How to prepare for your first service provider appointment

So, you’ve done you research and found Vision Australia to be a good fit for your child. You’ve confirmed their funding source and booked that first appointment. Now it’s time to meet your child’s support team.

It's important to design support plans with families, not for them, so you play a key role in how your child’s services are structured.

That means your first appointment with us is about helping to understand your child, your priorities and what will work in your everyday life.

You do not need to have everything figured out before your first appointment, but it does help to be ready to share your thoughts on what matters most to your family right now.

Reflect on your current situation

Before attending your first appointment, we encourage you to take stock of your family's existing circumstances.

For example, it will help us to understand your needs best if you have a strong sense of:

• your child’s NDIS plan and dates
• how your funding is managed
• who else is involved.

Consider thinking about:

• what is working well
• what is hard day to day
• what you would most like to change or improve.

The clearer you are on the priorities, the more tailored the support will be.

Make a list of your questions and concerns

The first appointment with your child’s support team is your opportunity to get the information you need to set your family up for success – so don’t be shy when it comes to voicing any questions you have.

It’s a good idea to bring a list of queries, and voice any concerns you, your family or your child may have, to any appointment you go to. Be open about your capacity as well, as we want to ensure that we are designing services that fit into your family’s schedule, not the other way around.

Finally, if you don’t understand something you have been told, don’t be afraid to ask again. You deserve to feel completely comfortable before any next steps are decided for your child’s service provision.

Your situation may feel overwhelming right now, but there is support for you every step of the way. Work together with your service providers from day one to design a personalised plan that is realistic for your child to and your family.