The purpose of an NDIS planning meeting is to help participants prepare their plans. Like anything in life, the more you put into the process, the more you get out of it – which is why preparation is so important.
What will participants be asked in a planning meeting?
To gain an understanding of the participant and their needs, a range of questions will be asked about:
- The participant’s day-to-day life
- Current supports
- Goals the participant hopes to achieve
- Ways to manage the plan
This information will help form the basis of the participant’s NDIS plan.
What to think about when preparing for a planning meeting
There are three main areas participants and their families should think about throughout the preparation process.
- Current supports – This can include personal supports such as friends and family, formal supports and services, school, employment or community supports
- Goals – What does the participant want to achieve? For example, enrolling in a course or getting a job
- How the plan will be managed – Participants can choose between self-management, agency management or plan management
How to prepare for the meeting
Once the participant has a good idea of their supports and goals and how they want their plan to be managed, the next step is to complete Booklet 2 – Planning which can be downloaded here.
Prior to the meeting, participants should get their paperwork ready including Booklet 2 and any reports or assessments. Participants should bring copies to the meeting and if possible share these in advance with the ECEI partner, LAC or NDIA Planner.
Tips for the planning meeting
All planning meetings are taking place over the phone, instead of in-person, as a result of COVID-19.
Planning meetings can take over an hour, so it’s best to put aside ample time to be safe. Participants can invite a friend or family member to attend the meeting with them.
The participant will be asked a proof of identity questions upfront to ensure privacy and accuracy.
It is a good idea to have an attendee take notes throughout the meeting. Attendees should also use this as an opportunity to ask questions.
What happens next?
If after the planning meeting the participant and their family realize they left something out, they can contact the ECEI Partner, LAC, or NDIA Planner via email or phone to clarify.
The next steps will be discussed in the meeting which will include how the plan will be reviewed and how to start accessing funding and using supports. For those participants working with a LAC or Support Coordinator, they will get in touch about the next steps. Those who opt to self-manage their plan will be contacted once the plan is approved.
Raheel Chaudhry, Director, RMC Plan Managers