How do I start with the NDIS plan?

Have you recently received approval for your NDIS plan and are wondering how to actually start using it? For many new NDIS participants, understanding the use of the NDIS plan is the first step to getting the right and effective support to make life independent. To start with your NDIS plan, prepare you for the NDIS planning meeting, identify your support needs, review the existing core supports and do plan how your NDIS budget will be used with clear goals to achieve the outcomes included in your plan. 

When NDIS participants follow their plan and manage their funding effectively to achieve the goals outlined in their plan, they improve their quality of life. However, misunderstanding the structure of the plan or using funding incorrectly can limit the support and prevent the participants from fully benefiting from the NDIS.

To understand your plan and funding categories when choosing providers, and tracking your progress, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to confidently use your NDIS plan and get the most out of the supports available to you.

 What is an NDIS plan, and what does it include?

Before starting the NDIS plan, you need to know what it is, its key elements and what things it includes so that you can get the maximum support that it offers.  An NDIS plan is a personalised plan that is created during the NDIS planning meeting process, where the NDIS would ask you a few questions about the participant's life to create a relevant plan for them. As the NDIS approves the person to become its participant, it creates the NDIS plan for the individual's needs and their required supports. 

 NDIS plan includes necessary funding, supports and services to help participants to achieve life goals, and also outlines the funding categories (core support, capacity building support and capital support), so that NDIS participants can choose the right support according to their circumstances and their needs.  Being an NDIS participant, after knowing your current needs, existing core support, NDIS funds and listed support & services, helps you to start the right and effective plan.

Your NDIS  plan has information about your supports, how your supports will be paid, and you can activate your NDIS plan on the Myplace portal, which is for NDIS participants.

Who can help start your plan?

Starting your NDIS plan can feel easier when you have the right guidance. After your plan is approved, the NDIS ensures that participants receive the appropriate support to help them understand their plan, connect with services, and begin using their funded supports. Depending on how your plan is structured, you may receive help from different types of supporters to start implementing your NDIS plan. You can discuss your NDIS plan with them on a phone call or in a meeting.

Participants supported by an Early Childhood Partner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC)

Family or carer of those younger than 9 or of most participants over 9 are connected with the early childhood partner or LAC to implement their NDIS plan. If you are connected with an Early Childhood Partner or a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) from an NDIS partner organisation, they will contact you after your plan is approved. They will discuss your plan with you, help you understand the supports included, assist you in accessing suitable service providers, and guide you in working toward your personal goals.

Participants who have a Support Coordinator in their plan

Some participants receive funding for a Support Coordinator to help implement their NDIS plan. If your plan includes this support, your Support Coordinator will contact you once the plan is approved. They will help you understand your plan, connect with appropriate services and providers, organise supports, and support you in working toward achieving the goals outlined in your plan.

Participants who self-manage their NDIS plan

If you choose to self-manage your NDIS plan, the NDIS will contact you once your plan is approved. They will discuss the responsibilities and opportunities involved in self-managing your funding, including how to organise supports, pay providers, and manage your budget effectively.

Understanding who will support you in implementing your plan is an important first step, as the right guidance can help you confidently begin using your NDIS supports and make the most of your plan.

How to Start with Your NDIS Plan: Step-by-Step Guide

Whether you are self-managing your plan or receiving support from a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or Early Childhood Partner, this step-by-step guide is for all NDIS participants.  However,  some steps may differ slightly depending on who manages your funding, but following these steps will help you start using your plan effectively, access your funded supports, and work toward your personal goals.

Step 1: Review Your NDIS Plan

To start your NDIS plan, the first step is to carefully review your NDIS plan to understand your required supports, services, funds and their key elements.  The NDIS plan is individualised, and it includes:

Your goals 

NDIS plan includes your goals that are designed after interviewing the participants' current life circumstances and what outcomes they want in their lives to live independently. 

 Funded supports and services 

This plan includes the types of supports and services that are approved for NDIS participants, and  also outlines the funding categories that include

• Core Supports: Daily assistance, personal care, transport, consumables 
• Capacity Building Supports: Therapy, skill development, employment support, behaviour support 
• Capital Supports: Equipment, assistive technology, home or vehicle modifications

Plan duration and management type 

Your plan is approved for a specific duration,  and it determines who manages your funding and how you pay for services, whether your plan is NDIA-managed, plan-managed, or self-managed. 

Step 2: Identify Your Support Needs

Once you understand your NDIS plan, the next step is to identify the supports you need to achieve your goals.  NDIS plan outlines the supports by grouping them into three main categories: Core, Capacity Building, and Capital.

Daily Living Supports (Core Supports)

These are supports that help you with your everyday needs and activities. Core Supports ensure that you are independent. 

• Personal care: Assistance with tasks like dressing, bathing, grooming, or eating 
• Household assistance: Help with cleaning, meal preparation, or managing the home environment 
• Transport support: Assistance to attend appointments, therapy sessions, work, or community activities

Skill-Building Supports (Capacity Building Supports)

These supports are focused on developing your skills, independence, and confidence. Capacity Building Supports help you achieve longer-term goals and increase your ability to manage daily life. Examples include:

• Therapy services: Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or psychology 
• Employment or education support: Training programs, work experience, or job coaching 
• Life skills and social participation programs: Support to build communication, budgeting, or social interaction skills

High-Cost Supports (Capital Supports)

Capital Supports are for higher-cost items or investments that help you participate more fully in life. They are for essential tools or modifications. Examples include:

• Assistive technology: Wheelchairs, hearing aids, communication devices, or specialised equipment 
• Home or vehicle modifications: Ramps, bathroom modifications, or adapted vehicles

How to Identify Your Needs

LACs or Early Childhood Partners

 If your plan is managed by an LAC or Early Childhood Partner, they will help you identify which supports fit your goals, choose providers, and understand funding limits. 

Self-managed participants

If you are self-managing, you will need to carefully review your plan, identify which supports will help achieve your goals, and track funding for each category.

Step 3: Plan Your NDIS Budget

After identifying your support needs, the next step is to plan your NDIS budget. Your plan allocates funding across different categories, and understanding these allocations ensures you use your plan effectively and make the most of the support available to you. For instance, funding for each category is designed to be used for specific needs.

• Core Supports funding is used for everyday assistance and basic needs, such as personal care, Household assistance, transport assistance and funds for consumables.
• Capacity Building Supports are designed to help you develop skills, independence, and confidence. This category offers funds for therapy and allied health services,  life and social skills and employment or education-related support.
• Capital Supports are for high-cost items that improve your ability to participate fully in life.  For instance, they offer funds for assistive technology and for vehicle modifications.

How It Works Depending on Your Plan Management

Self-managed participants

You are responsible for tracking your spending, paying providers, and ensuring that funds in each category are used correctly.  Self-management of the NDIS plan gives you maximum flexibility but requires careful monitoring.

LAC or Early Childhood Partner participants

Your supporter will guide you on how to use your funding and connect you with appropriate services. Furthermore, they ensure that spending aligns with your NDIS plan’s goals.

Step 4: Set Clear Goals

Your NDIS plan is designed around your personal goals, which are the outcomes you want to achieve over the life of your plan. Every support and service in your plan is linked to these goals, so understand all the listed goals to use your plan effectively. 

Daily Living or Independence Goals

These goals focus on improving your ability to manage day-to-day tasks and become more independent. Examples include meal preparation, dressing, bathing, or the use of public transport. To achieve these daily-life tasks, get core support services and funds to live independently.

Social Participation and Community Activities

These goals help you connect with your community, make friends, and participate in activities that are important to you.  For instance, goals include attending community programs, sports, or clubs, participation in recreational activities and building social skills. You can achieve these goals by getting funds from the core support or capacity building funds category.

Therapy or Skill Development Goals

These goals are focused on building your skills, independence, and overall capacity. Examples include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or learning new life skills or educational programs. The Capxity building support category can help you achieve these plans under NDIS management. 

Step 5: Choose and Connect with Service Providers

In the above step, you identify your goals and the supports you need; now you have to choose the service providers who will deliver the supports funded in your NDIS plan. This is an important step because the right providers help you achieve your goals efficiently and make the most of your funding.

How Participants Access Providers to implement their NDIS plan

Self-managed participants

You have full control over which providers you choose. You can contact providers directly, compare services, and arrange payments using your plan funding. This gives you maximum flexibility, but also requires careful budgeting and record-keeping. 

LAC or Early Childhood Partner participants

Your Local Area Coordinator or Early Childhood Partner will assist you in finding suitable providers, explain what supports are available, and guide you in making decisions that match your plan’s goals and funding.

What Your NDIS Plan Tells You About Providers

Type of support available

Your plan specifies the services you can access, such as therapy, personal care, community participation, or assistive technology setup. 

Funding allocated for each support

Check how much funding is available in each category (Core, Capacity Building, Capital) to pay providers. 

Restrictions or conditions

Some supports may need to be delivered by registered providers or within certain limits, as defined in your plan.

Step 6: Start Using Your Supports

Once you have chosen your providers and signed service agreements, it’s time to begin accessing the supports funded in your NDIS plan. Using your supports effectively ensures you make progress toward your goals and get the most out of your plan.

• Core Supports: Daily assistance, transport, consumables 
• Capacity Building Supports: Therapy, skill development, employment programs 
• Capital Supports: Equipment, home modifications, assistive technology

Step 7: Track Your Progress and Budget

Once you start using your NDIS-funded supports, it’s important to monitor how your plan is being used. Track progress and funds to ensure that your supports are helpful in achieving your goals and that your plan funding lasts for the entire plan period.

Check Remaining Funding in Each Category

• Review your Core, Capacity Building, and Capital funding regularly. 
• Make sure you know how much has been spent and how much is left in each category. 
• This helps avoid running out of funds for essential supports before the plan ends.

Make Adjustments if Necessary

If a support is not helping you achieve your goal, or you need more support in a specific area, discuss with your provider or supporter.  Adjustments can include: 

• Changing the provider 
• Changing the type or frequency of support 
• Requesting reallocation of funding (through a plan review if necessary)

Support Differences Based on Plan Management

• Self-managed participants: You are responsible for tracking funding and progress independently. Keep clear records of payments, remaining budgets, and outcomes for each support. 
• LAC or Early Childhood Partner participants: Your supporter will help you monitor progress, review funding, and check whether supports are meeting your goals. They can provide advice on adjustments to use your plan effectively.

Step 8: Prepare for Plan Review

Your NDIS plan is reviewed periodically, usually every 12 months.  This review ensures that your next plan continues to meet your needs, goals, and aspirations.

Track How Supports Were Used

Review each support you accessed during your plan period: Core, Capacity Building, and Capital Supports.  Check how much funding was used in each category and whether services were delivered as planned. 

Keep records, receipts, and service agreements to show evidence of support usage.

Review Progress Toward Goals

Look at each goal in your plan and assess: 

• What progress have you made? 
• Which supports helped achieve these outcomes? 
• Are there goals that need more attention or adjustments? 

Identify Additional or Adjusted Supports for the Next Plan

Based on your progress and remaining needs, consider

• New supports are required to meet evolving goals 
• Adjustments to current supports (more sessions, different providers, or changed funding allocation) 
• Unused funding that could be redirected to other areas

Conclusion

After the approval of the NDIS plan, it is crucial to use the plan effectively to achieve the desired outcome.  To use the NDIS plan, review your existing plan, your core supports, and then identify your current needs and plan your supports and services accordingly. However,  using the plan depends on the type of services plus who helps you to achieve your NDIS plan.