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NDIS Access Request — Preparation Checklist

Generated 24 September 2026 · byneurokind.com · Content last verified 16 July 2026

General information only. This checklist helps you prepare for the NDIS access request process — it does not determine eligibility or constitute legal advice. NDIS rules are subject to change. Always confirm current requirements with the NDIS directly (1800 800 110) or your Local Area Coordinator.

0/4Proof of identity and eligibility

□Your child's birth certificate or passport — proof they are under 65 at the time of first application
□Evidence of Australian citizenship or eligible residency — Australian passport, citizenship certificate, or permanent resident visa documentation
□Medicare card
□Your own photo ID if you are applying as a parent or authorised representative on your child's behalf

0/4Professional supporting evidence — Part 2 form

□Download the NDIS Supporting Evidence Form (Part 2) from ndis.gov.au — bring a copy to the appointment so the professional can complete it then and there
□Identified which professional will complete Part 2 — options include: GP, paediatrician, psychologist, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, or other relevant specialist
□Appointment booked with that professional specifically to discuss and complete the form (not just a routine appointment — the professional needs time to address the form questions)
□Part 2 completed and returned — confirming diagnosis (or developmental delay for children under 6), permanence or likely permanence of the condition, and functional impact on daily activities

0/5Existing reports and assessments

□Existing diagnostic reports — paediatric assessment, psychology, neuropsychology, or specialist letters confirming diagnosis
□Occupational therapy assessment report (if any)
□Speech pathology assessment report (if any)
□School reports, learning support plans, or Individual Education Plan (IEP) documentation showing what support is already in place at school
□Hospital clinic letters, specialist referrals, or other medical correspondence relevant to the condition

0/3Your own observations — for Part 1

□Written notes on how your child's condition affects day-to-day activities — getting dressed, eating, communicating, attending school, playing with others. Specific examples, not general statements.
□Notes on what supports your child currently relies on, and why those supports are not enough to meet their needs without additional help
□Notes on how your child compares to same-age peers in key areas: communication, self-care, learning, social participation — again, specific examples are more useful than general impressions

0/3Forms and key contacts

□NDIS Access Request Form (Part 1) downloaded from ndis.gov.au — or ready to complete online via the myNDIS portal
□Local Area Coordinator (LAC) contact identified — find yours at ndis.gov.au/lacs. They support families through the access process for free and can answer process questions.
□NDIS contact number saved: 1800 800 110 (free call, Monday to Friday 8am–8pm)

NeuroKind · byneurokind.com · Written by Laura, UK-qualified teacher · seven years in school SENCo teams · For personal reference only — not legal advice. NDIS: 1800 800 110 · ndis.gov.au

ResourcesFree tool · Australia

NDIS Access Request
Preparation Tool

A practical checklist to help you organise everything before you apply for NDIS access — what evidence you need, who provides it and what to expect from the timeline. Built for parents, not bureaucrats.

General information only. This tool helps you prepare for the NDIS access request process — it does not determine eligibility or constitute legal or financial advice. The NDIS is undergoing significant change. Eligibility rules, forms, and processes may have changed since this was written. Always confirm current requirements directly with the NDIS (1800 800 110) or your Local Area Coordinator.

Content last verified: 16 July 2026 · We recommend checking this content every 3–6 months given the pace of change in the NDIS system.

Is your child under 9? The pathway is different.

Children under 9 are supported through a separate pathway called the Early Childhood Approach. Rather than going directly to an NDIS access request, your first contact should be an Early Childhood Partner — a funded organisation that assesses the child’s needs and connects families to appropriate support, which may or may not include an NDIS plan.

Important — and widely misunderstood: for children under 6, a formal diagnosis is not required to access support. Evidence of developmental delay is sufficient. Many parents assume they need a diagnosis first and wait longer than necessary.

For children aged 6 to 8, the Early Childhood Approach still applies but a confirmed diagnosis typically helps. At 9 and over, the standard NDIS access request process applies and this checklist is directly relevant.

Find an Early Childhood Partner via the NDIS website (ndis.gov.au) or call 1800 800 110. The checklist below is still useful for gathering evidence regardless of pathway.

Eligibility — the basic criteria

This is general information. Only the NDIA can determine whether your child is eligible for their specific situation.

Age

Under 65 at the time of first application.

Residency

Australian citizen, permanent resident, or holder of a Protected Special Category Visa, living in Australia.

Disability

Evidence of a permanent or likely-permanent impairment that substantially affects ability to participate in everyday activities. The NDIA assesses functional impact, not just diagnosis.

Interactive checklist

What to gather

Tick items as you complete them. Everything is saved in your browser — if you close the page and come back, your progress will still be here.

Proof of identity and eligibility

These establish your child's age and citizenship. Gather them first — they're administrative but required before anything else can proceed.

Professional supporting evidence — Part 2 form

The NDIS Access Request has two parts. Part 1 is completed by you. Part 2 — the Supporting Evidence Form — must be completed by a treating health or education professional. This is usually the longest part to obtain. Book the appointment as early as possible.

Existing reports and assessments

Include any professional reports you already have. You don't need all of these — gather what exists. Providing more is better than providing less.

Your own observations — for Part 1

Part 1 is filled in by you. The NDIA wants concrete, specific examples of how the disability affects daily functioning. Vague descriptions carry less weight than specific ones. These notes help you answer it confidently and completely.

Forms and key contacts

Before you submit, have these in place. Your Local Area Coordinator is a free support service — they can guide you through the whole process at no cost.

Realistic timeline

The most common reason parents feel like something has gone wrong is that gathering evidence takes longer than they expected. This is normal.

Now

Start gathering evidence

Book specialist appointments early. Part 2 of the access request must be completed by a treating professional — getting that appointment can take 6–12 weeks alone.

4–12 weeks

Evidence gathering

Realistic timeframe for obtaining all reports, completing Part 2 with your professional, and writing your own Part 1 account. This is normal — don't feel behind.

Submit

Lodge the access request

Submit Part 1 and Part 2 together via the myNDIS portal, by post, or via your Early Childhood Partner or LAC. Keep copies of everything.

If needed

NDIA requests more information

You have 90 days to provide any additional information the NDIA requests. This is common — it does not mean a refusal. Respond with as much specific evidence as you can.

What is not on your list right now

The NDIS process has more stages after access is granted — but none of them are relevant to where you are now. Here is what you can set aside until later.

Appeals and reviews

If the NDIA declines your access request, they will explain the specific reason and what you can do next at that point. The appeals process has also undergone recent changes (October 2024). If you ever need that information, call the NDIS directly on 1800 800 110 or speak to your Local Area Coordinator — do not rely on information you find online, as it may not reflect the current process.

Plan content, funding amounts and supports

What happens after access is granted — building the plan, funded supports, and budget management — is a separate process. A new NDIS planning framework is rolling out from mid-2026 that changes how plans are developed. The access request stage you are preparing for now is not affected by this change.

Getting everything perfect

Submit what you have when you have it. The NDIA can request additional information, and you have 90 days to provide it. A complete submission is better than a delayed one, but waiting for every possible piece of evidence can mean waiting months longer than necessary.

Download your preparation checklist

A print-ready summary of your checklist — ticked and unticked items, formatted for your appointment with a treating professional. Free after a one-time email signup.

L

Laura · UK-qualified teacher · Course Creator

Supporting families in Australia and the UK. Built this because the NDIS access process is genuinely confusing for first-time applicants and the official documentation rarely explains what you actually need to do first.

This tool is for general information only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice and does not determine NDIS eligibility. The NDIS scheme is subject to ongoing legislative and operational change. Content last verified 16 July 2026 — confirm current requirements with the NDIS (1800 800 110) or ndis.gov.au before submitting an access request.