What are NDIS goals (and why do you need them)?

Your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) goals are all about you. They’re where your NDIS plan is at its most personal.

Reflecting what you want your life to look like – and helping to shape the supports you need to make it happen – your goals are as unique as you are. And that means there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to creating them.

But when it comes to putting your needs and aspirations down on paper, it’s important to remember that NDIS goals link directly to NDIS funding, so getting them right is vital.

Wondering where to start? We’ve got you covered.

What are NDIS goals?

NDIS goals are statements about skills you want to develop, things you want to learn, and what you want to achieve in life. Importantly, they’re also about the help (e.g. funding, supports, assistive technology etc) you need to get there.

Your goals – which can be short, medium, or long term – sit inside your NDIS plan, and they guide everything that’s in it. Think of them as your personalised roadmap to the future.

Take a look at this page on the NDIS website for more information about goals.

Why do you need NDIS goals?

Well-written goals can open the door to a wider range of NDIS supports. They can give you more flexibility, more choice, and the chance to build a plan that truly supports the life you want to live.

When your goals are focused on outcomes like building your skills, increasing your independence, and creating stronger connections, you’re speaking the language of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) – and when it comes to funding, that’s a language you need to be fluent in.

If you’re thinking about your NDIS goals, think big, and work out what matters most. The clearer you are about your desired outcomes, the more opportunities you’ll create for yourself.

For short term goals, consider what you’d like to learn, change, or try within the next year. And the bigger things you want to work toward – like moving out of home or getting a job – can make great medium or long term goals.

Enjoying life is important too, so don’t forget to make space for goals centred around the people, places, and activities you find fun!

Whether you’re setting your NDIS goals for the first time or revisiting and updating them, your NDIA planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) can help. 

Here's some advice from the NDIA about how to set goals.

What makes a good NDIS goal?

Your goals have a real impact on your NDIS journey. They’re the starting point and the gatekeeper to how you can use your funding, so you want to make sure you get them right.

In more formal settings, like workplaces, people often set what are known as SMART goals – they’re Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. While they’re great in a structured setting, sometimes using SMART goals to try to come up with a ‘perfect’ NDIS goal can make things feel harder than they need to be.

That’s why our team came up with the SCOPE approach to goal setting, which you can read about here.

As a starting point, try coming up with a goal that’s about you, your interests, and your life. Make sure it’s focused on an outcome and not a support, keep it clear, and check back to make sure it’s realistic and achievable. You don’t need perfect words – just something that makes sense to you.

Who can help you set your NDIS goals?

Just because the goals in your NDIS plan are about you and your priorities, doesn’t mean you have to write them on your own. You can ask people you trust to help you think things through and you can write your goals with their support.

As well as your family and friends, you could ask:

• your support coordinator (if you have one)
• an allied health professional
• your LAC or NDIA planner
• a disability advocate
• a community member you trust

Once you’ve written your goals, make sure to revisit them regularly. It could be a good idea to bring them into your daily life through something as simple as a journal, a vision board, or even sticky notes on your bathroom mirror.

Keeping your goals visible can help you check in more regularly to make sure the supports in your plan are working for you. Plus, having them in sight can also be a great reminder to celebrate your successes when you hit the milestones that are important to you.