The new NDIS assessment that looks beyond your disability: What’s the PECQ?

Your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports need to work for your real life. That’s why the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) wants to know about more than just your disability – it also wants to understand the people, places and circumstances that shape your day-to-day experiences.

That's one reason the way NDIS plans are developed is changing. Under the new framework planning model being introduced from April 2027, participants will complete a series of assessments designed to help the NDIA better understand their support needs.

Two of these assessments are the Personal and Environmental Circumstances Questionnaire (PECQ) and the Instrument for Classification and Assessment of Support Needs (I-CAN). Although the names might sound complicated (we all know how much the NDIA loves an acronym), the questions themselves are about something you know better than anyone else: your life. 

Along with supporting evidence and conversations throughout the planning process, the information from both assessments helps the NDIA make decisions about the disability supports that may be funded in your NDIS plan.

While I-CAN looks at how your disability affects your ability to do everyday activities, the PECQ focuses on the bigger picture of your life, including your home environment, support network, goals, and future plans.

Understanding what the PECQ is and why the NDIA asks these questions can help you feel more prepared and confident if (or more likely, when) you're asked to complete one.

Why does the NDIA need the PECQ?

The PECQ isn't a test and there are no right or wrong answers. It’s really a conversation template that’s been designed to build a picture of your life.

Rather than focusing only on your disability, the questionnaire looks at the environment around you, the people who support you, the barriers you experience, and the goals that are important to you.

By asking everyone the same questions in a consistent way, the NDIA hopes to better understand each participant's individual circumstances before considering what disability supports may be reasonable and necessary.

What will you be asked about?

1. Where you live

The questionnaire begins by looking at where you live and whether your home supports your everyday life. It's less about your address and more about whether your environment helps or hinders your independence.

For example, you might be asked who lives with you, whether there are stairs or other physical barriers in your home, if you avoid certain areas because they're difficult to access, or whether your home is likely to continue meeting your needs into the future.

2. Support you currently have

From there, the conversation moves to the supports you already have in place. This includes both NDIS funded supports and those that may be funded via other programs, such as assistance with personal care, household tasks, transport, meal preparation, and getting out into the community.

The focus isn't on remembering exact hours of support or every service you receive. Instead, the NDIA is trying to understand what assistance you rely on now, whether your current arrangements are working, and where there may still be gaps.

3. What matters to you

The questionnaire also asks about the things that matter most to you.

This could include becoming more independent, finding work, completing study, learning new skills, building relationships, or becoming more involved in your local community. Your goals help the NDIA understand not only where you are today, but also what you want your supports to help you achieve during the life of your plan.

4. Informal supports and your community

Another important part of the conversation is understanding your informal support network.

You may be asked about the family members, friends, neighbours, carers, or community groups who help you, as well as the kind of support they provide and whether that support is able to continue.

This isn't about expecting family members or friends to take on more responsibility, it’s more about helping NDIA planners build an accurate picture of the support network that already exists alongside any funded supports.

The PECQ also asks about your participation in everyday life, including work, study, volunteering, cultural activities, religious groups, or other community involvement. These questions give a wider understanding of the different environments you move through and the people you interact with as part of your daily life.

5. Assistive technology you use

You'll also be asked about any assistive technology, equipment, or home modifications you currently use or may need to use in the future. If you already use equipment, it can be helpful to think about whether it still meets your needs, requires repairs or maintenance, or will need replacing as your circumstances change.

6. Looking ahead in your life

Finally, the questionnaire looks ahead.

Life doesn't stand still, and neither should an NDIS plan. The PECQ asks about any significant changes you expect in the coming years, such as moving house, leaving school, starting work, changing your living arrangements, or having different people support you.

Understanding future transitions helps the NDIA consider whether your NDIS plan is likely to meet your needs as your circumstances evolve.

How can you prepare for the PECQ?

Preparing for the PECQ isn't about studying for an assessment or gathering vast amounts of paperwork or evidence.

What you can do is take some time to reflect on your day-to-day life before your planning conversation.

Think about the supports you currently rely on, the barriers you experience, what's working well, and where you still need support. It can also help to think about any significant changes you expect in the near future and whether your current supports will be adequate as you move through new chapters.

The more clearly you're able to describe your everyday life, the easier it is for the NDIA to understand the context surrounding your disability and the supports you may require.

What happens after the PECQ?

The results of the PECQ don't feed into funding decisions on their own. They form one part of the new framework planning process. Once the questionnaire is done, you move on to the I-CAN assessment, with both assessments considered alongside supporting evidence and discussions throughout the planning process.

While the way plans are developed is changing, and bringing with it new tools and terminology, most of the topics covered in the PECQ won't be new to you. They're the same conversations you’ve had during planning meetings for years, now brought together in a more consistent process.

Understanding what the PECQ is asking can help you feel more confident and a little less overwhelmed when the time comes to have those conversations. And the more clearly you can share your experiences, the easier it is for the NDIA to understand what support looks like in the context of your life. Because the best support isn't one size fits all, it needs to work for the life you're living.