Before a plan
An early childhood partner or local area coordinator can help explain pathways and community connections. The NDIA decides access to funded supports.
Understand NDIS partnersA place for your family.
A voice for your child.
Your knowledge of your own family’s everyday life matters. So do your child’s strengths, preferences and ways of communicating. Coordination begins by bringing these into the conversation.
Keep the person’s voice at the centre
- Start with strengths, preferences and an ordinary daily routine.
- Choose one family question or transition to prepare for.
- Agree who will do what, and what information may be shared.
A shared conversation
Follow the family conversation guideHear the person
Begin with their preferences and strengths.
Choose one priority
Use an ordinary routine as your starting point.
Agree who acts
Name a person, an action and a check-in date.
Make room for each person’s voicePreferences, strengths and everyday life.
Support in everyday life
Room for each voice.
A shared next step.
A useful family conversation makes space for the person’s preferences and the people they trust. A few clear questions can make the discussion easier to follow.
Prepare a family conversation →What helps them feel comfortable, take part and enjoy their day?
Start with the person.
Then the paperwork.
Think about what your child enjoys, the relationships that matter and the situations where support could make a practical difference. A diagnosis does not tell the whole story of a person.
You can describe a typical day, bring questions and ask how to include your child in a way that works for them. Discuss communication, breaks, a trusted person or other arrangements before a meeting.
Prepare a family conversationFind the right starting point for your familyBefore a plan, younger children and support with a plan.
Different stages.
Different starting points.
Use your child’s age, circumstances and the current official guidance to find the right conversation.
For younger children
The early childhood approach includes children younger than 6 with developmental delay and children younger than 9 with disability. A diagnosis is not required to start the approach for a child younger than 6; a funded plan has separate access requirements.
Help for your childWith a plan
Discuss your family’s priorities, the supports in the plan and which practical arrangements need attention. Clarify whether coordination is included and what work can be agreed.
Start with a new planPrepare a useful support-team conversationA simple meeting outline and clear responsibilities.
Keeping a team
on the same page.
Families may be speaking with health professionals, school staff, community services and several providers. It helps to agree which person is responsible for each action and what information they need.
Health, education and the NDIS have different roles. Schools are responsible for teaching and learning adjustments. Clinical assessment and therapy belong with appropriately qualified professionals. Coordination helps organise communication and next steps within its agreed scope.
Choose what can be shared and how the person receiving support will be involved. Ask about consent or authority rather than assuming that every family member receives all information.
Plan for a change or transitionNew routines, school, providers and independence.
Prepare for
the next transition.
A change can be easier to discuss before several arrangements need changing at once.
A new routine
Describe what will be different, what helps the person feel settled and which existing supports can continue.
Starting or changing school
Clarify the responsibilities of the school and support providers. Agree who will coordinate the relevant conversations.
A different provider
Check notice, capacity and a consent-based handover. Keep essential support and the person’s preferences in view.
Growing independence
Revisit who the person wants involved and which choices or tasks they would like to manage themselves.
Bring your family’s questions.
An introduction with us can start with your everyday experience and what you want to understand next.