Your first support coordination meeting is an opportunity to explain what matters to you and decide how you would like to use your NDIS plan. You do not need to understand every budget, support category or NDIS process before the meeting. Helping you make sense of these details is part of a support coordinator's role.

A little preparation can still make the conversation feel clearer and more productive. This guide explains what you may want to bring, what you can discuss and which questions can help you decide on practical next steps.

What happens at a first support coordination meeting?

A support coordinator helps you understand and use the supports in your NDIS plan. Depending on your goals, needs, circumstances and available funding, this may include helping you connect with providers, community services, mainstream services and other government supports.

Support Coordination is also intended to build your confidence and skills. Your coordinator should give you information and support you to make your own decisions rather than simply deciding everything for you.

At a first meeting, you may discuss:

• Your goals and current priorities
• The supports and budgets included in your plan
• Services you already use
• Supports you want to find or change
• Any barriers making it difficult to use your plan
• How you prefer to communicate and make decisions
• What you would like your support coordinator to work on first

You may not cover everything in one conversation. It is reasonable to identify the most important issues first and return to other topics later.

What to bring to your first support coordination meeting

You do not need to arrive with a perfectly organised folder. However, bringing a few useful details can give your coordinator a clearer picture of your situation.

Your current NDIS plan

If you have access to your plan, bring a digital or printed copy. Your coordinator can help explain your support budgets, goals and how the funding is managed. You may also want help accessing or using the participant portal or my NDIS app.

If parts of your plan are confusing, mark them beforehand or write down your questions. It is completely reasonable to ask for information to be explained again or in a different way.

A list of your current supports

Write down the providers, community services and other supports you currently use. Include informal supports, such as family members or trusted people, if you are comfortable doing so.

It can help to note what is working well, what is not working and whether any services are about to finish. Your support coordinator can then focus on gaps, duplication or areas that need attention.

Service agreements and contact details

If you already have providers, consider bringing their contact details and any relevant service agreements. A service agreement records what you and a provider have agreed to, including how supports will be delivered, costs, cancellation arrangements and how the agreement can end.

You can ask your support coordinator to help you understand an agreement before you sign it. You can also request that an agreement use language, terms and a communication format you understand.

Your questions and immediate concerns

A short written list can be helpful, especially if meetings feel tiring or information is difficult to remember. You might include an urgent support gap, a provider you need to find or an upcoming change in your circumstances.

Think about your goals before the meeting

NDIS goals can sometimes feel broad on paper. Before your first support coordination meeting, consider what those goals mean in everyday life.

For example, a goal related to independence may involve learning to manage appointments, finding suitable supports or becoming more confident when communicating with providers. A community participation goal may involve identifying accessible activities that suit your interests, energy and preferences.

You could ask yourself:

• What would I like to improve or change?
• What is currently getting in the way?
• Which parts of my life are working well?
• What would make daily life more manageable?
• What decisions do I want help understanding?

Your priorities may change over time. The first meeting is a starting point, not a test or a permanent commitment to one approach.

Discuss how you want Support Coordination to work

People have different communication and decision-making preferences. Let your support coordinator know what helps you participate comfortably.

This might include:

• Using phone calls, video meetings, email or face-to-face meetings
• Receiving written summaries after important conversations
• Having information explained in plain language
• Breaking larger decisions into smaller steps
• Including a family member, carer, nominee or trusted person
• Scheduling meetings at times when you are better able to concentrate
• Allowing additional time to consider options before deciding

You can also ask how often you will communicate, who to contact when your coordinator is unavailable and how tasks or decisions will be recorded.

Questions to ask your NDIS support coordinator

Asking questions can help establish clear expectations from the beginning. Useful questions may include:

• How will you help me understand and use my plan?
• How will you involve me when contacting or comparing providers?
• Can you help me understand provider charges and service agreements?
• How will we keep track of my support coordination budget?
• How will you let me know what work has been completed?
• What information will you need from me, and why?
• How will you communicate with my family or support network if I want them involved?
• What should I do if a provider is not meeting my needs?
• How will we review whether my supports are working?
• What reports might you prepare for the NDIA?

A coordinator may not have an immediate answer to every question. They should still be able to explain how they will find accurate information or help you consider your options.

Agree on practical next steps

Before the meeting ends, it can be useful to agree on a short list of actions. This may include reviewing a budget, contacting potential providers, checking an existing service agreement or arranging another meeting.

Clarify who is responsible for each task and when you can expect an update. Ask for the actions in writing if that makes them easier to remember.

Your support coordinator should work at a pace that reflects your needs and priorities. You should have opportunities to ask questions, consider choices and say when an option does not feel right for you.

If a family member or carer is attending

Family members and carers can help by bringing background information, taking notes and raising practical concerns. It is still important that the participant's preferences, communication and choices remain central to the meeting.

Before attending, talk about what the participant would like help discussing, what information they are comfortable sharing and whether there are decisions they want to make themselves.

It is okay to take things one step at a time

The NDIS can involve unfamiliar language, multiple providers and a large amount of information. You do not need to solve every issue during your first support coordination meeting.

A useful first meeting should leave you with a clearer understanding of the coordinator's role, your immediate priorities and what will happen next. If something remains unclear, ask for another explanation or request a written summary.

If you are looking for Support Coordination or Psychosocial Recovery Coaching in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs, Triple A Recovery Services welcomes you to complete our online intake form. You can share what support you are seeking without pressure or obligation.