Everything you need to know about creating an NDIS plan

The National Disability Insurance Scheme or ‘NDIS’ is a funding scheme operated by the Australian Government designed to support the needs and goals of people living with disability. A NDIS plan outlines a person’s needs and goals, while also highlighting the services and support they need to achieve these. A NDIS plan will also outline funding requirements and how to use your funding to achieve what you need. 

A NDIS plan will usually include information about: 

• You and your living situation
• Your goals, or things you want to work towards
• Who supports you (e.g., family, friends, community or government services)
• Any NDIS supports that are funded
• How you can use your NDIS funding
• Who will manage your funding
• Changes required to your plan 

Information sourced from the NDIS 

Did you know there are three options to manage your NDIS funding? These include: 

• Self-managed (when you manage your NDIS funding independently)
• Plan-managed (when a provider supports you to manage funding for your NDIS plan)
• NDIA-managed (when your plan is managed by the NDIA) 

For more information about the three types of NDIS plans, click here 

To apply for a NDIS plan, you will first need to ensure you are eligible. These will relate to your: 

• Age
• Citizenship or residency status  
• What kind of support you will need
• Equipment or accessibility requirements 

For more information on eligibility for a NDIS plan, read our full article. 

Once you have determined whether you are eligible for a NDIS plan, you must lodge an Access Request Form. You can lodge your Access Request Form yourself or have someone support you through the application. 

An access request form is the form you complete when applying for NDIS funding. The NDIS will use this form to decide whether you are eligible for funding. You can return your Access Request Form to the NDIS when: 

• It is signed and dated
• You have gathered supporting information on your eligibility requirements  

For more information on the Access Request Form and where to send it once you have completed it, click here. 

Once the NDIS has confirmed your eligibility, they will contact you for a meeting to arrange your NDIS plan. Below are the steps you will need to follow to get from the initial meeting to having an active NDIS plan. 

Before your plan is put together, you will need to meet with the NDIS to discuss your requirements and needs. Before your meeting with them, it is important you compile a thorough list of everything you need and what you want to achieve from your plan. You could consider the following: 

What do you need to achieve your goals and meet your needs? Think about the services you’ll need to fulfil these. For example, if you want to gain employment, you will need to include this information and why it is important in your plan. Before this meeting, remember to consider your finances and how they can be used to purchase the support and services you require. If you are attending the meeting with a support person or advocate, think about who this could be and how they can be there for you. 

Think about what services and supports you require to achieve your goals. A great tip would be to research the services they need and how much they are likely to cost. Novita clients can contact us for a direct quote for services. 

Funding can be used for therapy services, including: 

• Speech Pathology
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy and many others.  

It can also be used for community services including skill building programs like: 

• Transition to Work
• Step Up 

Or individualised support to help you access the community. An example of this would be accommodation services. 

After you have submitted an application for funding, the NDIS should be in contact with you to arrange a meeting with a Local Area Coordinator* who will help you to identify your goals and needs. 

* Local Area Coordinator (LAC) – this person is a representative who will help you to identify your goals, needs and ambitions.   

• During the meeting with your LAC is where you will communicate your needs in more detail – this is how you will get the best out of your plan. Here are some tips to make the best out of this meeting:
• Communicate exactly what you need mentally and physically. Do you need assistive technology to support day-to-day living? Do you need extra support at work? Do you need a support worker to come to your house? 
• Remember to take your support person. They might help you more comfortable or assist in explaining some of your needs/goals in more detail.
• Bring any documentation. Remember to bring any reports, tests or referrals relating to your disability. This will help the LAC understand your needs when putting your NDIS plan together. 

There is no set time for when you will hear from the NDIS about your plan. You will receive a letter in the post about the status of your plan, and how you can access it through the NDIA online portal. 

Once you find your plan on the NDIA portal, you can read it fully. There will be many details and important information for you to familiarise yourself with. If you ever feel stuck throughout this process, remember you have support. We are here every step of the journey and will help you figure out any issue – no matter how big or small!