You’ve checked your NDIS eligibility, made an Access Request, provided information about your disability, AND been approved. Congratulations! The next step in your NDIS journey is to prepare for your first planning meeting.
NDIS planning meetings explained
Your planning meeting will be run by a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or an NDIA planner to determine how your NDIS plan will look. You should expect questions about your current support services, daily living activities and your short and long-term goals.
The meeting can sometimes be long, so a support person can help you remember details and ask questions. You’re welcome to bring anyone you like to the planning meeting*, including a family member, friend, advocate or a service provider.
*At the moment, your planning meeting is likely to be conducted over the phone due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). If a phone call isn’t the best way for you to discuss your plan and needs, you can ask for a face-to-face meeting if this is available. It’s important that the meeting makes you feel as comfortable as possible.
What can make a planning meeting successful?
The key to a successful planning meeting is to pre-plan. Although pre-planning (planning to plan) might sound a little strange, it can help you get the best possible outcome from the NDIS. Doing this can help you feel ready for your planning meeting and keep any feelings of pressure or stress at bay.
What should I do before my meeting?
Before your meeting, you’ll need to organise any formal supporting documentation you have (like medical reports) to help you to back-up your support needs. In fact, it’s a good idea to run through a pre-planning checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything.
Before your planning meeting, you should ask yourself:
What is important to me?
What are my support needs?
Who are my current supports?
What are my goals?
Who do I want to manage my plan?
It could be helpful to write notes, make recordings, take pictures or draw mind maps based on your goals and support needs to take with you to your planning meeting.
What happens during your planning meeting?
During your planning meeting, you’ll be able to set your support goals and talk about how NDIS funding can help to pursue them. The NDIS is largely focused on helping participants to pursue their short and long-term goals. So, it’s important to think about what goals you might like to achieve in the next 6-12 months (short-term), and goals you’d like to achieve in the next 2-5 years (long-term).
With the right preparation, your NDIS plan can give you greater choice and control to achieve your goals and live the life you want.
Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.