NDIS NAVIGATION 101 • MODULE 3

Requesting Supports the Right Way

Learn how to request supports using clear evidence, meaningful goals, and NDIS-aligned reasoning — increasing the likelihood of approval.

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What You’ll Learn in This Module

  • How to match supports to functional needs
  • How to justify supports using the “reasonable & necessary” criteria
  • How to turn professional recommendations into clear requests
  • Language that planners recognise as strong evidence
  • What to do when professionals don’t write strong reports

Step 1 — Connect Supports to Functional Impact

Every support you request must clearly link to the participant’s functional impact. This is how planners determine whether the support is “reasonable and necessary”.

You must answer three questions:

• What is the functional barrier?
• How does the support address that barrier?
• What happens if the support is not funded?

Step 2 — Apply the Reasonable & Necessary Test

The NDIS Act requires planners to apply the reasonable and necessary criteria. Your requests become much more effective when you frame them using the same language.

Example phrasing:
“This support meets the reasonable and necessary criteria because it is:
• directly related to the disability,
• likely to be effective,
• represents value for money,
• and helps me pursue the goals in my plan.”

This is the language planners are required to respond to.

Step 3 — Turn Allied Health Reports into Strong Requests

Planners rely heavily on allied health evidence. But reports vary hugely in quality, detail, and structure — which is why many families still miss out.

Checklist for a strong allied health report:

✔ Clear functional assessment
✔ Daily life examples
✔ Explicit recommendations with frequency/duration
✔ Link to goals
✔ Risks without support
✔ Therapist signature & credentials

Safe, Effective Phrases for Requesting Supports

Script 1 — Linking supports to goals:
“The support we’re requesting directly addresses the goal of improving daily participation and increasing independence in [specific areas].”

Script 2 — Using functional language:
“This support reduces barriers related to regulation, communication, mobility, or executive functioning, which impact daily life without assistance.”

Script 3 — Clarifying recommendations:
“This recommendation is based on the functional assessment and the therapist’s clinical reasoning, which aligns with NDIS criteria.”

Activity: Build Your Support Request

Use the structured template below to build your request — this is the same structure we use with clients during NDIS reviews and appeals.

Support Request Template

1. Functional barriers:

2. Evidence summary:

3. Recommended supports:

4. Link to goals:

5. Risks without support:

Ready for Module 4?

Module 4 teaches you what to do when your plan is wrong — and how to request a review or appeal using evidence and structured argument.

Continue to Module 4 →