NDIS I-CAN v6 Preparation Checklist

Everything you need to do and gather before your assessment day

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and reflects publicly available information about the NDIS I-CAN assessment framework. This guide does not constitute professional disability support advice. Individual circumstances vary — speak with your Support Coordinator, allied health professional, or a disability advocate if you have specific concerns about your assessment.

The I-CAN v6 assessment covers 12 life domains in a session that typically runs 60–90 minutes. That is not a lot of time to communicate everything that matters about how your disability affects your daily life. Without structured preparation, important details are easily missed — and gaps in what the assessor hears can translate directly into gaps in your NDIS plan.

This checklist gives you a clear, week-by-week preparation framework so that by the time you sit down with your assessor, everything important is documented, organised, and ready to present.

For a full guide to the assessment process, see How to prepare for your I-CAN v6 assessment. For a deep dive on the 12 domains, read The 12 I-CAN domains explained. For a guide on what not to do, read Common mistakes to avoid in your NDIS support needs assessment.

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4–6 Weeks Before Your Assessment

This is when your preparation begins in earnest. The most valuable things you can start doing now take time to build — particularly your functional diary.

☐ Start a daily functional diary

Record brief notes each day about how your disability affected your activities. Note what you needed help with, what you could not do at all, how long tasks took, and what the consequences were when support was unavailable. Even a few bullet points each evening builds a specific, recent record of your functioning that is far more valuable to an assessor than general descriptions.

☐ Review the 12 I-CAN domains

Familiarise yourself with each domain so you can think about your situation systematically. As you read through the 12 I-CAN domains, make brief notes in each area: What challenges do I have here? How often do they occur? What support do I currently receive?

☐ Identify your treating team

Make a list of every professional involved in your care — your GP, occupational therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, speech pathologist, specialists, and any other relevant practitioners. Note their contact details and whether you have recent reports from each.

☐ Request updated reports from key practitioners

Contact the practitioners most relevant to your support needs and request functional assessments or updated reports. Aim for reports that describe how your condition affects your functioning — not just your diagnosis. Allow adequate lead time, as allied health professionals may take several weeks to prepare a formal report.

Priority requests: An occupational therapy functional assessment is often the most directly useful document for an I-CAN v6 assessment, as it maps directly to daily living domains. If you do not have a recent OT assessment, consider requesting one now.

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2–3 Weeks Before Your Assessment

By this stage you should have several weeks of diary entries, updated reports arriving or in hand, and a clear picture of your treating team. Now the focus shifts to writing and organising.

☐ Gather all supporting documents

Collect every relevant report into one place — physical folder or digital folder. Documents to include:

☐ Write your personal statement — domain by domain

This is the most important document you will prepare. Write a personal statement that covers each of the 12 I-CAN domains. For each domain, answer:

1. What can I do independently?
2. What do I need help or prompting with?
3. How often do I need that help?
4. What happens if that help is not available?

Do not use clinical language. Write in your own words. Dot points are fine. Specific examples are better than general statements.

Example (Mobility domain):

Can walk short distances inside the house using furniture for balance. Outdoors I require a walking frame and a support person — I have fallen three times in the past four months. Cannot use public transport independently. Need wheelchair for distances over 50 metres.

☐ Ask your carer or family member to write a carer statement

Your carer's perspective is valuable independent evidence. Ask them to write a brief statement (one to two pages) describing the support they provide — what they do, how often, how long it takes, and what would happen to your daily functioning if that support were not available.

☐ Confirm logistics

• Confirm the date, time, and location of your assessment (home visit, community venue, or telehealth)
• Confirm who is attending — you, and any support person
• If telehealth, test your technology in advance
• Confirm your assessor's name and contact details

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1 Week Before Your Assessment

The administrative preparation is largely complete. This week is about reviewing, consolidating, and making sure you feel as ready as possible.

☐ Review all your documents

Read through your personal statement, carer statement, and key reports. Check that they are accurate and complete. Note any gaps or anything you want to add before the assessment.

☐ Organise your documents clearly

Create a labelled folder — physical or digital. Consider placing a one-page summary sheet at the front that lists each document, who prepared it, and why it is relevant. This saves time during the assessment and ensures the most important evidence is not overlooked.

☐ Practise describing your key needs out loud

For each domain where your needs are significant, practise speaking about them out loud. This sounds simple, but many participants find it genuinely difficult to articulate their challenges in the moment — particularly during a stressful or unfamiliar interaction. Saying it out loud beforehand makes it much easier on the day.

☐ Write a questions list for the assessor

Note down anything you want to ask the assessor about the process, the timeline, or what happens next. Having these written down means you do not have to remember them under pressure.

☐ Confirm your support person

If someone is attending with you, confirm the arrangements — time, location, and their role. Brief them on what you would like their contribution to be. For guidance on how carers can best support this process, read: NDIS I-CAN v6 for carers and families.

☐ If telehealth: test your setup

Test your camera, microphone, internet connection, and the specific platform being used. Have a backup plan — phone number for the assessor — in case of technical issues on the day.

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The Day Before Your Assessment

☐ Print or organise all documents

Whether you are bringing physical copies or presenting documents digitally, have everything organised and ready to access quickly. Label folders and tabs so you can find specific documents without shuffling through everything.

☐ Prepare a brief summary sheet

A single page summarising your key support needs — one or two dot points per domain — is a quick reference you can hand to the assessor or refer to yourself if you get nervous or lose your train of thought.

☐ Plan your rest

Assessment fatigue is real. If you have a fatiguing condition, protect your energy the day before so you are as functional as possible. Avoid scheduling other demanding activities or appointments the day before or the morning of the assessment.

☐ Know your rights

You have the right to:

• Have a support person present
• Take breaks during the assessment
• Ask the assessor to clarify questions you do not understand
• Provide additional written information after the assessment (before the report is finalised)
• Request a copy of the completed assessor's report
• Request an internal review of any planning decision within 3 months

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On the Day

☐ Arrive or connect early

For in-person assessments, arrive a few minutes early. For telehealth, connect 5–10 minutes ahead of the scheduled time and confirm the technology is working.

☐ Bring your support person and all documents

Ensure your support person is with you. Bring your physical or digital document folder. Have your summary sheet easily accessible.

☐ Mention if today is not a typical day

If you are having an unusually good or bad day, tell the assessor at the start. Reference your diary and documentation as evidence of your more typical functioning. Assessors understand that presentation can vary.

☐ Describe your worst realistic day — not your best

When answering questions about how you manage tasks, describe your typical experience on a difficult day rather than the best version of how you manage. Use specific examples from your diary entries.

☐ Do not minimise or apologise for your needs

If something is hard, say it is hard. If something requires help, say it requires help. You are not being judged for your needs — the assessor's role is to measure them accurately so appropriate funding can be allocated.

☐ Ask for clarification if needed

If a question is unclear, ask the assessor to rephrase it. If you are unsure whether something you want to mention is relevant, ask. There are no wrong questions.

☐ Take breaks if needed

You are entitled to take breaks during the assessment. If fatigue, pain, anxiety, or distress is affecting your ability to participate fully, let the assessor know and request a short pause.

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After the Assessment

☐ Make notes about what was covered

As soon as possible after the assessment, write down what was discussed — particularly any areas where you felt your needs were not fully communicated. These notes may be useful if you decide to provide additional written information before the assessor's report is finalised.

☐ Request a copy of the assessor's report

Once the report has been submitted to the NDIA, you are entitled to request a copy. Contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or log into the myplace portal at ndismyplace.gov.au. Reviewing the report helps you understand how your needs have been rated and identify any discrepancies.

☐ Note the date of the planning decision

When you receive your NDIS plan, note the date of the planning decision. Your 3-month window for requesting an internal review begins from this date.

☐ Review your plan carefully before accepting

Read every section of your plan — goals, budget categories, stated supports, and plan duration. Compare it against your assessment and your documented needs. If anything seems inconsistent, act before the internal review window closes.

☐ File all your documents

Keep all your preparation documents, diary entries, supporting reports, and the assessor's report in a secure place. They may be needed if you request a review, change providers, or need to make the case for additional supports.

For a full guide to what happens after your assessment and how to respond if your plan falls short, read: What happens after your I-CAN v6 assessment.

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Your Assessment Preparation Checklist — Summary Table

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Prepare for Your I-CAN v6 Assessment with ICANReady

Working through this checklist systematically is the best way to ensure nothing important is missed. The most time-consuming part — building a detailed, domain-by-domain account of your support needs — is exactly what ICANReady is designed to help with.

ICANReady is a document preparation tool built specifically for NDIS participants and carers preparing for the I-CAN v6 assessment. It guides you through all 12 I-CAN domains in plain language and generates a structured preparation document you can bring to your assessment — available at launch for AUD $29.

Join the ICANReady waitlist — it's free →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How early should I start preparing for my I-CAN v6 assessment?

Ideally 4–6 weeks before your assessment date. Some preparation — particularly keeping a daily functional diary — benefits from an even earlier start. Two to four weeks of diary entries provide richer, more specific evidence than a few days of notes written in a rush before the appointment.

What is the most important single item to prepare?

A written summary of how your disability affects you across the 12 I-CAN domains — specific, honest, and in your own words. This document ensures your genuine needs are clearly communicated even if nerves, fatigue, or the pressure of the assessment itself makes it hard to express everything verbally on the day.

Do I need reports from every specialist I see?

Not necessarily every report — prioritise those that describe functional impact rather than just diagnosis. Recent reports (within 2 years) from occupational therapists, psychologists, and treating specialists are generally the most useful. An OT functional assessment is particularly valuable as it maps directly to the I-CAN domain structure.

What if I don't have much documentation?

Work with what you have. A well-written personal statement describing your daily challenges in specific, concrete terms can be powerful evidence even without extensive clinical reports. Focus on specifics: what you cannot do, how often, and what the consequences are when support is unavailable. You can also ask your GP for a letter describing the functional impact of your disability.

Can I use ICANReady to help me prepare this documentation?

Yes — ICANReady guides you through all 12 I-CAN domains with plain-language prompts and generates a structured preparation document you can bring to your assessment. It is designed specifically for NDIS participants and carers who want to ensure their genuine needs are clearly communicated. Join the waitlist at icanready.com.

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Sources: NDIS Act 2013, NDIA — Preparing for your assessment, NDIS Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Act 2024, Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA), WHO ICF Framework