Just got NDIS funding? Here's what to do next

Congratulations - your NDIS plan has been approved. That is genuinely great news. But if you are now staring at a document full of funding categories, dollar amounts and unfamiliar terms, you are not alone. Most new participants feel a mix of relief and confusion at this point, and that is completely normal.

The short answer to "what do I do now?" is this: read your plan, decide how you want to manage your funding, find providers who suit you, and sign a service agreement before supports begin. This guide walks through each of those steps in plain English, so you can move forward with confidence rather than guesswork.

If you are a family member or carer helping someone navigate their first plan, this guide is for you too.

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Understanding what is actually in your NDIS plan

Your plan is a PDF document from the NDIA. It has a few key sections worth knowing.

Your goals

At the top of the plan, you will find the goals you discussed during your planning meeting. These are not just window dressing. Providers and support coordinators will refer to your goals when recommending supports, so it is worth re-reading them and checking they still reflect what matters to you.

Your funding categories

NDIS funding is divided into support categories, sometimes called "budget lines". Common ones include:

• Daily Activities - help with personal care, household tasks and daily routines
• Social, Community and Civic Participation - getting out, joining activities, building connections
• Improved Living Arrangements - support to find or maintain housing
• Increased Social and Community Participation - building skills to participate more independently
• Support Coordination - help to understand and implement your plan
• Improved Health and Wellbeing - things like exercise physiology or dietetics
• Assistive Technology - equipment that helps you live and move more independently
• Home Modifications - changes to your home to improve safety and access

Each category has a dollar amount. You can only spend that money on supports within that category - you cannot, for example, move money from Assistive Technology into Daily Activities without going back to the NDIA.

Your plan dates

Your plan has a start date and an end date, usually 12 months apart (though some plans run longer). Unspent funding generally does not roll over, so understanding your plan period helps you pace your spending sensibly.

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Choosing how your plan is managed

Before you can start booking providers, you need to decide - or confirm - how your plan funding will be managed. There are three options, and they affect who pays providers and how much flexibility you have.

NDIA-managed (also called agency-managed)

The NDIA pays providers directly from your plan. You can only use providers who are registered with the NDIS Commission. This is the most straightforward option for people who want less administration.

Plan-managed

A registered plan manager handles the money on your behalf. They pay provider invoices, send you monthly statements, and help you track your budget. You can use both registered and unregistered providers, which gives you more choice. Plan management is funded separately in your plan - it does not come out of your other supports budget.

Self-managed

You manage the funding yourself, pay providers directly, and claim reimbursements through the myplace portal. This gives you the most flexibility and the widest choice of providers, but it also means the most administrative responsibility.

If your plan includes plan management funding, a plan manager has already been factored in. If you are unsure which type applies to you, your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or Support Coordinator can clarify this.

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Finding providers that suit you

This is where things get exciting - and occasionally overwhelming. There are thousands of NDIS providers across Australia, ranging from large organisations to sole traders. The right provider for someone else may not be the right one for you.

Here are the things worth thinking about when shortlisting providers:

1. Registration status - if your plan is NDIA-managed, you must use registered providers. If you are plan-managed or self-managed, you have more options.
2. Location and travel - does the provider service your suburb or region? Can they come to you, or do you need to travel to them?
3. Specialisation - some providers focus on specific disability types, age groups or cultural backgrounds. A provider who regularly supports people with your disability type is often better placed to help.
4. Availability - good providers are often in demand. Ask about current wait times before you commit.
5. Communication style - do they explain things clearly? Do they listen? Early interactions are a good signal of what the ongoing relationship will look like.
6. Reviews and reputation - word of mouth matters in the disability sector. Ask your LAC, support coordinator or local community groups for recommendations.

You can browse NDIS providers across Australia on OpenWay and filter by support category, location and other criteria. It is free for participants to use.

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What to ask a provider before you sign anything

Before you commit to a provider, have a conversation. Most providers are happy to do a free initial call or meeting. Here is a practical checklist of questions to ask:

• What experience do you have supporting people with my disability or support needs?
• Are you registered with the NDIS Commission?
• What are your hourly rates, and do they align with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements?
• Do you charge travel time or cancellation fees, and how do those work?
• How do you handle it if I need to change or cancel a session?
• Who will be my regular support worker, and what happens if they are unavailable?
• How do you handle complaints or concerns?
• Can I see a sample service agreement before I decide?

There are no silly questions here. A provider who is reluctant to answer these questions clearly is worth approaching with caution.

You can learn more about how OpenWay approaches provider verification and what that means for participants on the OpenWay trust and safety page.

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Signing a service agreement

A service agreement is a written contract between you (or your authorised representative) and a provider. Under the NDIS rules, providers are required to have one in place before delivering supports. It is there to protect both of you.

A good service agreement will include:

• The specific supports that will be delivered
• How often and where supports will be provided
• The rates that will be charged, including any travel or cancellation fees
• How to change or end the agreement
• How to raise a complaint
• Your rights as an NDIS participant

Take your time reading it

Do not feel pressured to sign on the spot. Ask for the agreement in advance, read it carefully, and ask questions about anything that is unclear. If you have a support coordinator or plan manager, they can help you review it.

You can negotiate

Service agreements are not take-it-or-leave-it documents. If something does not suit you - a cancellation policy that feels too strict, for example - you can ask the provider to adjust it. Many will.

Keep a copy

Once you have both signed, make sure you have a copy stored somewhere you can find it. You will want to refer back to it if there is ever a dispute about what was agreed.

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Getting your supports started

Once your service agreement is signed, you are ready to go. Here is what the first few weeks often look like for new participants:

• Your first session or appointment with a provider is often an informal "getting to know you" meeting. Use it to share your preferences, routines and goals.
• If you have Support Coordination funded in your plan, your support coordinator will help you set up multiple providers and make sure everything is working together.
• If you are plan-managed, introduce yourself to your plan manager and confirm how invoices and statements will work.
• Keep notes on how each support is going. If something is not working, it is much easier to address early than to let it drag on.

It is also worth knowing that you are not locked in forever. If a provider is not the right fit, you can end the service agreement (usually with the notice period specified in the agreement) and find someone else. The NDIS is designed to give you choice and control - that principle applies throughout your plan, not just at the start.

If you are a support coordinator helping a new participant get set up, the OpenWay support coordinator workspace is designed to make shortlisting and sharing provider options much easier.

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Frequently asked

Can I use more than one provider for the same support category?

Yes, absolutely. Many participants use several providers within the same category - for example, one support worker for weekday mornings and a different organisation for weekend activities. As long as the total spending stays within the category budget, this is perfectly fine. Just make sure each provider has their own service agreement in place.

What if I spend all my funding before my plan ends?

If you are at risk of running out of funding early, contact your LAC or Support Coordinator as soon as possible. In some cases you may be able to request an unscheduled plan review with the NDIA, though there is no guarantee of additional funding. Tracking your budget regularly - your plan manager or the myplace portal can help with this - is the best way to avoid this situation.

Do I have to use all my NDIS funding?

No. Unspent funds generally return to the NDIA at the end of your plan period rather than carrying over. However, you should not feel obliged to spend money on supports you do not need just to "use it up". The goal is to spend funding on supports that genuinely help you work towards your goals.

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How OpenWay can help

Starting your NDIS journey is much easier when you can see your options clearly. OpenWay is a free-to-use marketplace where NDIS participants, families and support coordinators can browse provider profiles, compare services, and send enquiries - all in one place.

If you are new to the NDIS and ready to start finding providers, explore the OpenWay participant hub to understand how the platform works and what to expect. From there, you can search NDIS providers by location and support category to build your shortlist.

OpenWay does not deliver supports or handle NDIS funding. It is simply a place to find and connect with providers who do - at no cost to participants or their families.

OpenWay is not part of the NDIS, NDIA or NDIS Commission. Final scope, pricing, travel, cancellation rules and non-face-to-face charges must be confirmed in a written service agreement between the participant (or their authorised support person) and the provider.