Goals & Planning Tools
Clear goals make it easier for the NDIS to understand what matters to you, and to match supports to your everyday life. Use this page to get ideas, write your own goals, and prepare for planning meetings.
Goal Examples Library
See sample goals across daily living, community, work, and health to help you find the right words.
“My Goals & Supports” Worksheet
A simple structure you can print or copy to plan your goals, supports, and who will help.
Linking Goals to Your Plan
Tips to connect your goals to NDIS budgets, support coordination, and future plan reassessments.
1. Goal-Writing Examples
There’s no “perfect” way to write a goal. The main thing is that it reflects what you want, in language that makes sense to you. These examples show how to move from very broad goals to more specific, NDIS-friendly wording.
Everyday Life, Community, Work & Health
Use these as inspiration only. You can mix and match, or change the words so they feel like yours.
| Area of Life | Less Helpful Goal | Stronger NDIS-Style Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Living | “I want to be more independent at home.” | “I want to increase my independence at home by learning to safely prepare simple meals and complete basic household tasks with less support.” |
| Community & Social | “I want to get out more.” | “I want to build my confidence to go out in the community at least twice a week, including going to a local group or café, with support to plan transport and manage anxiety.” |
| Work & Study | “I want to get a job.” | “I want to explore work options by attending employment preparation sessions, updating my resume, and completing at least one work experience or volunteer role over the next 12 months.” |
| Health & Therapy | “I want to be fitter and stronger.” | “I want to improve my strength, balance, and mobility so I can walk safely around my home and local area, using regular physiotherapy and an exercise program designed for me.” |
| Communication | “I want to communicate better.” | “I want to communicate my needs and choices more clearly with family and support workers, using a communication device and practice sessions supported by a speech pathologist.” |
| Emotion & Behaviour | “I want to be calmer.” | “I want to develop strategies to manage anxiety and meltdowns at home and in the community, so I can participate in activities I enjoy with fewer incidents.” |
| Independent Living / Housing | “I want to move out one day.” | “I want to work towards more independent living by practising daily living skills, understanding my housing options, and trialling short stays away from the family home.” |
| Carer & Family | “I want my carer to get a break.” | “I want to reduce pressure on my carer by having regular, planned respite and supports that help me maintain my routines when they are not available.” |
You don’t need lots of goals. Many people have 3–5 main goals that cover what’s most important across the next year or two.
2. “My Goals & Supports” Worksheet
You can print this section or copy it into a document or notes app. Fill it in on your own, with family, or with your support coordinator before a planning or reassessment meeting.
Step A – About Me
Short notes about what matters to you, not a full life story.
- What do I enjoy or value most in my day-to-day life?
- Who are the important people or services in my life?
- What gets in the way or makes things difficult at the moment?
Step B – My Main Goals
Choose 3–5 goals that are most important over the next 12–24 months.
| Goal Number | My Goal (in my own words) |
|---|---|
| Goal 1 | |
| Goal 2 | |
| Goal 3 | |
| Goal 4 (optional) | |
| Goal 5 (optional) |
Step C – Supports That Help
Link your goals to the supports you have now, and supports you may need in future.
| Goal | Supports I Have Now | Supports I Might Need | Who Can Help Coordinate? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goal 1 | e.g. support worker, OT, family | e.g. more hours, group program, equipment | e.g. support coordinator, plan manager, key worker |
| Goal 2 | |||
| Goal 3 |
If you have Support Coordination, you can bring this worksheet to meetings so your coordinator can help link your goals to budget categories and providers.
Step D – Evidence & Progress
This section is helpful for plan reassessments. Keep it updated during your plan.
What has changed since my last plan?
- New skills or independence?
- Challenges, risks, or health changes?
- Supports that worked well or didn’t work?
What evidence do I have?
- Therapy reports (OT, physio, speech, psychology, behaviour support)
- Support worker notes or attendance records
- School, TAFE, or work feedback
- Letters from carers or family describing changes
3. Linking Your Goals to Budgets & Supports
When your goals are clear, it’s easier for planners and providers to see why you need certain supports and which budget they might come from.
Match Goals to Budget Categories
Think about which budget categories your goals connect to:
- Core: supports that help you participate day-to-day (support workers, community access, consumables).
- Capacity Building: therapies, assessments, skills training, support coordination.
- Capital: equipment or home/vehicle modifications linked to mobility, safety, or communication goals.
Use Goals With Your Team
Share your goals with the people who support you so everyone is working in the same direction:
- Support coordinators – to design a support mix that fits your goals.
- Plan managers – to make sure spending lines up with what your plan is meant to achieve.
- Therapists – to write reports that clearly connect recommendations to your goals.
- Support workers – to understand what you’re working towards in each shift.
Reviewing your goals regularly makes future plan reassessments easier. You can show what has changed, what worked well, and where you still need support.
Related Resources
These pages connect closely with setting and reviewing your goals:
- Getting Started with the NDIS (if you’re new to the scheme)
- Budget Categories Explained (how funding is grouped)
- Support Coordination Explained (who can help pull it all together)
- Preparing for Your Plan Reassessment (using your goals and evidence over time)
- Complaints & Feedback Pathways (if supports are not helping you meet your goals)