How to write goals for your NDIS plan

Published at 04-11-2024 17:30:00

How to write goals for your NDIS plan

Once you are accepted into the NDIS, you’ll attend a planning meeting with a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or an NDIS Planner. During this meeting, you will be asked to set goals—both short-term and long-term—that you need NDIS support to achieve.

What are NDIS goals?

Your goals are the things you want to achieve with the help of the NDIS and other services. Examples of goals could include increasing independence, getting a job, learning new skills, or making new friends. The key is to focus on outcomes rather than the services you need to reach those outcomes.

• For example, instead of writing “To attend a day program,” a goal might be “To participate more in my local community and develop skills for independence.” Every dollar of NDIS funding must be connected to one of the goals written in your plan, so it’s essential to be clear but flexible.

How many goals should I set?

The main objective of your planning meeting is to identify the goals that are important to you and to assess any barriers caused by your disability. The NDIA then evaluates how the funding can address these barriers.

You should aim for:

• 2 current goals for the next 12 months
• 2 to 4 long-term goals for the future

Keep in mind:

• Setting more or bigger goals does not guarantee more funding.
• Goals do not create an obligation for the NDIS to fund specific supports.
• Goals should not be too specific in terms of the types or amounts of support you want.

How can I set goals to maximize my NDIS funding?

The hardest part for many is deciding what goals to focus on, especially if you’re not sure how to frame them. While specific goals can help secure particular supports, it’s often better to keep them broad to allow flexibility in the services you can access.

Start by thinking about what matters most to you or your child, and shape your goals around those priorities.

Consider goals in different areas of life, such as:

• Finding and keeping a job
• Improving relationships
• Becoming more independent in daily life
• Managing money confidently
• Participating in more social or recreational activities
• Enhancing health and well-being
• Gaining confidence in using public transport
• Learning new skills or hobbies
• Deciding where you want to live
• Improving communication or managing behaviors

Helpful tips for setting NDIS goals

1. Focus on age-appropriate skills
   • Think about the typical activities for children at a certain age and see if your child has unmet needs compared to others. For example, a goal for a 6-year-old might be learning to use the toilet independently, while a goal for an 18-year-old could be cooking meals for themselves.
2. Use key NDIS phrases
   • Include terms like social participation, community engagement, building independence, choice and control, capacity building, and reasonable and necessary in your goals.
3. Keep goals broad
   • A broader goal allows you to explore various services that will help achieve it. This gives you flexibility as circumstances change throughout the year.
4. Consider supports for parents/carers
   • Frame these in a way that highlights how the support will help your child develop skills, for instance, "parent training to help support my child’s learning."
5. Focus on areas the NDIS funds
   • Key areas to highlight include social participation, employment, communication, self-care, and learning.
6. Ask for advice
   • Talk to therapists, family members, or other parents about their goals, or check out NDIS communities online to see what others have included in their plans.

How to write effective NDIS goals

Start by thinking about what’s important to you. For example:

• "I like attending a book group each week."
• "I enjoy participating in activities at my local community hub."
• "I want to improve how I communicate with other people."
• "I want to be independent."

Now, turn these thoughts into goals:

• "I want to increase my ability to access social activities in my community."
• "I want to engage with others in my local area."
• "I want to improve my communication skills."
• "I want to find and keep a job."

Then, think about what you need to achieve those goals:

• "I need a disability support worker to help me attend my book group."
• "I need help from a speech pathologist to improve my communication."
• "I need assistance with managing my anxiety so I can travel independently."

Sample goals for different areas

Social Engagement

"I want my child to participate in more community and social groups to try new things."

Building Communication Skills

"Zoe wants to enhance her social and communication skills to build and maintain friendships."

Behavior and Emotional Management

"I want to learn how to manage my emotions and behaviors to better express myself."

Employment

"Jack wants to improve his communication and job skills to gain employment."

Developing Independence

"I want my child to improve their fine motor and communication skills to become more independent."

Matching goals to NDIS supports

Here’s a quick guide to matching goals with the types of support they might relate to:

• Improve Communication: Speech pathologists, psychologists, counselors, or animal/art/music therapists.
• Social Participation: Community hubs, skill-building groups, social clubs, or camps.
• Managing Behaviors and Emotions: Psychologists, counselors, occupational therapists, or music/art therapy.
• Build Fine Motor Skills: Occupational therapists or physiotherapists.
• Increase Independence: Occupational therapists, physiotherapists, support workers, or community activities.

By thinking strategically about your goals, you can ensure you receive the NDIS funding that aligns with your personal priorities while allowing for flexibility and creativity in how you use your supports.