Your NDIS Plan is Approved: What Happens Next?

Step 1: Understand your goals and NDIS funding

Start by reading through your NDIS plan. You do not need to understand everything straight away, but try to identify:

• The goals included in your plan
• The support budgets and funding categories included in your plan
• How your funding is managed
• When your plan starts and ends
• When different amounts of funding become available

Your goals should reflect what is important to you and the future you want to create. They will help you decide which supports are most relevant and where you want to begin.

You can ask your NDIS contact, support coordinator, plan manager or provider to explain anything you do not understand.

Step 2: Decide what’s most important right now

You don’t need to organise every support immediately. Start with the areas that could make the greatest difference to your everyday life or prepare you for an upcoming transition.

Ask yourself:

• What would I like to do more independently?
• What skills would make everyday life easier?
• Is there a transition I need to prepare for?
• What interests or future possibilities would I like to explore?
• What is getting in the way of participating at school, work or in the community?
• What would help me feel more confident?

You might want support to:

• Communicate more confidently
• Build friendships and relationships
• Manage emotions and everyday challenges
• Become more independent at home
• Travel and participate in the community
• Transition to high school or further education
• Explore your strengths and vocational interests
• Prepare for work experience or employment
• Make decisions and advocate for yourself

The right starting point should reflect what matters most to you, with support from your family or other trusted people if you want it.

Step 3: Choose the right NDIS provider

The right provider should listen to you, respect your choices and connect its support with your everyday goals and plans for the future.

When comparing providers, consider asking:

• How will you involve me in decisions?
• Can you support goals across different areas of my life?
• Can support happen at home, school, work or in the community?
• How can you help me prepare for upcoming transitions?
• Do you provide vocational assessment or employment support?
• Who will be my main point of contact?
• How will different practitioners work together?
• How will we measure progress?

Look for a provider that recognises your strengths and interests, explains your options clearly and helps you take increasing ownership of your support.

Step 4: Build the right support around your goals

Goals during adolescence and early adulthood are often connected. For example, building communication, emotional regulation, travel skills and confidence could help you participate in education, complete work experience or move towards employment.

At Everyday Independence, young people aged 9–25 can choose to work with a youth lead practitioner. A youth lead practitioner is experienced in working with young people. They provide one consistent person who:

• Takes the time to understand what is important to you
• Delivers practical support
• Helps you develop everyday skills and independence
• Involves your family and other important people in the way that respects your voice, age and circumstances
• Brings together therapists and other practitioners when needed
• Keeps your support connected to shared goals
• Helps your support evolve as your priorities change

Depending on your goals, location, eligibility and NDIS funding, your team could also include occupational therapists, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, positive behaviour support practitioners, employment coaches and vocational assessors.

Step 5: Consider your education, key life changes and employment goals

You do not need to wait until school ends to begin preparing for adult life or employment.

Starting early gives you time to:

• Explore your strengths and interests
• Understand the environments where you work best
• Develop communication and workplace skills
• Build routines and time-management skills
• Learn to travel more independently
• Try different roles or work environments
• Prepare for further education or training
• Build confidence through real-world experience

Depending on your funding and eligibility, support could include:

• Vocational assessment
• Employment coaching
• School leaver employment supports
• Work-readiness activities
• Work experience
• Support to find and maintain employment

Not every employment service is available to every person aged 9–25. The provider should explain the relevant age, eligibility and funding requirements before you get started.

Step 6: Prepare for your first appointment

Your first appointment should focus on getting to know you, your everyday life and the changes that would make a meaningful difference to you.

Your practitioner may ask about:

• What you enjoy and do well
• What is important to you
• What you want for your future
• What you find difficult
• The skills you want to develop
• Upcoming changes or transitions
• How you want family members or other people involved
• What support you have already tried

You don’t need to have your future completely planned. Your practitioner can help you explore your options and choose a practical place to begin.

How Everyday Independence can support you

Our youth therapy and employment services are designed to help young people build skills for everyday life and the future. Depending on your goals, location, eligibility and NDIS funding, support may include:

Support happens where life happens, helping you develop and use skills in the places that matter to you.

Ready to get started?

Tell us what matters to you or to the young person you support, including their strengths, interests and goals for everyday life, education or employment.

Frequently asked questions