How to Prepare for NDIS I-CAN Assessment and Planning Process

The NDIS I-CAN (Interrai Community Assessment Instrument) version 6 assessment represents the National Disability Insurance Agency's needs-based support assessment framework determining participant plan budgets and funded supports from mid-2026 planning implementation. I-CAN assessments evaluate functional capacity across mobility, self-care, communication, cognition, daily living tasks, and social participation domains through standardized questions documenting specific support needs, task assistance requirements, and equipment dependencies. Effective preparation involves documenting daily support needs through incident logs recording falls, near-misses, and task failures, gathering professional reports from occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and medical specialists detailing functional limitations and equipment recommendations, and identifying specific support gaps where current informal supports or equipment prove inadequate. Assessment outcomes directly determine budget allocations for assistive technology, personal care, therapy, and community access supports, making comprehensive evidence presentation critical for securing adequate funding.

Understanding I-CAN Assessment Structure

I-CAN assessments use structured interview questions assessing function across multiple life domains, replacing previous less standardized planning conversations.

Mobility domain: Questions examine walking ability, transfer safety (bed, chair, toilet, shower), stair navigation, community mobility, fall frequency, and mobility aid usage. Assessors rate capacity from independent through to total assistance required, with frequency and complexity of support needs documented.

Self-care domain: Assessments cover bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, grooming, and personal hygiene, documenting which tasks require assistance, what type of assistance (prompting, setup, partial physical help, total assistance), and how frequently support is needed.

Fatigue and endurance: Questions examine energy levels throughout days, rest requirements between activities, and how fatigue limits task completion—information determining support hour allocations for activities of daily living.

Cognitive function: Memory, decision-making capacity, safety awareness, and task sequencing abilities are assessed, identifying needs for supervision, prompting, or decision-making support.

Communication: Ability to express needs, understand information, and engage socially affects support requirements for advocacy, community access, and social participation.

Evidence Documentation Template

Systematic incident and support need documentation strengthens assessment evidence, preventing assessors from underestimating actual support requirements.

Fall and near-miss log: Record date, location, activity during incident, contributing factors (fatigue, poor lighting, obstacles), injuries sustained, and assistance required. Example: "15 Jan 2026, bathroom, transferring from toilet, lost balance due to fatigue after shower, no injury but required partner assistance to stand—demonstrates unsafe toilet transfers when fatigued."

Daily task support log: Document tasks requiring assistance, who provides support, type and duration of help needed, and what happens when support unavailable. Example: "Showering—requires partner standby assistance 15 minutes daily for safety; without assistance, showering skipped 2-3 times weekly due to fall risk."

Equipment limitation notes: Identify current equipment inadequacies and how better equipment would improve function. Example: "Standard walking stick provides minimal stability during outdoor walking; multiple near-falls on uneven paths. Wheeled walker with seat would enable safe outdoor mobility and rest breaks, supporting medical recommendation for daily walking."

Fatigue patterns: Track energy levels throughout days, documenting when fatigue limits activities and required rest periods. Example: "Morning energy good—can complete personal care and light housework. Post-lunch significant fatigue—requires 1-hour rest before any afternoon activity. Cannot safely attempt cooking, laundry, or showering during afternoon without increased fall risk."

Professional Reports and Medical Evidence

Professional assessments from qualified practitioners carry substantial weight in I-CAN outcomes, providing expert validation of support needs.

Occupational therapy assessments: OT reports documenting functional limitations, equipment recommendations with rationale, home modification needs, and therapy goals provide critical evidence for assistive technology and home modifications funding. Recent assessments (within 6 months) demonstrate current rather than historical needs.

Physiotherapy assessments: Reports detailing mobility limitations, fall risk factors, safe transfer techniques, and exercise capacity support funding for physiotherapy services, mobility equipment, and exercise physiology.

Medical specialist reports: Neurologists, rehabilitation physicians, orthopedic surgeons, or other relevant specialists documenting diagnosis, prognosis, functional impacts, and medical recommendations strengthen applications, particularly for complex or progressive conditions.

Allied health goal statements: Clear statements linking specific supports to measurable goals demonstrate how requested funding will improve function, independence, or community participation—key criteria for NDIA funding approval (see reasonable and necessary supports).

Support Needs to Product Matrix

Documented I-CAN support needs map directly to assistive technology categories eligible for NDIS funding.

Mobility limitations → Walking aids (canes, walkers, rollators), wheelchairs (manual or powered), transfer aids (grab rails, transfer boards, slide sheets), and mobility scooters for community access.

Bathroom safety needs → Shower chairs enabling seated bathing, grab rails providing transfer support near toilet and shower, raised toilet seats reducing transfer difficulty, non-slip mats preventing falls on wet surfaces, and handheld showers enabling seated showering.

Transfer difficulties → Bed rails providing safe bed transfers, transfer poles for chair-to-standing assistance, rise-recline chairs reducing standing effort, and toilet frames providing armrest support.

Fatigue management → Perching stools enabling seated task completion (cooking, grooming), wheeled walkers with seats providing mobile rest breaks, and pressure-relief cushioning for prolonged sitting tolerance.

Falls and balance impairment → Complete fall-prevention packages combining multiple safety elements—grab rails, non-slip surfaces, adequate lighting, and stable furniture arrangements—addressing multiple risk factors simultaneously.

Planning Meeting Preparation Checklist

Thorough preparation maximizes planning meeting effectiveness, ensuring all support needs receive adequate consideration.

Documents to bring: Current NDIS plan, incident and support logs, professional reports (OT, physio, medical specialists), current equipment list noting inadequacies, medication list, and therapy goals or recommendations.

Support persons: Include family members, carers, support coordinators, or advocates who understand daily support needs and can provide additional evidence when participants cannot fully articulate requirements.

Specific examples ready: Prepare 2-3 concrete examples per domain demonstrating support needs. Instead of "I need help with showering," provide "I cannot safely step into shower without assistance, have fallen twice in bathroom requiring partner help to stand, and skip showers 2-3 times weekly when partner unavailable due to fall fear."

Equipment demonstrations: If current equipment proves inadequate, bring photos or demonstrate limitations, explaining how recommended alternatives would improve safety or function.

Budget Allocation and Flexible Supports

I-CAN assessment outcomes determine budget amounts allocated across support categories, with new planning rules emphasizing stated and flexible support budgeting.

Stated supports: Budgets allocated for specific high-cost or specialized supports including assistive technology, home modifications, and specialist therapies. These amounts are designated for particular purposes and cannot be redirected without plan reviews.

Flexible supports: Budgets for supports used variably including personal care, community access, household tasks, and therapy services. Participants manage these budgets flexibly based on changing needs within plan periods.

Assistive technology consideration: AT funding typically appears as stated support when specific equipment is assessed as necessary. General AT budgets may also be allocated as flexible support for lower-cost items purchased as needs arise during plan periods.

Review Rights and Appeals

Participants dissatisfied with I-CAN assessment outcomes or resulting plan budgets can request reviews through Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) processes.

Internal review request: First-stage reviews request NDIA reconsider decisions based on additional evidence or assessment errors. Submit within 3 months of the written decision, providing new evidence or identifying assessment inaccuracies affecting outcomes.

ART external review: If internal reviews don't resolve concerns, ART external reviews provide independent merit-based assessment of NDIA decisions. See the ART’s NDIS review information.

Evidence strengthening: Review success depends on providing evidence NDIA assessors didn't consider or demonstrating assessment errors. Additional professional reports, detailed support need documentation, and expert witness statements strengthen review applications.

Evidence-Based Assessment Preparation

Systematic preparation significantly improves I-CAN assessment outcomes by ensuring assessors receive comprehensive evidence of actual support needs rather than relying on brief interview responses alone.

Participants should begin evidence gathering 2-3 months before scheduled assessments, systematically documenting incidents, support requirements, and equipment inadequacies. Professional assessments should be requested early allowing completion before planning meetings.

Service note: Auswaycare supplies assistive technology and bathroom safety equipment commonly funded through NDIS including shower chairs, grab rails, mobility aids, transfer equipment, and fall-prevention products. Professional occupational therapy assessments can reference Auswaycare products when recommending equipment meeting individual needs, supporting NDIS funding applications with specific product specifications and rationale for recommended solutions.