Helping New NDIS Participants Feel Calm, Confident, and In Control
Starting your NDIS journey can bring a mix of emotions — hope, relief, confusion, and often anxiety. If you’re preparing for your first Support Coordination meeting, it’s completely normal to feel nervous.
Many participants worry:
- Will I say the wrong thing?
- Do I need to understand my plan already?
- What if I don’t know what I want yet?
Here’s the reassurance you need upfront:
👉 Your first Support Coordination meeting is not an assessment, not a test, and not something you can fail.
It’s a supportive, pressure-free conversation designed to help you understand your NDIS plan, feel heard, and take the next steps with confidence.
This guide walks you through exactly what to expect — so you can attend your first meeting feeling prepared, informed, and calm.
Understanding Support Coordination
Support Coordination is an NDIS-funded service that helps you make sense of your plan and connect with the right supports.
Your Support Coordinator works with you, not for you and never over you. Their role is to simplify the process, respect your choices, and support your goals.
Support Coordination can help you:
- Understand your NDIS funding
- Explore suitable supports and services
- Connect with providers you feel comfortable with
- Coordinate services so they work well together
- Build confidence to manage your supports over time
You remain in control at all times.
What the First Support Coordination Meeting Is Really About
The first meeting is about connection, clarity, and comfort.
It’s a chance for your Support Coordinator to understand:
- Who you are
- What matters to you
- What you’re finding challenging
- How you’d like support moving forward
It’s also your opportunity to:
- Ask questions
- Share concerns
- Learn how your plan can work for you
- Reduce the overwhelm that often comes with starting the NDIS
There is no pressure to have everything figured out.
Preparing for the Meeting (Without Stress)
You don’t need to prepare perfectly — or at all — to attend your first meeting. Many participants come exactly as they are, and that’s completely okay.
If you would like to prepare, here are a few optional ideas.
Helpful things you may bring
- A copy of your NDIS plan
- Notes about what you’d like help with
- Any current supports or services you’re using
- A list of questions (if you have them)
If you don’t have any of these, your Support Coordinator will guide you through everything step by step.
Who Will Be in the Meeting
Most first Support Coordination meetings are relaxed and informal.
Usually, it includes:
- You (the participant)
- Your Support Coordinator
- A family member, friend, or carer — if you choose
You’re always welcome to bring someone you trust for support, reassurance, or help remembering information.
How Long the Meeting Usually Takes
A first meeting typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes, depending on:
- Your needs
- The complexity of your plan
- How many questions you’d like to ask
If you feel tired or overwhelmed, you can:
- Take breaks
- Ask to slow things down
- Split the conversation into more than one meeting
Your comfort always comes first.
How the Meeting Usually Flows
Every Support Coordinator has their own style, but most first meetings follow a gentle, structured flow.
A warm introduction
The meeting usually starts with introductions and a friendly conversation to help you feel at ease. Your coordinator will explain their role and how they work with participants.
Making sense of your NDIS plan
Your coordinator will walk through your plan in plain language, explaining:
- Your funding categories
- What supports the funding can be used for
- Any flexibility within your plan
This is often where participants feel the biggest sense of relief.
Learning about you
You’ll be invited to share:
- What your daily life looks like
- What you find challenging
- What support you already have (if any)
You can share as much or as little as you’re comfortable with.
Talking about goals
Goals don’t need to be perfect or final. They might include:
- Feeling more independent
- Improving daily routines
- Accessing community supports
- Building skills or confidence
Your coordinator will help shape these goals into practical steps.
Next steps and what happens after
Before finishing, your coordinator will explain:
- What they’ll do next
- How supports will be sourced
- How and when you’ll stay in touch
Common Topics That Come Up
Topic | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
Your NDIS plan | Ensures funding is used correctly |
Daily challenges | Helps identify priority supports |
Current services | Prevents gaps or overlap |
Goals and preferences | Keeps supports person-centred |
Communication style | Makes future contact easier |
Questions You Might Be Asked
Your Support Coordinator may ask questions like:
- What made you apply for the NDIS?
- What support would make life easier right now?
- What’s working well for you at the moment?
- Are there any supports you don’t want?
- How involved do you want to be in managing services?
These questions are not intrusive or judgemental — they help tailor support to you.
Questions You Can Ask (Anytime)
This meeting is just as much for you.
You might like to ask:
- What can my funding be used for?
- How long does it take to set up supports?
- Can I change providers if something doesn’t feel right?
- How do you support me during plan reviews?
- What happens if my needs change?
You don’t have to remember everything — you can always ask later.
What This Meeting Is Not
Understanding this alone reduces anxiety for many participants.
Your first Support Coordination meeting is not:
- An assessment
- A medical appointment
- A compliance check
- A commitment to specific providers
- A test of your knowledge
There are no wrong answers.
What Happens After the Meeting
After your first meeting, your Support Coordinator may:
- Summarise what you discussed
- Identify priority actions
- Research suitable providers
- Contact services with your consent
- Begin coordinating supports
You’ll stay informed and involved throughout the process.
How This Meeting Helps Reduce Anxiety
For many new participants, this meeting is a turning point.
Emotionally, it helps by:
- Making you feel heard and respected
- Reducing fear of the unknown
- Building confidence
- Replacing confusion with clarity
Practically, it helps by:
- Breaking down complex information
- Creating a clear path forward
- Sharing the responsibility
- Ensuring you’re not navigating the system alone
Gentle Tips for a Positive Experience
- Be honest about what you don’t understand
- Take notes if it helps
- Ask for clarification — as many times as needed
- Bring someone you trust
- Take your time
- Remember: this is your NDIS journey
Final Thoughts
Your first Support Coordination meeting is not about having all the answers — it’s about finding them together.
Feeling anxious before the meeting is normal. But many participants leave their first session feeling lighter, clearer, and more hopeful.
You don’t need to know everything. You don’t need to be confident yet.
You just need to show up — and that’s more than enough.