Getting your first NDIS plan involves a few steps, and the process isn't always well explained. You make an access request, gather evidence, attend a planning meeting, then wait — sometimes weeks — for a decision. This guide walks through each step so you know what's coming.

A heads-up before we start: this process can take three to six months, sometimes longer. It's not a quick thing. The good news is that once you're in, you're in — and you don't have to repeat the whole thing every year.

Step 1: Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria

Before applying, check whether you meet the four basic criteria:

You need to be under 65 at the time of your application. Not when you receive your plan — at the time you apply.

You need to live in Australia and be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a Protected Special Category Visa.

You need to have a disability that's permanent (or likely to be permanent) and that significantly affects your daily functioning.

The disability needs to substantially reduce your functional capacity in one or more of: communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self-care, or self-management.

If you're not sure whether your condition meets the bar, it's still worth applying. NDIA assesses each case on the evidence. Some conditions almost always qualify (severe autism, paraplegia, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability). Others depend on how much they affect your daily life (chronic pain conditions, fibromyalgia, less severe autism).

Step 2: Contact NDIA to start an access request

You have three ways to start.

Phone NDIA on 1800 800 110. Tell them you want to make an access request. They'll ask basic questions and either send you a form or take the information over the phone.

Download the Access Request Form from ndis.gov.au and submit it directly.

Contact your Local Area Coordinator (LAC). In Queensland, LAC services are delivered by Carers Queensland (in some regions) and Feros Care (in others). Your postcode determines which one. They can help you complete the access request, point you toward evidence requirements, and answer questions along the way. This is the option I'd recommend for most people, especially if it's your first time dealing with NDIA.

You don't need a referral from a doctor to start. You can apply directly.

Step 3: Gather the evidence

This is where most applications run into trouble. NDIA wants specific evidence about your disability and how it affects your life. Vague letters from your GP that say "patient has anxiety" won't get you over the line.

What strong evidence looks like:

A letter from a treating health professional (GP, specialist, psychologist, OT, psychiatrist) that confirms your diagnosis, states whether it's permanent, and describes the functional impact in concrete terms. The functional impact is the key bit. Not "the condition is severe" but "patient cannot prepare meals safely without prompting, cannot manage personal hygiene independently, requires verbal cues to complete morning routine."

Reports from any allied health professionals you've seen — physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, exercise physiologist. If you've had functional assessments done previously (for school, work, or other reasons), include them.

Letters from family members, support workers, or others who can describe what your day-to-day life looks like and what help you need.

Hospital discharge summaries if you've had recent admissions related to your condition.

For psychosocial disability, NDIA has specific evidence requirements. You generally need a treating psychiatrist or psychologist's report that addresses things like permanence, severity, and functional impact across NDIS-defined domains. The Evidence of Psychosocial Disability Form (EPD form) is the standard tool — your treating clinician completes it.

If you don't currently see a specialist who can provide the evidence you need, this is the part of the process that takes the longest. Get appointments booked early. Tell the clinician you need an NDIS support letter, and ask whether they're willing to write one. Some won't (this is a real frustration). If yours won't, ask your GP for a referral to someone who will.

Step 4: What happens at an access decision

Once you submit your access request and supporting evidence, NDIA reviews everything and makes an access decision. By law, they should decide within 21 days. In practice, it often takes longer — especially if they ask for more information.

If you're approved, you'll be told you're an NDIS participant, and the next step is the planning meeting.

If you're refused, you'll get a written decision explaining why. The most common reasons for refusal are that the disability isn't documented as permanent, the functional impact isn't severe enough on the evidence provided, or the evidence doesn't address the right things. You can request an internal review within three months, and if that's also unsuccessful, you can appeal to the AAT.

If you're refused, don't take it as final. Many initial refusals are overturned at internal review when better evidence is provided. Talk to your LAC, a disability advocacy organisation like ADA Australia or QAI, or a registered NDIS provider for help on what to do next.

Step 5: Preparing for the planning meeting

Once you're approved, you'll be invited to a planning meeting. This is where the planner sits down with you and works out what supports go in your plan and how much funding you'll get.

The single biggest piece of advice: prepare. The planning meeting determines your funding for the next 12 months. If you walk in unprepared, you'll likely walk out underfunded.

Before the meeting, write down:

What a typical day looks like for you. Morning routine, work or activities during the day, evening, sleep. Where do you need help? How long does it take? What goes wrong without support?

What you currently struggle with. Be specific. "I can't shower without help" is better than "I have trouble with personal care."

What goals you want to work on. NDIS plans are built around goals. They can be modest ("I want to keep living independently in my unit") or ambitious ("I want to go back to part-time work"). Either way, write them down so you can articulate them.

What supports you think you need. This includes hours per week of personal care, transport assistance, therapy, capacity building programs, equipment, home modifications.

Bring someone with you. A family member, advocate, or LAC. Two heads are better than one, and they can prompt you on things you might forget to mention.

Step 6: At the planning meeting

The meeting takes 60 to 90 minutes. The planner asks you questions about your disability, your daily life, your existing supports, your goals, and what you think you need.

Be specific. Don't underplay things. People often try to sound resilient or independent at planning meetings — and end up with a plan that doesn't reflect what they actually need.

Don't agree to things you don't understand. If the planner suggests a support category and you're not sure what it means, ask them to explain.

Bring your evidence. Even though NDIA already has it from your access request, having key documents on hand at the meeting is useful for reference.

After the meeting, you wait. Plan approval can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. Once approved, your plan is sent to you in writing, and you can start using your funding from the plan start date.

Step 7: What to do if you're rejected

If your access request is refused, you have options.

You can request an internal review within three months of receiving the decision. NDIA reassigns the case to a different decision-maker, and you can submit additional evidence. This is your strongest opportunity to overturn the decision.

If internal review is also unsuccessful, you can apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) for an external review. The AAT is independent of NDIA. AAT reviews can take six to twelve months and may benefit from legal representation. Free legal help is available through Disability Discrimination Legal Service or QAI.

You can also re-apply later if your circumstances change or you have new evidence. There's no penalty for re-applying.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the whole process take?

From submitting your access request to having a usable NDIS plan, expect three to six months if everything goes smoothly. Longer if you have to chase evidence or if your application is initially refused.

Does it cost anything to apply?

No. NDIS access requests are free. Some people pay clinicians for additional reports or assessments to strengthen their application — that cost is on you, not NDIA.

Can I have someone else do this for me?

Yes. You can nominate someone to deal with NDIA on your behalf — a family member, a friend, an advocate, or a paid representative. You can also use an LAC or a registered NDIS provider to support you through the process.

What if I'm rejected?

Request an internal review within three months. Provide better evidence if you can. If the internal review is also unsuccessful, you can go to the AAT. Many initial refusals get overturned.

If you'd like help thinking through your application or navigating the planning meeting once you're approved, get in touch with Seareal. We work across Queensland and can connect you with the right people if you need advocacy or evidence support before applying.