.
You can bring an advocate along to your meeting. An advocate is someone whom you want to speak on your behalf, protect or promote your best interests. If you want help to arrange an advocate to attend with you, contact your early childhood partner, LAC or NDIA planner.
Complete the checklist before your NDIS first planning meeting
The NDIA (the government agency that administers the NDIS) have created a checklist to help you prepare for your planning meeting – click here to see it.
The checklist tells you everything you need to bring along to your NDIS first planning meeting. The checklist page also includes the ‘Planning – Booklet 2’ document, which you can download. The booklet covers getting ready for your planning meeting, creating an NDIS plan, and receiving your plan.
Can we help you meet your plan goals?
If you think we might be able to help you, you can contact us to discuss your goals or learn more about our NDIS programs.
We use computer-based exercises and video consultations with a professional to help you reach your goals.
This program has been developed to accommodate your support and billing needs. If your NDIS funding is self managed or plan managed, and if the program is in line with your plan goals, you can enrol
Learn more & contact us
Find out more about NDIS Programs
Learn more about our award-winning online programs with NDIS-friendly billing.
NDIS Programs info pack
This information pack will help you learn more about our program and help you decide if it is right for you. Click the button below to download.
Book a free phone consult
This free telephone consultation can help to answer any questions you have about our services. At Sonic Learning we are all experienced teachers and health professionals so parents tend to find it very beneficial to be able to discuss their concerns and receive guidance from our team.
