It outlines funding, goals and supports designed to help participants live more independently, participate in their communities and achieve meaningful outcomes.

But life doesn’t stand still.

People change.

Circumstances change.

Goals change.

Needs change.

Which raises an important question:

Is your NDIS plan still working for you?

For many participants, the answer isn’t always straightforward.

Sometimes a plan appears fine on paper but doesn’t quite match the realities of everyday life.

When Supports Don’t Match Reality

Many participants experience situations where:

• A support isn’t helping as expected.
• A new challenge emerges.
• Circumstances change after a plan is approved.
• Goals evolve over time.
• Existing supports are no longer enough.

This doesn’t necessarily mean the plan is wrong.

It simply means that life is dynamic.

The NDIS is designed to support real people living real lives, and those lives rarely fit neatly into a document created months or years earlier.

Sometimes the Need Isn’t Obvious

One of the challenges within the NDIS is that some support needs are easier to identify than others.

Physical supports are often visible.

The need for a wheelchair, home modification or assistive technology can be relatively easy to explain.

But other needs can be harder to recognise.

For example:

• Increasing social isolation
• Anxiety about community participation
• Carer fatigue
• Difficulty maintaining employment
• Changes in living arrangements
• New health concerns
• Reduced confidence or independence

These challenges can emerge gradually and may not always be reflected in an existing plan.

The Importance of Speaking Up Early

Many participants wait until their next review before raising concerns.

Unfortunately, this can mean living with a problem for months longer than necessary.

If something isn’t working, it’s often worth talking about it sooner rather than later.

The first step may simply be asking:

“Does my current support arrangement still reflect my needs?”

That conversation can often highlight solutions that were not previously considered.

Talk to the People Supporting You

If you feel that important needs are not being addressed, don’t carry those concerns alone.

Depending on your circumstances, it may help to speak with:

Your Support Coordinator

A Support Coordinator can help identify gaps, explore available supports and assist in navigating available options.

They may also help document emerging needs and connect you with appropriate services.

Your Local Area Coordinator (LAC)

Your LAC can help you understand the NDIS, discuss concerns and explain pathways available if circumstances have changed.

Many participants underestimate how valuable these conversations can be.

Allied Health Professionals

Occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists and other professionals may identify needs that have developed since your plan was first approved.

Their observations can provide important evidence and insights.

Family and Carers

The people closest to you often notice changes before anyone else.

Their perspective may help identify areas where additional support could be beneficial.

What If My Needs Aren’t Funded?

This is a reality many participants face.

Not every need is automatically recognised within an NDIS plan.

Not every challenge neatly fits a funding category.

That can be frustrating.

However, recognising an unmet need is still important.

A need does not become less important simply because it is not currently funded.

Documenting concerns, discussing them with professionals and raising them during planning conversations helps create a clearer picture of how life is actually being experienced.

Sometimes the most important conversation is not:

“What support do I have?”

but:

“What support am I missing?”

The Risk of Staying Silent

Many people become accustomed to managing difficulties on their own.

They adapt.

They work around barriers.

They lower expectations.

They stop asking for help.

While resilience is admirable, it can also sometimes hide genuine support needs.

Over time, small challenges can become much larger challenges.

That’s why open conversations matter.

The earlier emerging issues are identified, the easier they are often to address.

What Lion and Mouse Believes

At Lion and Mouse Australia, we believe that a good NDIS plan should do more than provide funding.

It should support a person to live the life they want to live.

That means regularly asking:

• Is this support helping?
• Are my goals still relevant?
• Have my circumstances changed?
• Is something missing?

We also believe participants should feel comfortable speaking up when things aren’t working.

Because identifying an unmet need is not complaining.

It is advocating for yourself.

And self-advocacy is one of the most important skills a participant can develop.

Wrapping Up

The best NDIS plans are not static documents.

They are part of an ongoing conversation about goals, independence, participation and wellbeing.

If something isn’t working, don’t assume you have to wait.

Talk to your Support Coordinator.

Talk to your Local Area Coordinator.

Talk to your therapist.

Talk to your support network.

Because sometimes the most important support isn’t a new service.

It’s having the confidence to start the conversation.

And that conversation might be the first step towards a plan that better reflects the life you want to build.

Helpful Resources

NDIS
🌐 https://www.ndis.gov.au

Find Your Local NDIS Partner or LAC
🌐 https://www.ndis.gov.au/contact/locations

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
🌐 https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au

Disability Advocacy Finder
🌐 https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers

Not sure if your plan is right for your needs?

Whether you’re preparing for a plan review, gathering evidence, setting goals or simply trying to understand your options, Lion and Mouse is here to help.

Lion and Mouse Australia
📞 1300 048 355
🌐 https://www.lionandmouse.com.au

Lion and Mouse Australia Ltd is a registered Australian charity committed to empowering people with disability through lived experience, ethical support and genuine advocacy.

Tips for Raising Concerns About Your Plan

Many participants worry that raising concerns about their plan might be viewed negatively.

In reality, identifying gaps between your needs and your supports is an important part of ensuring your plan continues to work effectively.

The key is to focus on outcomes, evidence and everyday impacts.

1. Be Specific About the Problem

Instead of saying:

“My plan isn’t working.”

Try explaining:

“I’m finding it difficult to attend community activities because my transport supports aren’t meeting my current needs.”

Or:

“I’m unable to access all my therapy sessions because the funding is being exhausted earlier than expected.”

Specific examples make it easier for support professionals to understand the issue.

2. Explain the Impact on Daily Life

Describe how the issue affects:

• Independence
• Safety
• Employment
• Education
• Community participation
• Physical health
• Mental wellbeing

For example:

“Without regular therapy, my mobility has declined and I’m finding it harder to complete daily tasks independently.”

The impact is often more important than the support itself.

3. Keep Notes

A simple diary can be valuable.

Record:

• Missed appointments
• Supports you couldn’t access
• Challenges you’re experiencing
• Changes in circumstances
• Examples of goals being affected

Real-world examples can help demonstrate patterns over time.

4. Gather Evidence Early

If concerns continue, supporting evidence may help.

This could include:

• Occupational therapy reports
• Physiotherapy assessments
• Psychology reports
• Specialist letters
• Progress notes
• Incident reports
• Carer observations

Evidence helps connect lived experience with documented need.

5. Focus on Goals

The NDIS is designed around helping participants pursue goals and improve independence.

When raising concerns, it can help to explain:

“This issue is making it harder for me to achieve my goal of…”

For example:

• Finding employment
• Living independently
• Increasing community participation
• Improving communication
• Building daily living skills

Goals provide context for the conversation.

6. Ask Questions

Sometimes concerns arise because participants don’t fully understand available options.

Useful questions might include:

• Are there existing supports within my plan that could be used differently?
• Has my situation changed enough to justify further discussion?
• Are there community or mainstream supports available?
• What evidence would be helpful to document this issue?
• What are my options moving forward?

The right question can often unlock new possibilities.

7. Don’t Wait Until Things Reach Crisis Point

Many participants are incredibly resilient.

They adapt.

They make do.

They find workarounds.

But struggling quietly for months rarely helps anyone.

If you’re noticing barriers emerging, raising them early gives everyone a better opportunity to respond before the situation becomes more difficult.

A Useful Rule of Thumb

If you find yourself regularly saying:

“I can manage, but…”

it’s often worth having a conversation.

Sometimes that “but” is where the real unmet need exists.

I particularly like this addition because it turns the article from a reflection piece into a practical guide. Readers can immediately apply these tips to conversations with their LAC, Support Coordinator, allied health team or support network. It also reinforces an important message:

Good advocacy isn’t about complaining. It’s about clearly explaining how your current supports align, or fail to align, with the life you’re trying to live.