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Your circumstances will change time and again, and so will your support needs.

That’s why the NDIS encourages an annual review to ensure they capture your changing circumstances in your updated NDIS plan. This review is a great opportunity to make sure the plan still matches up with your needs and goals, or those of someone you support.

The first scheduled NDIS plan review is generally held 12 months after joining the NDIS. The session can be face-to-face, over the phone, or on a video call. You are welcome to bring a family member, friend, or support coordinator.

About 6 weeks before you’re due for a review, someone from the NDIS will get in touch to book your meeting. Before your review, it’s a good idea to take some time to think about how the NDIS is working for you now and what you want to get out of it in the future.

Let’s talk about the process so you know what to expect, and how to prepare for it.

Three typical types of review

Recognising that every person is in a unique situation, there are typically 3 pathways that an NDIS review could take. It all depends on how much you need to change your plan. This can depend on things like whether any big life changes are coming up (like a new job or starting a family) or if you need a different type of support.

No matter which type of review you’ll have, you should still take the time to prepare for the meeting to make sure you get the right support for the year ahead.

1. New plan with same supports

If the impact of your disability hasn’t changed and you don’t have any significant life changes on the horizon, then your upcoming NDIS plan review becomes more of a check-in to see how you’re travelling and answer any questions that have popped up during the year. In this situation, your new plan will either look the same, or there will just be minor modifications to it.

2. New plan with minor changes to current supports

If you didn’t get exactly what you asked for in your first plan, or there were things you didn’t know to ask for then but do now, then your review might involve making minor changes to your current plan. Some examples of what these could be are:

· You’re expecting some of your assistive technology to need repairs in the next 12 months

· You would like to self-manage parts of your funding so you have more flexibility

· You’ve changed home address, but the supports you receive in your home are the same

3. Full plan review

If your circumstances have changed, then the NDIS plan review will be more comprehensive. This is similar to your first NDIS meeting, which went into detail about your situation, your goals and the types of support you need. Typical examples of when you would have a full review include:

· If the impact of your disability on your life has changed

· If you are about to embark on a new phase of life, for example new studies or a job

· Your personal or living arrangements have changed

Children will generally have a full plan review every year, given how quickly their lives and circumstances are changing.

Getting ready for your NDIS plan review

Whether your situation has changed or stayed the same, preparing for an NDIS plan review can feel like hard work. That’s where we come in. If you have been funded for Support Coordination, Scope makes it so much easier, we can provide you a step-by-step process for gathering all the information you need for a successful meeting.

Before your review meeting, also think about:

· What you like about your current plan

· What you don’t like or what didn’t work well

· How the plan helped you achieve your goals

· What type of support you’ll need in the coming year

· Who you’d like to deliver this support

· How long this new plan should ideally run for

You may also need to ask your service providers for an assessment or report to show how their services are helping you meet your goals. They should all be familiar with what’s needed here – all you should have to do is ask.

Remember, the more information you have before your review meeting, the easier it will be for your team to help you get the most out of it. Learn more about Support Coordination or get in touch with our team.

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