Plan reviews are the most important conversation you have with the NDIA. The plan that comes out of it sets your funding for the next one to three years. Preparing well makes the difference between a plan that supports your life and one that falls short of what you actually need.
When Reviews Happen
Plans run for a fixed period — usually one to three years — and you have a review at the end. The NDIA contacts you about six to eight weeks before the plan ends. Sometimes participants request an early review if their needs have changed significantly.
What Reviewers Look For
Three things, broadly:
- Evidence that the current plan was used and worked
- Evidence that what is being requested is reasonable and necessary
- Clear goals that the next plan will fund supports against
‘Reasonable and necessary’ is the legal test the NDIS uses. Supports must relate to your disability, represent value for money, be likely to be effective, and meet your needs in a way that takes into account your informal supports (family, friends, community).
What To Gather Before The Review
- Provider progress notes and reports. Ask each of your providers for a written summary of what was delivered in the last plan period and how it went. Reliable providers have these on file.
- Allied health reports. Recent occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology, behaviour support, or psychology reports — whatever applies to your situation. Reports older than 12 months should be refreshed.
- Specific examples of unmet needs. Concrete examples of times the current funding ran out, missed an opportunity, or fell short. Vague claims like ‘I need more support’ do not move reviewers; specifics do.
- Evidence of changes in your circumstances. Health changes, accommodation changes, family changes, work or study changes — anything that affects the support you need going forward.
- Goals for the next plan. Clear, specific goals. ‘Get more out of life’ is too vague. ‘Cook three meals a week independently by the end of the next plan’ is workable.
Writing Goals That Get Funded
Goals matter because the NDIA funds supports against them. A plan with vague goals tends to get vague funding.
Strong goals are:
- Specific — they describe what will change
- Measurable — there is a way to tell if the goal is being met
- Time-bound — there is a target period
- Connected to disability — they reflect your specific situation
Examples that get funded:
- ‘Increase community participation from one outing per fortnight to two outings per week within six months.’
- ‘Build independent meal preparation from zero meals to three meals per week within nine months.’
- ‘Maintain consistent personal care routine seven days per week to support participation in part-time employment.’
Common Mistakes
- Showing up unprepared. Plan reviews scheduled at short notice with no documents and no clear ask tend to produce plans that just continue the previous one — even if the previous one was inadequate.
- Asking for more without showing the current plan was used. Reviewers want evidence the previous funding was put to good use. Unspent funding is a red flag, not a credit.
- Forgetting Capacity Building. Many participants focus on Core Supports and overlook Capacity Building. Capacity Building funding for support coordination, Improved Daily Living, and therapy is often where the most strategic value sits.
- Going alone. Most participants get more out of plan review when a support coordinator, advocate, or family member is in the room. Two heads are better than one when the conversation gets technical.
- Not appealing if the plan is wrong. Plans can be reviewed internally, and if you still disagree, appealed to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Many participants accept inadequate plans because they did not know they could push back.
On The Day
Bring your documents. Bring whoever you have asked to come — coordinator, family, advocate. Be ready to explain your situation in your own words, not just from the reports.
Reviewers vary in how thorough they are. Some plan meetings are detailed; others are perfunctory. Either way, your job is to make sure the conversation covers what you came to cover. If a topic is being skipped, raise it.
After The Plan Comes Through
Read it carefully. Check that the funding amounts and categories match what was discussed. Errors happen — funding categories miscoded, amounts incorrect, goals worded differently than intended. If you spot something, request a correction or internal review promptly.
Plans can be amended after they have started, particularly if there are obvious errors or changes in circumstances. Do not assume an inadequate plan is final.
FAQs
Q1. How long before my plan ends should I start preparing?
Start at least three months before. Gathering reports and writing goals takes time, and you want to be ready when the NDIA contacts you for the review meeting.
Q2. Can my support coordinator come to plan review?
Yes. Most participants find this useful. Coordinators can answer technical questions, summarise the year, and help articulate what funding is needed.
Q3. What if my plan review is happening soon and I am not ready?
Ask for it to be moved. The NDIA will usually agree to a short delay if there is a reasonable explanation. Going into review unprepared is worse than waiting a few weeks.
Q4. Can I appeal a plan I disagree with?
Yes. First step is internal review — request it within 90 days. If you still disagree, you can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
Q5. Do I have to repeat the same goals each year?
No. Goals should reflect what you are actually working toward. Repeating last year’s goals because they are familiar is not a strong approach — fresh goals tied to current life situation work better.
