Understanding the NDIS: What It Is and How It Works

A clear, plain-language introduction to the NDIS — how it’s structured, how decisions are made, and what rights participants and families have when seeking support.

What You’ll Learn in This Module

• The real purpose of the NDIS and how funding is meant to be allocated
• The difference between goals, supports, budgets, and evidence
• How planners and LACs make decisions
• What “reasonable and necessary” actually means in practice
• How to avoid the most common mistakes participants make early on

What the NDIS Actually Is (Plain Language)

The NDIS is a national disability support insurance scheme. But for families and participants, it often feels more like a maze of forms, rules, and shifting expectations.

The goal of the NDIS is simple: fund reasonable and necessary supports that help a person achieve their goals and participate in daily life. Everything in this course is built around understanding and using that rule effectively.

How NDIS Decisions Are Made

Understanding how planners think is the fastest way to get better outcomes.

When your documentation connects these points clearly and logically, NDIS decisions become far more predictable.

Common Mistakes New Participants Make

• Setting goals that are too vague (“be more independent”)
• Not understanding what reports must include
• Using language that triggers funding refusals
• Not preparing for planning meetings
• Assuming the LAC has the same authority as a planner

This course teaches you how to avoid all of these — starting now.

Quick Activity: What Are Your Top 3 Goals?

Before you continue, write down the three things that matter most right now. These goals will guide your budget, your evidence, and your advocacy.

Ready for Module 2?

Module 2 helps you prepare for NDIS planning meetings so you can speak confidently and match your needs to the right supports.