How to Have the Reassessment Conversation With Your NASC Coordinator

If you have ever sat across from a NASC coordinator and felt like you were not quite saying what you needed to say, you are not alone.

These conversations shape what support your whanau receives and for how long. But they are hard. You are describing the hardest parts of daily life to someone you may have just met, in a single meeting, while trying to sound composed.

From October 2026, reassessments resume under a new framework. Personal plans will be co-developed with the disabled person. The focus shifts to goals, daily life, and what good support actually looks like. That means this conversation matters more than ever.

Here is how to walk in ready.

Know what they are actually asking
NASC coordinators are not just asking about medical history. They are building a picture of the whole person — physical, mental, social, cultural, and what barriers get in the way of a good life. Under Kahui Tu Kaha, that full picture is the assessment.

When they ask how things are going, they want to know what a typical day looks like, what is hard, and what the person values.

Say the hard things out loud
Most families instinctively present well. But the assessment meeting is not the place for that.

If the last two years have been hard, say so. If family members have been filling gaps that should be covered by paid support, name it. If support was not used because the rules were confusing, say that too.

Assessors cannot factor in what they cannot see.

Bring evidence, not just memory
A verbal account is a starting point. A documented record is something an assessor can actually work with.

Dates, patterns, specific incidents – these turn a general description into evidence. A structured record of daily support needs over several months changes the conversation completely. Instead of asking you to remember, they can read.

Prepare a few key points before you go in
You do not need a script. But knowing your three or four most important points in advance helps. Write them down and take them with you. It is completely acceptable to refer to notes in an assessment meeting.

Think through: What does a typical day look like? What support is needed and when? What has fallen to family that should be funded? What are the person’s goals?

You are allowed to ask questions too
The assessment is not one-directional. You can ask the coordinator to explain the process, what the personal plan will cover, and what happens next. You can ask for time to think before agreeing to anything.

This is a conversation, not a test.

Start documenting now
The most useful thing you can do before October is start building a record today. Not a perfect record — just a consistent one. Daily notes across the dimensions of Te Whare Tapa Wha. What support was needed. What was hard. What went well.

Six months of documentation tells a story a single conversation cannot.

MyLog generates a structured PDF report from your daily entries – ready to hand to your NASC coordinator. Free 14-day trial at mylog.co.nz.