The short version
Plan reviews are mostly won in the preparation. Gather evidence, know exactly what supports you want in the new plan, bring written reports from your therapists and providers, and be specific about outcomes. Going in unprepared is the single biggest reason plans come back smaller than expected.
What a Plan Review Actually Is
Every NDIS plan has an end date — usually 12 months from when it started, though some plans run 2 or 3 years. Before that date, you have a plan review meeting with a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIS planner. The purpose is to agree the supports that will go into your next plan.
The meeting typically runs 60-90 minutes. It can happen face-to-face, over the phone, or by video call. You can have a support person, family member, support coordinator, or advocate with you.
The outcome of that meeting determines your funding for the next 12-36 months. Preparing for it properly is worth real effort.
Start 8 Weeks Before the Meeting
Plan review preparation is not a one-night job. The best outcomes come from starting 6-8 weeks before the scheduled review date. Here’s the timeline:
8 weeks out
- Request updated reports from all your therapists (OT, physio, speech, psychologist)
- Request a provider summary from your support coordinator and any major providers
- Write down your current goals and how your situation has changed
4 weeks out
- Chase therapy reports if they haven’t arrived
- Gather any medical letters, hospital discharge summaries, or specialist reports
- Ask your support coordinator to prepare a support needs summary
2 weeks out
- Compile everything into one folder — digital or paper
- Write your own summary — what’s working, what’s not, what’s changed
- Decide what new supports you’ll be asking for and why
Week of
- Confirm the meeting time and format
- Arrange a support person to attend with you if desired
- Review your notes one more time
The Evidence That Actually Matters
NDIS planners make funding decisions based on evidence. The stronger your evidence, the stronger your plan. Priority evidence:
Allied Health Reports
Reports from OTs, physios, speech pathologists, and psychologists carry significant weight. Ask your therapists for:
- A summary of functional assessment results
- Specific recommendations for support hours or equipment
- Rationale for why those supports will achieve your goals
- Evidence of progress (or barriers) over the current plan period
Support Provider Summaries
Your support coordinator, SIL provider, or primary support worker can write a summary documenting:
- Hours of support actually being delivered and why
- Changes in your needs over the year
- Events or incidents that demonstrate support requirements
- Recommendations for the next plan
Medical Documentation
GP letters, specialist reports, hospital discharge summaries — anything that demonstrates diagnosis, functional impact, or change in condition. Especially important if your condition has progressed.
Be Specific About What You Want
The most common mistake participants make at reviews is asking vaguely for “more support”. Planners can’t action vague. Planners can action specific.
Instead of: “I need more community access support.”
Say: “I’d like 6 hours per week of 1:1 community access support to attend the library, shopping, and medical appointments. My current 3 hours isn’t enough because I’ve missed two medical appointments this year due to lack of transport and support.”
The second version tells the planner:
- The specific support type (1:1 community access)
- The specific hours (6 hours/week)
- The specific purpose (library, shopping, appointments)
- The evidence of need (2 missed appointments)
That’s fundable. The first version isn’t.
Common Supports to Consider
Things participants often forget to request:
- Support coordination — separate category from Core Supports
- Therapy hours — OT, physio, speech, psych
- Capacity building — skill development programs
- Assistive technology — equipment assessments and purchases
- Home modifications — grab rails, ramps, bathroom modifications
- Psychosocial recovery coaching if you have a psychosocial disability
- Transport at the right level
What If the Plan Comes Back Wrong?
Sometimes plans come back with less funding than requested, wrong supports, or missed categories. You have options:
- Internal review — request within 3 months of the plan decision, free, handled by the NDIA
- External review — if internal review doesn’t resolve it, you can go to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
- Plan variation — for minor changes during the plan, you can request a variation without a full review
Most plan disputes are resolved at internal review. Having a support coordinator or advocate helping through this process makes a big difference.
How We Help at Review Time
If you’re one of our participants, we provide:
- A written support summary documenting all hours delivered and why
- Recommendations for the next plan based on observed needs
- Evidence of any incidents or changes that affect support requirements
- Attendance at the review meeting if you want us there
That summary isn’t generic — we write it specifically for your situation and your goals. It’s designed to give the planner the evidence they need to fund what you actually require.
FAQS
Can someone come with me to my plan review?
Yes — family members, friends, support coordinators, and advocates can all attend. Having a second person taking notes is always useful.
What if I don’t have therapy reports?
Tell the planner during the meeting that reports are coming, and get the planner’s email to send them through. Plans can be adjusted once reports arrive.
How long until my new plan starts after the review?
Usually 4-8 weeks from the review meeting. Your current plan continues until the new one is approved and activated.
