How your goals affect your NDIS funding

July 28, 2020

How your goals affect your NDIS funding

During your NDIS planning meeting, there are a few key topics that need to be discussed in order to build your plan. Not only do you need to talk about how your disability impacts your everyday activities, but you’ll also cover other things such as what supports you’re currently receiving, your goals and how you’d like to manage your NDIS funding going forward.

The aim of the NDIS is to provide people with access to the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live a fulfilling life. Goal setting is an important part of identifying what supports you require as all of the NDIS funding you are allocated should align with working towards your short-term and medium to long-term goals. That’s why setting goals at your planning meeting is so important.

Not only does goal setting impact your NDIS funding, but when communicated to your friends, family and service providers, it helps everyone to get on the same page and understand what it is you want to achieve and how they can help you to get there. But most of all, your goals are your aspirations and help guide a path towards a future you envision for yourself.

Your NDIS funding is designed to help you meet your short-term and medium to long-term goals goals by providing you with funding based on what is reasonable and necessary to achieve them. Here are some things you should consider when setting your NDIS goals:

• What do you enjoy doing now and what do you want to try in the near future? It’s important to include any hobbies or activities you enjoy and outline any supports you may currently be receiving or need in order to continue those activities.
• Are you happy where you’re currently living or do you want to move? If you’re currently living with your parents but you have dreams of moving out of home then highlight that at your planning meeting. We also recommend you discuss this goal with your family.
• Are you currently studying or do you want to enrol in any further education? Higher education is a great stepping stone to a meaningful career or a way to learn more about topics that you find interesting. Completing study is very rewarding.
• If you’re currently working or want a job, what type of supports do you need? Whether its assistance with traveling to and from work or on-the-job supports, the NDIS can help provide you with the supports you need to find and keep employment.
• Anything else that may help with your day-to-day!

Because the NDIS breaks down your goals to short-term and medium to long-term, you should consider an achievable and realistic timeframe for everything you want to work towards.

Short-term goals are characterised as goals that can usually be achieved in under 12 months, meaning they will be reviewed at your next scheduled plan review. An example of a short-term goal may be to learn how to use public transport so you can get to places on your own.

Medium to long-term goals are those which take longer than 12 months to achieve. These goals may sometimes feel as though they’re too far away or difficult to reach but the best way of achieving them is just by taking it one day at a time. It can help if you keep a journal with a small checklist so that you can track the progress towards your ultimate goals.

Reviewing your goals

Because everyone has different goals, it’s impossible to compare yours with someone else. Where you might wish to move out of home with friends, someone else might want to stay at home with their family but need some home modifications to help with getting around.

You have the opportunity to change or update your goals at your plan review which usually occurs every 12 or 24 months, depending on your preferences and requirements. If you think you may be on track to achieve your goals ahead of time or perhaps your circumstances have changed and you wish to amend your NDIS goals, you can request an early review.

If you wish to request an early plan review (also known as an unscheduled plan review) because your goals or circumstances have changed, you may need the help of a support coordinator. Our team of support coordinators can help you to prepare for and request an early plan review that ensures your updated plan reflects your new goals. Contact us here.

Achieving your goals

Your NDIS funding is unique to you and has been allocated as a way to help you achieve your goals. Therefore, managing your NDIS funding is an important part of working towards your goals. With proper management, you can make the most of your funds, allocate your funds towards supports that are best suited to you and budget effectively to ensure you don’t overspend or underspend.

NDIS plan management is an effective way to manage your plan funds without the need for time consuming and difficult record-keeping. Working with an NDIS plan manager means you can focus on achieving your goals while we manage your budget, provide expert recommendations and pay all of your provider invoices on your behalf.

To learn more about NDIS plan management in Brisbane, click here.