A practical guide to applying to the NDIS

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This guide is for you if...
✅  You are applying to the NDIS for the first time
✅  Your child is under the age of 9

If your child has recently received an autism diagnosis, or a healthcare professional has suggested you apply to the NDIS, this guide is a practical tool to support you each step of the way, so you can navigate the NDIS with confidence.
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💡Download a pdf version of this guide
We've also created a downloadable pdf version of this guide with even more helpful tips and resources. This is also perfect for printing or sharing with others!

You can download the pdf by clicking here.

What is the NDIS and why should I apply?

The NDIS is Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme. It can help you pay for supports for your child, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, and more.

The NDIS is managed by the NDIA, the government agency that is responsible for the NDIS.

With the cost for therapy services averaging around $200 an hour, NDIS funding can be a valuable support for families who may otherwise be required to pay for services out of pocket.

The application process can take time, so it’s worth getting started early. In our experience, the full application process can take anywhere from 21 days to 9 months, depending on your circumstances and the NDIA backlog.

The NDIS journey

Your NDIS journey has three steps:

1. Applying for the NDIS
2. Preparing for and attending your Planning Meeting
3. Beginning to use your plan

This guide will take you through each step of the journey to help you understand what you need to do, as well as offering helpful tips and resources so you are well prepared.

Step 1: Applying for the NDIS

The first step in getting an NDIS plan is to apply for access. In most parts of Australia, families can apply for access to the NDIS through their local Early Childhood Partner.

Early Childhood Partners are local organisations funded by the NDIA. They have teams of professionals with experience and clinical expertise in working with young children with developmental delay or disability and their families.

1.1. Check if you are eligible

Before reaching out to your local Early Childhood Partner, it’s worth considering if your child is likely to be eligible.

To apply to the NDIS, your child must:

✅  Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Special Category Visa holder

✅  Have a functional impairment that affects their daily life. The five dimensions that the NDIS considers for children are:

• Communication
• Self-care (e.g., dressing, eating, toileting)
• Motor skills
• Social skills, behaviours, and emotional regulation
• Learning

1.2. Find your Early Childhood Partner

If you believe your child may be eligible, the next step is to reach out to your local Early Childhood Partner.

You can find your Early Childhood Partner enter your postcode on the NDIS website linked here.

In a few locations there might not be an Early Childhood Partner listed. In this case your GP should be able to support you with an access application.

1.3. Meet with your Early Childhood Partner

When you meet your Early Childhood Partner, they work with you to gain an understanding of your child’s needs. Your Early Childhood Partner will explain the process to you, which may include using tools such as the DSM-5, Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS), and other observational techniques.

If they deem your child to have a significant developmental delay in one or multiple dimensions, they will likely recommend access to the NDIS.

If they believe your child doesn’t meet the requirements for NDIS access, they may instead connect you with ‘Community Connections’, which are services funded by the NDIS and other government departments to support your child’s development.

Once your NDIS Early Childhood Partner submits their recommendation, it will be sent to the NDIA to make a decision. While the NDIS aims to have this completed in 21 days, in our experience this process can take much longer (up to 6 to 9 months as of July 2024).

Step 2: Preparing for and attending your Planning Meeting

2.1. Scheduling your Planning Meeting

If the NDIA decides your child is eligible, you will get a letter saying that your access has been granted. Your next step is to set up and attend a Planning Meeting. Your letter will include details on how to set this up.

In the planning meeting, you will meet with an NDIS Planner. The purpose of this meeting is to understand what your child’s needs are, and then decide an appropriate budget to meet those needs. Your Planning Meeting can happen either over the phone or in person.

2.2. Preparing for the meeting

There are three things you should do in advance of your Planning Meeting:

✅  Prepare documentation

✅  Set goals for your child

✅  Decide how you want to manage your plan

2.2.1. Prepare documentation

In the lead-up to your Planning Meeting you will likely be asked to send the NDIS Planner documentation. As a general rule, the shorter and clearer the better.

Useful evidence to provide ahead of your planning meeting includes:

• Any diagnosis reports

• Any functional capacity assessments

• Carer statements (also called 'Impact statement')

• Relevant supporting letters from professionals, such as early childhood educators, or teachers

💡Tip: Summarising in one page can help
Consider making a one-page document with a “summary of evidence” cover page so the NDIS decision maker has a clear understanding of available documents and evidence for review.

2.2.2. Set goals for your child

In the Planning Meeting, you will be asked to set goals for your child for the length of the plan or longer. Your child’s goals may have some impact on the amount and categories of funding included in your plan.

For example, if you have a goal around your child learning to use an assistive communication device, you may be able to get funding for this device in your plan.

💡 Tip: Take a look at some example goals

‍The ‘Association for Children With a Disability’ has some great examples of early childhood goals, including a downloadable PDF worksheet, here.

2.2.3. Decide how to manage your plan

In the Planning Meeting, you’ll also need to decide how you’d like to manage your plan. You have three choices:

1. Self-managed: Self-management is when you manage your NDIS funding yourself. While it gives you greater flexibility in the providers you can access, it also requires a lot of administration and organisation. For example, you will need to pay and manage invoices. You are also responsible for any misspend, so need to ensure your invoices are NDIS compliant.
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2. Plan managed: Plan management is when you engage a 3rd party to help you manage your invoices and funding. These providers are known as ‘Plan Managers’. Using a Plan Manager can be excellent when you first join the NDIS, as they will help you better understand what you can and cannot spend your child’s funding on. Their main role is to manage your invoices — think about them like an accountant for your child’s NDIS plan!
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3. Agency-managed: Agency management is when the NDIA manages your child’s funding on your behalf. You can only use Agency-managed funding with a small subset of providers, so it may limit your options.

2.3. Meeting with your Planner

In the Planning meeting, the NDIS Planner will review your documentation, discuss your goals, and work with you to develop a plan and a budget.

In deciding your plan amount, the NDIS Planner will consider the recommendation from your Early Childhood Partner, your goals, and the documentation you provide.

Plan amounts can vary depending on needs, but the average plan size for a child with autism under seven years of age is around $17,000 per year.

After your meeting, the Planner will create an NDIS Plan for your child and submit it for approval. Once your NDIS plan is approved, you will be notified by your early childhood partner and sent a copy by either email or post. This is when you will find out your plan amount.

In our experience, this decision can take 1-2 months.

💡Tip: Explore potential services early
While you are waiting for your NDIS plan, it might be a good time to start exploring some potential services you would like to work with, and if they have a waitlist, joining it.

Step 3: Using your child's plan

Once you have your plan, you will be able to use it to pay for services that help meet the goals stated in your child’s plan.

💡 Tip: Finding high quality providers
When searching for providers, you may want to ask them some questions to ensure you are getting the best services available. Some questions to consider asking include:

• “Are your supports evidence-based? Can you share the evidence?”
• “How will your approach nurture my child’s interests and strengths?”
• “How will these strategies support my child’s goals?”
• “Can you collaborate with the other supports in my child’s life (e.g., kinder or school)?”

💡 Tip: Knowing what you can spend your funding on
When starting out, it can be tricky to know what you can, and can not, use your child’s funding on.

The NDIS has a great tool, called “Would we fund it”, which can help you assess whether your child’s NDIS funding can be used to to access a particular support.

Further resources

These are some great trusted resources you also might find helpful:

Podcast - Getting on the scheme & speaking the NDIS language, By NDIS Know-how

Podcast - How to craft kick-ass NDIS evidence (part one), By NDIS Know-how

Carers support - Carers gateway, By the Australian Government

About Kite

Kite Therapy delivers neuro-affirming therapy online for children aged 1 to 7 with autism, ADHD, or developmental delay.

We empower parents and caregivers to embed evidence-based strategies into daily routines at home and school.