Practice evidence · 5 min read
Writing progress notes that stand up in an NDIS audit
A strong progress note lets a second person understand what happened, what mattered to the participant and what happens next—without guessing.
Describe, do not label
Record observable actions, words and outcomes instead of broad labels such as ‘settled’ or ‘non-compliant’. Specific detail makes the support and its effect visible.
Anchor the note to a goal
Name the participant goal or plan area the support relates to. This turns a chronological log into evidence of progress and informed choice.
Include risk and follow-up
If a risk, incident, refusal or change was present, record the response, who was informed and the next action. Close the loop in a later note.