3 steps: How to ace your NDIS planning meeting
Whether it’s your first, second or even third planning meeting, chances are that there’s a lot at stake for you. You’ll naturally want the meeting to go well so that you get the funding you need from the NDIS.
Here are some steps you can follow to increase your chances of a great outcome.
1. Be prepared
You’ve probably heard this a lot, but the importance of preparation cannot be overstated! The more you prepare, the better your chances at receiving your best funding package.
If it’s your first planning meeting
If you only do one piece of NDIS planning, make it Mapping My World. It is a free NDIS pre-planning booklet designed to help you get ready for your first NDIS planning meeting.
If it’s a plan review
We’ve got some handy resources around this:
The first port of call should be to check out our blog: how to prepare for your NDIS plan review.
2. Be clear with your planner
One of the most important things to remember going in to your meeting is that the NDIS Planner does not know you. They will only know what you tell them.
There are two main things you will need to tell your planner (and yes, they are covered in Mapping My World):
Supports you receive now and why you need them
Think about the supports you currently receive (and of course, it helps to write these down!).
One of the best questions you can ask yourself is ‘what would my life be like without my current supports?’
By communicating this to your Planner, they will be able to better understand what your needs are and how important it is that this support continues.
Your goals for the future and what supports you need to help achieve these
This is the exciting bit.
It’s your chance to think about what you want from your life, and what your big goals are for the future.
Make sure to tell your planner
- What your goal is
- Why it’s important to you
- And how you see it happening
3. Do what’s right for you
At the end of the day, the NDIS exists to support Australians with a disability.
Make sure you have the right people with you in the meeting and it’s in a place that works for you.
Don’t be afraid to ask for something that better suits your needs. If you prefer to have a face to face meeting and the planner is organising a phone meeting – speak up! Let them know what is best for you.
It’s also worth noting that if the Planner calls at a bad time, you don’t have to have the planning meeting straight away. You can ask them to call you back.