Creating a Carer’s Impact Statement

Navigating an NDIS planning conversation or plan review can feel like a mountain to climb. As parents walking this path, between coordinating appointments, keeping up with daily routines, and constantly holding space for our children, it is so easy to forget just how much energy and love goes into our caregiving roles every single day.

While it isn't mandatory, putting together a Carer Impact Statement is one of the most powerful tools we have to advocate for our families. It paints an honest, compassionate picture of our day-to-day lives so the NDIA can offer a funding package that truly holds our children in their strengths while supporting us to keep going.

Here is how we can approach writing a Carer Impact Statement together - written from one parent to another.

What a Carer Impact Statement Truly Is

Think of a Carer Impact Statement as your story, told on your terms. It details the wonderful ways you care for your child, how much time and energy those tasks invite, and the authentic physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial impacts on your life.

The NDIA looks at this to understand how sustainable your caregiving role is. When we share where our energy levels are low or where our informal supports are stretched, we help planners see why essential supports - like Positive Behaviour Support, individual support workers, or regular respite breaks - are so vital for our long-term harmony.

Mapping Out Your Story

Starting with Your Child and Primary Carer Profile

We begin by grounding the document in who your family is. You'll want to share your child's basic details, like their name, age, NDIS number, and their unique neurotype or primary diagnoses, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Global Developmental Delay, or Executive Functioning differences. You will also include your own profile - your relationship to your child, your age, your current health, and your work or study status.

Capturing "A Week at a Glance"

Every single thing you do to help your child navigate a world not always built for them matters. Showing the difference between general parenting and the deep, specialized care you provide is key.

Take time to gently reflect on your week. Consider the time you spend on personal care, hygiene, and specialized mealtime needs. Reflect on how you support their communication, whether that is honoring AAC devices or holding space for alternative ways of expressing needs. Include the energy dedicated to keeping them safe from harm, helping them co-regulate during stressful moments, managing appointments, driving to therapy, and advocating for them in school environments.

Acknowledging Your Support Network and Sustainability

None of us are meant to do this completely alone, yet so many of us end up holding the world on our shoulders. Use this section to share what your support network actually looks like. Be open about whether your "village" consists of family who can help, or if you are carrying this mostly on your own. Mention any competing priorities you have, such as balancing work, caring for other siblings, or supporting aging relatives.

Honoring the Personal Toll

It is so important to validate our own battery levels with deep self-compassion. Be honest about how caregiving impacts your physical health through chronic fatigue or body strain. Share the emotional and mental weight, including stress, burnout, and sensory or cognitive overload. Reflect on how your social world might have shrunk and how your financial choices or career goals have been reshaped to center your child's needs.

Dreaming About the Future

You deserve a full, vibrant life alongside your caring role. Share what having the right supports in place would open up for you. Maybe it means having space to return to work, enrolling in a course you love, reconnecting with friends, or simply taking a deep breath and spending peaceful, quality time with your family.

Outlining Essential Supports

Conclude your statement by identifying the meaningful, affirming supports that will keep your family strong. This might include a Positive Behaviour Support practitioner to help create a safe, supportive home environment, dedicated support workers to assist with daily flow, or short-term accommodation so you can rest and recharge.

Navigating the NDIS process is a marathon, not a sprint, and taking the time to share your story through a Carer Impact Statement is a profound act of love and advocacy for both your child and yourself. Remember that asking for support is not a reflection of your capacity as a parent, but a necessary step in ensuring your family has the sustainable wrap-around care it deserves. As you sit down to write, hold space for your own feelings, give yourself permission to be completely honest about your battery levels, and know that your dedication, care, and voice matter deeply. Unfortunately, writing things like this, with a deficit approach, is not always easy, but you are doing a great job!