Your practical next steps
From different views to one shared next step
Keep the person’s preferences at the centre while making practical responsibilities clear.
- Hear the personMake space for their preferences.
- Choose a priorityStart with one ordinary routine.
- Agree who does whatName an action, an owner and a date.
Open a question to see what to do next. You can add a situation to your conversation summary. Selections stay in this browser tab until you review and choose to send them.
Has the person had a way to express what matters to them?
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Yes, their preferences are clear
Do this next: Begin with those preferences and their strengths. Ask how they want other people involved in the conversation.
Go to question 2We need a more accessible way to hear them
Do this next: Ask about pictures, more time, an interpreter or another suitable communication approach. For a child, include their views in a way that suits them.
Go to question 2
Can you agree on one everyday priority?
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We share a starting priority
Do this next: Describe it through an ordinary routine and the change the person would find useful.
Go to question 3People have different views
Do this next: Separate each person’s observations from assumptions. Bring the differing views to a conversation while keeping the person’s own choices visible.
Go to question 3
Is it clear who will act and who may receive information?
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The responsibilities are clear
Do this next: Write down one action, its owner and a check-in date. Confirm the person’s consent or the relevant authority before sharing information.
Make your next action clearWe need to clarify roles or permission
Do this next: Ask who is authorised to make or support each decision. Agree which information each person needs before circulating records.
Make your next action clear
Take one shared question into the next conversation
Write the person’s preference first, followed by the practical question the family wants to resolve.
- The person’s own view
- One routine or transition to discuss
- One agreed action and review date
Read the full guide
Open only the explanation you need, or read them all.
Start with strengths and preferences
Think about what your child or family member enjoys, how they show a preference and what helps them feel comfortable. A familiar example often says more than a broad label. Include routines, relationships and situations where things already work.
Participation can look different for different people. Ask about ways to include a child or person using their preferred communication, with breaks, pictures, a trusted person or another suitable format. Discuss practical arrangements with those involved.
Describe an ordinary day
Walk through the moments that matter: getting ready, transitions, learning, seeing friends, community activities and time at home. Note where support is useful and where the person wants more independence or a different choice.
Include what the family is already doing, without assuming that a family member can take on every extra task. A coordinator conversation can help clarify roles and who needs to be involved next.
Keep the different systems clear
Health, education, community services and the NDIS have different responsibilities. Questions about teaching, clinical assessment or funding decisions need the appropriate professional or agency. Coordination can help people communicate; it does not replace those roles.
For younger children, an early childhood partner can explain available pathways and early connections. The early childhood approach and eligibility for a funded NDIS plan are separate matters. Use the official guidance for your child’s age and circumstances.
Plan for the next transition
Starting school, changing a routine or moving to a different service can involve several people. Think about the lead time, the information that helps, the decisions the person can take part in and who will keep everyone informed.
Choose a small number of shared actions. Ask each person to explain what they will do and when the family should expect an update. Consider how the person’s own preferences will be revisited as circumstances change.
Make room for different views
People who care about the same person may have different priorities. It can help to name the shared aim, then separate observations, choices and decisions that need a professional or NDIA response.
Tell us who you would like involved and what consent or authority needs to be clarified. A first conversation can start with your questions rather than a large bundle of reports.
Go to the source
General preparation guidance. Use the current official page and the details of your own plan for decisions.