What Happens During an NDIS Plan Reassessment?

If you’ve received a notification that your child’s NDIS plan is due for reassessment, you might be feeling a mix of emotions.

You may be wondering whether your child’s funding will change, what questions you’ll be asked, or whether you’ve collected the right information. Many parents also worry about saying the wrong thing or forgetting important details during the meeting.

The good news is that an NDIS plan reassessment isn’t about catching families out or judging how well your child is doing.

It’s an opportunity to review your child’s current needs, celebrate the progress they’ve made, and make sure their supports continue to reflect where they are now and where they’re heading next.

Children grow quickly. Their strengths, challenges, interests, and goals naturally change over time. A reassessment helps ensure their NDIS plan evolves alongside them.

With a little preparation, the process can feel much more manageable.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through what happens during an NDIS plan reassessment, how to prepare, and what you can do to make the meeting as productive as possible.

What Is an NDIS Plan Reassessment?

An NDIS plan reassessment is a review of your child’s current NDIS plan.

During the reassessment, the NDIA looks at whether your child’s existing supports and goals still reflect their current circumstances.

Since children are constantly learning and developing, the supports they needed a year ago may not be exactly the same as the supports they need today.

Some children develop new skills and begin working towards different goals.

Others may experience changes at school, home, or within their community that create new support needs.

The purpose of the reassessment is to understand these changes and help ensure your child’s plan continues to support meaningful progress.

It’s not about starting from scratch.

Instead, it’s about building on everything your child has achieved so far.

Why NDIS Plan Reassessments Matter

It can be tempting to see a reassessment as simply another appointment.

In reality, it’s one of the most important opportunities to shape your child’s future supports.

A well-prepared reassessment helps ensure:

• Your child’s goals remain relevant.
• Current supports are working effectively.
• New challenges are discussed.
• Progress is recognised.
• Future priorities are identified.
• Everyday needs are clearly explained.

Most importantly, it allows everyone involved in your child’s support network to focus on what will help them continue developing confidence, independence, and participation in everyday life.

How to Prepare Before the Reassessment

Good preparation often makes the biggest difference.

Rather than trying to remember everything on the day, spend some time thinking about how life has changed since your child’s current plan began.

Small observations are often just as valuable as formal reports.

Review Your Child’s Current Goals

Start by reading through the goals in your child’s existing NDIS plan.

Ask yourself:

• Which goals has my child made progress towards?
• Which goals are still important?
• Have our priorities changed?
• Are there new skills we’d like to focus on?

Perhaps your child has become much more confident with daily routines, but they’re now finding social situations more challenging.

Or maybe they’ve achieved one goal and are ready to begin working on something new.

This reflection helps you prepare meaningful updates during the meeting.

Think About Everyday Life

Sometimes parents focus only on therapy sessions when preparing.

Instead, think about your child’s everyday experiences.

Consider areas such as:

• Morning routines.
• Bedtime routines.
• Personal care.
• Communication.
• School participation.
• Friendships.
• Community activities.
• Emotional regulation.
• Family outings.

These real-life examples help create a much clearer picture of your child’s current support needs.

For example, instead of saying your child struggles with change, you might explain that unexpected changes to the morning routine often make getting to school difficult.

Specific examples are much easier for others to understand than broad statements.

Gather Supporting Reports

Supporting evidence plays an important role in helping explain your child’s current circumstances.

Depending on your child’s situation, you may wish to gather recent reports from professionals involved in their care.

These might include:

• Occupational therapy reports.
• Speech pathology reports.
• Physiotherapy reports.
• Behaviour support reports.
• School reports where relevant.
• Medical updates if there have been significant changes.

Recent reports generally provide a clearer picture than documents prepared several years ago.

If you’re unsure whether a report is still relevant, you can discuss this with the professional who prepared it.

Talk to Your Child’s Support Team

Your child may receive support from several people.

This could include therapists, teachers, educators, and support workers.

Each person sees your child in different environments and may notice different strengths and challenges.

Speaking with your child’s support team before the reassessment can provide valuable insights that you may not have considered.

For example, a support worker might notice your child has become much more confident ordering food during community outings.

A teacher may observe improvements in classroom participation.

An occupational therapist might identify new daily living goals that would benefit from ongoing support.

Together, these observations help build a more complete understanding of your child’s progress.

Keep Notes Before the Meeting

One simple strategy many parents find helpful is keeping a running list of observations during the weeks leading up to the reassessment.

Write down things like:

• New achievements.
• Ongoing challenges.
• Changes in routines.
• Situations where extra support is still needed.
• New interests or goals.
• Questions you’d like to ask.

These notes reduce the pressure of trying to remember everything during the meeting and help ensure the discussion reflects your child’s everyday experiences rather than just what comes to mind on the day.

What Happens During the Reassessment Meeting?

Every reassessment is slightly different, but most meetings follow a similar structure.

The conversation is designed to understand how your child is doing now, what has changed since their last plan, and what supports may help them moving forward.

During the meeting, you can usually expect to discuss:

• Your child’s current NDIS goals.
• Progress since the last plan.
• Areas where your child still needs support.
• Any changes at home, school, or in the community.
• Current therapies and services.
• New priorities for the next plan.
• Questions or concerns you have about your child’s supports.

The meeting should feel like a conversation rather than an interview.

You don’t need to have all the answers. Being honest about what’s working and what isn’t is far more helpful than trying to present everything as perfect.

Questions You May Be Asked

While every conversation is different, there are some common questions many families are asked during an NDIS plan reassessment.

These may include:

• What progress has your child made since the last plan?
• Which supports have been most helpful?
• Are there any supports that aren’t meeting your child’s needs?
• Have your child’s daily routines changed?
• What challenges are you currently experiencing?
• Are there new goals you’d like your child to work towards?
• Have there been any significant changes at home, school, or with your child’s health?

There’s no need to prepare scripted answers.

Instead, think about real examples from everyday life.

For instance, rather than saying your child has become more independent, you could explain that they now pack their own school bag with only occasional reminders. Specific examples help demonstrate meaningful progress while showing where support is still valuable.

Talking About Progress

Some parents worry that if they talk about their child’s progress, it could affect future supports.

It’s understandable to feel uncertain, but progress should never be something you’re afraid to discuss.

If your child has developed new skills, celebrate those achievements.

At the same time, explain what comes next.

For example, a child who has learned to confidently participate in activities at school may now need support to build friendships outside the classroom.

A child who has mastered a morning routine may be ready to work on preparing simple meals or using community facilities more independently.

As children grow, new expectations naturally emerge.

Support needs often evolve rather than disappear.

Being honest about both achievements and ongoing challenges provides the clearest picture of your child’s current circumstances.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Preparing well can help you avoid some of the most common mistakes families make during reassessments.

One mistake is relying only on memory.

It’s easy to forget important examples during the meeting, which is why keeping notes beforehand can be so useful.

Another is focusing only on the difficult days.

While it’s important to discuss challenges, it’s equally valuable to explain where your child has grown and what has helped them make progress.

Some families also bring reports that are several years old without including more recent information.

Where possible, current reports provide a better understanding of your child’s present needs and goals.

Finally, don’t forget to review your child’s goals before the meeting.

If your priorities have changed, the reassessment is the right time to discuss them.

How Support Workers Can Help Before a Reassessment

Support workers often spend significant time with your child in everyday settings, giving them valuable insight into how they’re developing practical skills. Learn how to match support worker with child’s personality.

They may notice improvements that aren’t always obvious during therapy sessions or formal appointments.

For example, they might observe that your child:

• Communicates more confidently during community outings.
• Follows routines with less prompting.
• Participates more willingly in group activities.
• Shows greater independence with daily living tasks.
• Has become more comfortable trying new experiences.

These observations can complement reports from therapists and help provide a more complete picture of your child’s progress.

Support workers can also help reinforce the goals your family wants to focus on, making it easier to demonstrate how supports are contributing to meaningful outcomes.

What Happens After the Meeting?

Once the reassessment is complete, the information discussed will be considered as part of your child’s updated NDIS plan.

This may include reviewing current goals, considering supporting evidence, and determining the supports that are reasonable and necessary based on your child’s individual circumstances.

Processing times can vary, so it’s important to be patient while waiting for the outcome.

When you receive the updated plan, take the time to read through it carefully.

Check that:

• Your child’s goals reflect your discussion.
• The information is accurate.
• You understand the supports included.
• Everyone involved in your child’s care is aware of any changes.

Sharing the updated plan with therapists, educators, and support workers helps everyone continue working towards the same outcomes.

Every Reassessment Is a Chance to Plan Ahead

It’s completely normal to feel nervous before an NDIS plan reassessment.

For many parents, it can feel like there’s a lot riding on one conversation.

However, it’s helpful to remember that the purpose of the meeting is to understand your child’s current needs and ensure their plan continues to support meaningful progress.

By reviewing your child’s goals, gathering recent information, and thinking about everyday experiences, you’ll be well prepared to have an honest and productive discussion.

Your child has changed since their last plan.

Their supporters should be able to grow with them too.

Frequently Asked Questions