For people who wish to access supports through the NDIS, it is important to understand how the scheme works and what supports are available.
Many aspects of the NDIS are complex, and the processes of accessing and receiving support may present significant challenges, to some participants.
This blog provides an overview of the process and provides a link to the NDIS website so you can review the resources available to help you with your plan.
To get ready for your planning meeting, think about your current supports and who provides them, and what supports and services you may need to achieve your goals.
When attending your meeting it is recommended that you bring along any relevant reports or assessments that you have as this will enable the NDIS planner to better understand the types of supports required.
Creating Your Plan
Attending a planning meeting, either in person, or over the phone, is the best way for the NDIA to gather all your information. During your planning meeting, make sure you discuss the goals you want to achieve, any activities that you enjoy and what support you need to accomplish these things with your Early Childhood Early Intervention Coordinator (ECEI), Local Area Coordinator LAC) or National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) planner.
Goals/activities/tasks are a really important part of your NDIS plan and the NDIA will ask you what you would like to achieve. It could be a goal to use public transport independently; a goal to help build your life skills so you can become more independent, or a goal to help find, keep or change jobs. If you have any short-term goals or any unmet needs in your current life and you would like them addressed, let them know. If your goals/activities/tasks are medium to long-term, the NDIA can break them down into short-term goals and help you take ‘smaller steps’ towards achieving those bigger goals.
Receiving your approved NDIS plan
Your ECEI Coordinator, LAC or NDIA planner will talk to you about how long it will take to get your approved NDIS plan and the steps you need to take next.
The NDIA must approve your NDIS plan initially, then once it is approved, your ECEI Coordinator, LAC or NDIA planner will give it to you in person or mail a paper copy out to your preferred address. Remember, during your planning conversation, you can ask for a copy of your plan in a variety of accessible formats. These include Braille, electronic text (on CD), large print or audio (on CD), or you can have it translated into your preferred language. Your plan will be available on the NDIS myplace portal about 24 hours after it has been approved. You will also receive a printed copy of your plan either in person or in the mail in your preferred format or language.
What is myplace?
myplace is a secure website portal on the Australian Government’s myGov website where you or a person you trust (a nominee or child representative) can access your NDIS information. In myplace participants can;
See your current plan and previous plans.
Check your contact details.
See messages from the NDIS.
Create and view payment requests.
Create and manage service bookings.
Upload documents, including assessments or service agreements.
Share your plan, or parts of your plan, with your service providers.
Find service providers.
What’s in your plan
Your NDIS plan will be based on the discussion you had in your planning meeting. Your plan will include the following information:
Information about you
This section includes basic information about your disability, your day-to-day activities, where you live, who you live with, or who cares for you.
Family and friends
This section includes information about the support you get from family and friends that is not funded but will help you work towards your goals.
Services and community groups
This section includes information about services and supports funded and delivered by community or other government services like support groups, health centres, libraries and public transport.
Your goals
This section includes the current goals you would like to achieve as part of your plan and the long-term goals you have identified for your life. Goal-setting is an important part of the NDIS and each of your supports and services should be helping you achieve the goals you have in your NDIS plan.
Funded supports
This section tells you what funding you have been allocated in each support category and what this funding is for. You may not have all the support categories funded in your plan. Some people might have one or two support categories funded and others may have more. This will depend on your individual needs and may change from plan to plan based on the supports and services you need.
Your funding is based on what is reasonable and necessary for your needs, in addition to the support provided by family, friends and other community and government services that you need to live your life and achieve your goals. You must only use your NDIS funding on supports and services that are related to your disability and will help you to achieve the goals in your NDIS plan. If you are not happy with your funding you have the right to ask for an internal review of your plan by the NDIA.
When you have an approved NDIS plan, you need to understand the different budgets and who can help you start using your plan, and how your plan is managed. It is now up to you to choose what supports and services you feel you need to achieve your goals, who provides them and when and where they are delivered. For more information, visit our Learn more about using your plan page.
To find out more about the planning process and view resources that can assist you , please click on the following link to go to the NDIS website.