Goals form an integral part of the foundation of your NDIS plan. In fact, goals are what make your NDIS plan unique to you. Although it may seem like a daunting or overwhelming task, with the right tools and support setting NDIS goals can be easy.
What are NDIS goals?
If you want to achieve something, the NDIS can help you get there! You can set goals that are shorter-term, like working towards getting a job in the next six to twelve months, or longer-term, like working towards being more independent in three to five years.Whatever your goals, the NDIS can support you to make them a reality. So why not give it a go and see what you can achieve?
When it comes to NDIS goal setting, remember these three things:
Your goals should be personalized to you and your needs.
Your goals should be achievable and realistic.
Your goals should be flexible and adaptive, to reflect your changing needs.
To get started on setting your NDIS goals, ask yourself these questions:
What are the things that are important to me?
What are my hopes and dreams for the future?
What are my strengths and weaknesses?
What kinds of supports do I currently need?
What are my goals for the future?
Once you have a good understanding of your goals, it’s important to start putting them into writing. This will help you communicate your goals to your NDIS planner, and ensure that they are included in your NDIS plan.
If you need help setting your NDIS goals, don’t hesitate to ask our team at Better Life Community Service for assistance as we can make your goal-setting process easier.
Setting NDIS goals is an important step on the road to achieving your dreams and aspirations. With the right tools and support, it can be an easy and rewarding process.
Prepping & Setting NDIS goals
The first step in your goal setting journey should be to brainstorm. Take a piece of paper, your computer, or another way of noting down your goal ideas, consider what your goals in life are and just note anything that comes to mind. You can refine this later so don’t worry too much about having a perfectly worded goal.
Once you have some notes, have a look at the following categories to see if they inspire any further ideas:
- Choice and control
- Lifelong learning
- Daily living
- Relationships
- Health and wellbeing
- Work
- Social and community participation
- Home
It’s important to note that you do not need to have a goal that fits into every category. They are just there as a guide.
When you have a list of all the goals you can think of, break it down into short, medium, and long-term goals. From there it’s time to develop your list of goals. You should aim for three to five short term goals and two to four medium or long-term goals.
What makes a ‘good’ NDIS goal?
There really is no such thing as a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ goal. However, writing your goals with the NDIA and how it works in mind, can help you to craft a goal that balances having a flexible goal with specific outcomes.
For example:
Goal Option #1 I want to take swimming lessons
Outcome: You may receive funding under your Capacity Building Supports for Health & Wellbeing, but the funding can only be used for its intended purpose as it relates to your goal – swimming lessons.
Goal Option #2: I want to increase my health, fitness, and wellbeing.
Outcome: You may receive funding under your Capacity Building Supports for Health & Wellbeing. This funding could be used for several purposes like:
- Swimming lessons or other sporting activities
- Physiotherapy to increase movement and flexibility
- Learning to cook healthy meals
- Access to adaptive sports or cooking equipment
Writing a draft goal like “I want to take swimming lessons”, can be a helpful starting point to develop a more flexible, broader goal that is still outcome specific like “I want to increase my health, fitness, and well-being”. Remember to take your time when developing your goals and focus on what is important to you.
If you need further assistance brainstorming or writing your goals, you can discuss this with your Support Coordinator (if relevant), your LAC, a disability advocate, or a private company that assists people with their NDIS application and goals.
Top tip: If this is not your first time developing goals in preparation for an NDIS meeting, you can use this helpful resource as a tool to make your goal-setting easier.
