4 Tips For Setting Good NDIS Goals

Preparing for your NDIS planning meeting can be challenging. There are a lot of goals to think about, covering every aspect of your life, including your social, emotional, and physical needs.

During your planning meeting, your planner will chat with you about the goals you hope to achieve across several aspects of your life. The planner asks these questions because the NDIS will only fund your supports if they will help you achieve your set goals.

Here are our top tips about how to set goals at your planning meeting.

1. Consider what matters to you

Our first tip for setting NDIS goals is to consider what really matters to you. What’s most important in your life?

Some examples of things that may matter to you include:

Attending a social group every week at the library.
Keeping in touch with your friends at your local community hub.
Communicating clearly with family, friends, and acquaintances.
Living life as independently as possible.

Write down a list of the things that truly matter. In the next step, you’ll convert your list of desires, needs, and expectations into concrete goals

2. Base your goals on these needs and desires

It’s now time to take the things that matter to you and transform them into actionable goals. Based on the desires listed above, for example, your goals may be:

To increase your access to social activities.
To stay involved with the community and to boost your civic engagement.
To improve your speaking and writing skills.
To find a part-time job and earn some independent income.

Your goals should be based on your desires and should also relate to your disability in some way. Establish these goals and bring them with you to your planning meeting.

3. Talk with your family and friends

It’s also important to chat with your support network—such as family and friends—about your goals.

Your support network may be able to provide extra insight into your goals and how they could be achieved through your NDIS plan.

4. Be clear with your goals.

When setting goals, make sure they’re clear and precise. Rather than saying, “I’d like to socialise more,” for example, say “I’d like to join a Sunday book club.”

The more defined your goals are, the greater chance you have of receiving funding through the NDIS.