An NDIS plan review is not just an administrative check-in. It is your opportunity to shape what the next period of your plan looks like — to ask for more of what is working, adjust what is not, and make sure your funding reflects your actual needs.
Many participants go into reviews underprepared and come out with a plan that does not quite fit. This guide explains how to prepare, what evidence matters, and how to communicate clearly about what you need.
Types of plan reviews
There are two kinds of reviews:
- Scheduled review: This happens at the end of your plan period — typically every 12 months, though some plans run for up to three years.
- Unscheduled review: You can request this at any time if your circumstances have changed significantly. Examples include a change in your condition, a new diagnosis, a major life change such as moving house or leaving school, or if your current funding is clearly not meeting your needs.
You do not have to wait for a scheduled review if something significant has changed. Contact the NDIS or speak to your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or Support Coordinator to request an unscheduled review.
What to review before the meeting
Before your plan review meeting, spend time looking back at the plan period that is ending:
- What supports have you used? What have you not used, and why?
- Has your funding run out before the end of the plan in any category?
- Have your needs changed — either increased or decreased?
- What goals did your plan include, and how are you progressing toward them?
- Are there supports you need that were not in your plan?
Write these observations down. The review meeting is a conversation, and it is easy to forget things in the moment.
What evidence to gather
The NDIS makes decisions based on evidence of your disability-related needs. Going into a review with supporting documentation strengthens your case for the funding you need.
Useful evidence includes:
- Reports from allied health professionals — occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, psychologists
- Letters from your GP or specialist confirming your current condition and how it affects your daily functioning
- Progress notes or reports from your current support providers
- Functional assessments — these measure what you can and cannot do independently
- Your own written account of how your disability affects your daily life (called a participant statement)
If you have a Support Coordinator funded in your plan, they can help you gather this evidence and prepare your participant statement.
How to ask for what you need
Be specific. Vague requests get vague outcomes. Instead of saying "I need more support," say "I need support with personal care every weekday morning and help accessing the community twice a week, based on my current level of functioning."
Connect your requests to your goals. The NDIS funds supports that help you work toward your goals and participate in the community. Frame your needs in those terms: "I want to build independence in meal preparation, and I need support worker assistance twice a week to work toward that."
If you think your previous plan was underfunded, say so clearly and explain why — pointing to where you ran out of funding, or what support you went without.
If you disagree with the outcome
If your new plan does not reflect what you asked for, you can request an internal review by the NDIA within three months. If the internal review outcome is also unsatisfactory, you can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) — which replaced the former AAT in 2024 — for an independent review.
Keep records of everything: what you requested, what evidence you provided, and what decisions were made.
Getting help to prepare
Plan reviews are important and the stakes are real. If you would like help preparing, your Support Coordinator (if you have one funded in your plan) can assist with the process. Your LAC is also available to help at no cost to your plan.
If you have questions about how your current support arrangements feed into a review, or if you are considering making a change after your review, Supportr is happy to talk. Take a look at our services, then call (07) 3184 4445 or get in touch.