Start by understanding what genuinely matters to your loved one. The NDIS recognises that goals should be personal desires about what someone wants to do. Take time to have conversations about:
Your loved one's goals might include building their skills and doing more things themselves, working or studying now or in the future, doing social and recreation activities, or building friendships and connecting with family. The key is ensuring these goals come from their own desires rather than what others think they should want.
Remember that goal setting is not about the supports themselves, but about the outcomes your loved one wants to achieve. Focus on what they want their life to look like rather than specific services they might need.
Vague goals make it difficult for NDIS planners to understand your loved one's needs and allocate appropriate supports. Instead of saying "I want to be more independent," help them articulate something more specific like "I want to learn how to prepare my own meals so I can cook for myself three times a week".
Clear and specific goals: Reflecting what your loved one wants to achieve, not what others think they should be.
When helping your loved one express their goals, ensure they will be written in their own words when recorded in their NDIS plan. The NDIS can help choose the right words if your loved one has difficulty describing their goals due to their disability.
The SMART goal framework provides structure and clarity for NDIS goals. SMART stands for:
For example, instead of "I want to be healthier," a SMART goal would be: "I want to go for a 30-minute walk with my support worker twice a week to improve my fitness and mental health over the next six months".
This framework helps break down complex aspirations into manageable, trackable objectives that demonstrate clear progress toward meaningful outcomes.
Help your loved one identify the disability-specific barriers that might prevent them from achieving their goals. The NDIS funds supports that help overcome these barriers. When discussing support needs:
The supports funded by the NDIS should enable your loved one to pursue their goals and aspirations. However, remember that setting a goal doesn't guarantee specific funding - the NDIS will consider whether the requested supports are reasonable and necessary to help overcome disability-related barriers.
Understanding NDIS support categories helps ensure goals connect to appropriate funding. The three main categories are:
Core Supports help with everyday activities and include:
Capacity Building Supports help build independence and skills:
Capital Supports fund one-time purchases:
When setting goals, consider how they might align with these categories. For example, a goal about independent living might connect to both Core Supports (daily living assistance) and Capacity Building (improved daily living skills).
NDIS goals aren't fixed - they can and should evolve as your loved one's needs and circumstances change. Regular review ensures goals remain relevant and achievable.
The NDIS typically conducts plan reviews annually, but you can request an unscheduled review if circumstances change significantly. When preparing for reviews:
If your loved one's goals change before their plan review, contact their support coordinator or the NDIA as soon as possible. They can provide guidance on whether the current plan remains adequate or if a reassessment is needed.
Here are practical examples of meaningful NDIS goals across different life areas:
Daily Living Skills:
Social and Community Participation:
Communication and Relationships:
Employment and Education:
Health and Wellbeing:
Independence and Mobility:
Each example focuses on outcomes rather than specific services, uses positive language, and describes achievable steps toward greater independence and community participation.
The goal-setting process is collaborative and ongoing. Your role as a supporter is to help your loved one articulate their aspirations clearly while ensuring their goals align with NDIS principles and funding categories. With meaningful goals in place, your loved one will be better positioned to access the supports they need to live their best life.