How to Advocate in Your NDIS Planning Meeting After I-CAN v6

What to say, how to push back, and how to make sure the plan reflects your genuine needs

Disclaimer: This article reflects publicly available information about the NDIS planning process as at August 2026. This guide does not constitute professional disability support or legal advice. For personalised advice specific to your situation, contact your Support Coordinator, a disability advocate, or the NDIA on 1800 800 110.

---

The I-CAN v6 assessment is the measurement. The planning meeting is where that measurement becomes your plan — your funding, your supports, your daily life for the next one to three years.

Most people arrive at the planning meeting unprepared. They know the assessment went well or didn't, but they don't know how to read the results, what they can challenge, or what to say when the proposed plan doesn't match what they were expecting.

This guide gives you the knowledge and the language to advocate effectively in this meeting.

---

Understanding What the Planning Meeting Is

Two Separate Conversations

The assessment and the planning meeting are different in important ways:

The assessment:

• Conducted by an independent accredited assessor
• Measures your functional support needs across 12 domains
• Produces a report with ratings and functional descriptions
• The assessor is not an NDIA employee

The planning meeting:

• Conducted by an NDIA planning delegate or Local Area Coordinator
• Translates assessment results into a funded plan
• Decides what category each support falls into
• Involves professional judgement about reasonable and necessary supports

The gap between these two steps is where things can go wrong. An accurate assessment does not automatically produce an adequate plan. The planning meeting is where the plan is built — and where you can influence the outcome.

Who Can Be in the Meeting

You can bring:

• A Support Coordinator (if you have one — they should attend)
• A disability advocate (independent, free through advocacy organisations)
• A trusted family member or carer
• Any combination of the above

Having at least one knowledgeable person with you changes the dynamic of the meeting significantly. You are not just an individual asking the NDIA for funding — you are a team with preparation, documentation, and the right to advocate.

---

Before the Meeting: Read Your I-CAN v6 Report

You are entitled to receive a copy of your I-CAN v6 assessment report before the planning meeting. If you have not received it, contact the NDIA and request it.

What to look for when reading your report:

Domain ratings. Check the rating for each of the 12 domains. Do they match your experience? A rating that feels too low should be flagged.

Functional descriptions. Read what the assessor has written about each domain. Are the descriptions accurate? Do they reflect how your disability actually affects your life? Note any statements that are inaccurate or that understate your needs.

Evidence referenced. Note which documents the assessor has referenced. Is there important evidence they appear not to have drawn on?

Overall summary. Does the summary accurately represent the overall picture of your support needs?

Prepare a list. For each concern — a rating that feels too low, a description that is inaccurate, evidence that was not incorporated — write a specific note: what the report says, what the accurate description is, and what evidence supports your position.

---

In the Meeting: What to Say

Opening the Conversation

At the start of the meeting, ask the NDIA to walk through how the proposed plan has been constructed from the assessment results. You have a right to understand this — and the explanation will help you identify where concerns should be raised.

Ask:

• "Can you explain how you've used the Domain 3 (Self Care) rating to determine the personal care funding in the plan?"
• "My assessment showed Level 4 for Mobility. How has that been reflected in the transport and community access funding?"

When the Plan Matches Your Needs

If the proposed plan accurately reflects your support needs, this is the moment to confirm your understanding of:

• What each budget category can be used for
• What "stated" versus "flexible" supports mean in your plan
• How to implement the plan once it is issued

When the Plan Doesn't Match Your Needs

This is where preparation and specific language matter most.

The structure for challenging a decision:

1. State what the plan proposes
2. State what your genuine need is
3. State the specific evidence that supports your position
4. Ask the NDIA to explain the discrepancy

Examples of effective language:

"The plan has allocated [X hours] per week for personal care. My OT assessment, which I provided at the assessment, documents that I require [Y hours] because of [specific reason]. Can you explain why the plan doesn't reflect the OT's recommendation?"

"The assessment rated my Domestic Life at Level 3, which means moderate support needs. However, the plan only includes [amount] for domestic assistance. A Level 3 rating should typically support [type of support]. Can you walk me through how the rating has been translated into this funding level?"

"My I-CAN v6 report describes my communication capacity as [description]. I believe this understates my needs because [specific reason with evidence]. I would like this to be noted for the record."

Pushing Back Constructively

You do not need to be confrontational to be effective. The most effective approach is specific, evidence-based, and calm.

Phrases that help:

• "I'd like to understand how this specific funding amount was determined from the assessment results."
• "My [OT/neurologist/Support Coordinator] has documented that I require [specific support]. Can we discuss how that's been reflected?"
• "I want to note that I disagree with [specific aspect] because [reason]. I'd like this recorded."
• "Is there additional information I can provide that would help in considering this?"
• "What is the process for raising a concern about this after the plan is issued?"

Phrases that hurt:

• "You're wrong" (confrontational, not constructive)
• "I deserve more" (no standard to appeal to)
• "Other people get more than this" (irrelevant to your individual needs)
• Emotional expressions of frustration without accompanying specific evidence

---

After the Meeting: Your Rights

If Concerns Were Raised and Addressed

Get confirmation in writing of any commitments made in the meeting. If the NDIA has agreed to review a specific aspect of the plan or include a particular support, ask for this to be confirmed before the meeting ends.

If Concerns Were Raised and Not Addressed

Request an internal review within 3 months of receiving the final plan decision. Your concerns raised in the meeting, your supporting evidence, and the gap between the assessment and the proposed plan are the foundation of your review submission. See our detailed guide: What to Do If Your I-CAN v6 Outcome Doesn't Reflect Your Needs.

If You Are Unsure What to Do

Contact a disability advocate through Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) or your state or territory advocacy service before making any decisions. Independent advocacy is free and can significantly improve outcomes.

---

How Thorough Preparation Gives You Stronger Ground to Advocate From

Every point you raise in the planning meeting is more effective when backed by a specific, written preparation document that was provided at the assessment.

If you arrive at the meeting having completed ICANReady's domain-by-domain preparation document, you have:

• A specific, functional description of your support needs across all 12 domains
• Evidence base that the assessor was given, that should be reflected in the report
• A written reference point for identifying discrepancies in the meeting

The preparation document is not just preparation for the assessment. It is the foundation of your advocacy in the planning meeting that follows.

Try ICANReady free →

---

For independent advocacy support before or during the planning meeting, contact Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA). For NDIS general enquiries, call 1800 800 110 or visit ndis.gov.au.