Your child is turning 18. They’ve been on the NDIS for years, and you’ve been managing everything. What happens now? Do you lose control?
The Big Legal Change
At 18, your child legally becomes an adult. Your role as “child representative” automatically ends. They have the legal right to make their own decisions, and the NDIS will communicate with THEM, not you.
Nominee Arrangements
If your adult child needs support managing their plan, you can be appointed as a nominee:
- Correspondence Nominee – Handles communication with NDIS
- Plan Nominee – Makes decisions about the plan, manages budgets, chooses providers
The NDIA will discuss this about 3 months before the 18th birthday.
Supported Decision Making
Even without nominee status, your child can choose to have you involved in decisions. The NDIS can fund support workers to help build decision-making skills.
Plan Reassessment at 18
Turning 18 is a natural time for a plan reassessment. Goals may be changing: transitioning from school, moving towards employment, building independent living skills.
Start Preparing Early
Don’t wait until the 18th birthday. During the last years of school:
- Involve your child in NDIS meetings
- Practice goal-setting together
- Build their understanding of their own plan
- Discuss what they want for their future
Support Coordination Helps
A good support coordinator can help with this transition: explaining changes, setting up nominee arrangements, updating the plan for adult goals, and finding adult services.
