How to Set NDIS Goals
Knowing how to set appropriate NDIS goals is extremely important when you are applying to the NDIS or preparing for a plan reassessment or review.
Once you are accepted into the NDIS, you will attend a planning meeting with an NDIS representative, known as a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIA planner. During this meeting, you’ll be asked to provide your short-term and long-term goals that require NDIS supports and funding.
You may also be coming up for a plan review, where your circumstances, needs, or stage of life have changed. This often means you’ll need to set new NDIS goals to reflect what you want to work towards next.
This resource will help you understand:
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Use age-appropriate goals: Think about what people of a similar age are usually working towards. Are there disability-related barriers compared to peers? For teenagers, this might include managing personal care, social skills, or using public transport. For adults, it could be cooking meals, managing money, maintaining a home, or gaining employment (building independence).
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Use NDIS language: social participation, community participation, building independence, choice and control, reasonable and necessary, capacity building, core supports.
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Keep goals broad: Focus less on specific services or providers and more on the outcome you want to achieve. Broader goals allow flexibility in the supports you can use.
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Include carer supports where relevant: Keep this focused on the participant. Ask for supports that help carers build skills or strategies that support the participant’s independence, such as training, education, or therapy-based guidance.
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Focus on key areas the NDIS funds: Keep goals linked to functional areas such as mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, self-care, and self-management.
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Ask others: Speak with therapists, family members, or others supporting people of a similar age and disability who are willing to share examples of their NDIS goals.
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How to write great NDIS goals
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I want to increase my participation in social and community activities so I can try new things and build confidence.
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Zoe wants to build her social and communication skills so she can develop and maintain age-appropriate relationships.
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I want to learn strategies to manage my behaviours and understand my emotions so I can communicate my needs more effectively.
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Jack wants to build his communication and employment skills so he can prepare for and gain meaningful work.
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I want to build my fine motor and communication skills so I can be more independent in daily life.
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Examples of Supports Linked to These Goals
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Improve Communication – Speech Pathologist, Psychologist, Counsellor, Animal/Art/Music therapist
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Community Participation – Community Hub (meeting place), Skill groups/clubs/camps
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Social Integration – Social groups, Support Workers, Clubs/Camps
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Manage behaviours and emotions – Psychologist, Counsellor, Animal therapy, Occupational Therapist Music or art therapists
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Build fine motor skills – Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist
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Build independence – Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Support Worker, Community & Social Activities
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Frequently Asked Questions About Setting NDIS Goals
1. What are NDIS goals?
NDIS goals describe what you want to achieve and how your disability impacts your ability to do this. They help the NDIA decide what supports may be reasonable and necessary in your plan.
2. How many NDIS goals should I include?
There is no set number, but most people include between 3 and 6 clear goals. Quality matters more than quantity — goals should reflect your main priorities.
3. Do NDIS goals guarantee funding for supports?
No. Setting a goal does not automatically guarantee funding. The NDIA still assesses whether requested supports are reasonable and necessary and directly related to your disability.
4. Should NDIS goals be specific or broad?
NDIS goals should generally be broad and outcome-focused. Broad goals give you more flexibility to choose different supports over time as your needs change.
5. Can I change my NDIS goals at a plan review?
Yes. Goals should be updated at each plan review to reflect changes in your circumstances, needs, age, or stage of life.
6. What type of goals does the NDIS usually support?
The NDIS commonly funds supports linked to goals around independence, communication, social participation, learning, self-care, self-management, mobility, and employment preparation.
7. Who can help me write my NDIS goals?
Therapists, support coordinators, family members, and trusted supports can help you shape clear goals. Many people also use examples from others with similar support needs as a guide.
