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?
Goals are things that you may want to achieve in your life with the support of the NDIS. They can be shorter term goals that you want to work towards over the next six to twelve months and longer-term goals that you want to work on over the next three to five years.
The goals you discuss during your initial planning meeting or plan review meeting with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC), or NDIA planner are included in your NDIS plan and help inform the type and amount of funding you may receive. For a support to be paid using your NDIS funding, it needs to relate back to your goals. This is why it is so important to think about what your NDIS goals are before your planning meeting or plan review meeting so you can ensure you are getting the funding and support that you need.
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
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 wellbeing”. 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.
Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.