What Happens at Your First NDIS Planning Meeting

Once your NDIS access request is approved, the next milestone is your first planning meeting. For many families across St Marys, Mortlake and Western Sydney, this is the moment that decides what kind of support the year ahead will hold — so a little nervousness is completely natural.

The good news is that a planning meeting is, at heart, a conversation. It's a chance to talk about a person's life, their goals, and the supports that would help. Here's exactly what to expect and how to walk in feeling prepared.

What the meeting is for

The planning meeting helps the NDIA understand the participant's everyday life so they can build a plan around it. You'll talk about:

• A typical day, and what's working well
• What's difficult or needs support
• The person's goals — what they'd like to work towards
• The supports that would help reach those goals
• Existing help from family, friends, and the community

It's not a test, and there are no trick questions. The aim is a clear, honest picture of the person's life.

Who will be there

The meeting may be with an NDIA planner or a Local Area Coordinator (LAC). You're encouraged to bring people who can help, such as:

• A family member or close friend
• An advocate
• A support coordinator (if you have one)

Having someone alongside you isn't just allowed — it's often a really good idea. A second set of ears can catch things you miss, and a calm presence helps when nerves kick in.

How to prepare

A little preparation makes a big difference. Before the meeting:

Think about goals

Goals are the heart of the plan. They can be big or small, short-term or long-term — for example:

• "I want to catch the train to TAFE on my own."
• "I want to cook two meals a week independently."
• "I want to join a local group and make friends."
• "I want help at home so I can stay in my community."

Jot a few down beforehand. Concrete, real-life goals are easier to fund than vague ones.

Describe a typical day

Walk through a normal day from waking up to going to bed, and note where support is needed and where things are hard. This paints a vivid picture for the planner.

Gather your documents

Bring any reports, letters, or assessments you have. They back up what you describe and help the planner understand the disability and its impact.

Make a list of questions

If anything's unclear, write it down so you don't forget to ask on the day.

During the meeting

Try to relax and be honest. A few tips:

• Describe a bad day, not just a good one. People often understate their needs out of pride or habit. Be honest about the hard moments.
• Talk about impact. Explain how the disability affects daily life, not just the diagnosis.
• Don't downplay things. It's natural to say "we manage," but the planner needs the full picture to fund the right support.
• Ask questions. If a term or decision isn't clear, ask for it to be explained.
• Take notes. Jot down what's discussed and any next steps.

After the meeting

Once the conversation is done, the NDIA uses what you've shared to build the NDIS plan. This sets out the participant's goals and the funding available to pursue them.

When the plan arrives, read it carefully. Check that:

• Your goals are reflected
• The supports make sense for the person's needs
• You understand how the funding is managed — self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed

If something doesn't look right, you can ask questions or request a review — our guide to reviewing or changing your plan explains how. The plan isn't carved in stone.

A reassuring thought

It's easy to feel like everything hinges on this one meeting — but remember, plans are reviewed and can be adjusted over time. The first plan is a starting point, not a final verdict. What matters most is being honest and clear about the person's real life.

Families in St Marys and Mortlake have walked into these meetings feeling exactly as anxious as you might, and come out with a plan that genuinely helps. Preparation and honesty are your two best friends.

We can help you prepare

At Adom Grace Care, we support people with disability and their families across Western Sydney as they get ready for planning meetings. We can help you think through goals, describe daily life clearly, and walk in feeling confident.

If you'd like a hand preparing, please contact us. You can also explore our NDIS support services to see how we support people once their plan is in place. You don't have to face that first meeting alone.