Development of Daily Living & Life Skills referrals for NDIS coordinators
Capacity building to grow independence — cooking, budgeting, travel training and self-care skills that reduce reliance on paid support over time.
NDIS registration group: Development of daily living and life skills
What Life Skills is under the NDIS
Development of Daily Living and Life Skills is a capacity-building support under the NDIS that funds training and skill development to help a participant do more things for themselves. It sits within the Improved Daily Living support category of a participant's Capacity Building budget and is always linked to a goal in the participant's plan, such as living more independently.
The focus is on building the participant's own ability over time — teaching, coaching and practising skills like preparing meals, managing money, catching public transport and following personal-care routines. This makes it different from Core supports, where a worker helps complete a task; here the aim is for the participant to gain the skill and need less support in future.
It can be delivered individually or in a group, in the participant's home or out in the community, by trained support workers or allied health staff depending on the goals. Because it is a capacity-building support, it is typically time-limited and goal-focused, with progress reviewed at the participant's plan review.
What it covers
- Meal planning, cooking and kitchen-safety skills
- Budgeting, handling money and paying bills
- Travel training and confidence using public transport
- Personal care and self-care routines
- Household tasks — cleaning, laundry and shopping
- Building routines, time management and organisation
- Communication and social skills for everyday interactions
- Using technology and everyday devices to stay connected
- Skills that build readiness for more independent living
- Training for carers or family to reinforce new skills
Who it suits
Refer for this support when a participant has a plan goal around independence and building life skills and wants to develop their own capacity rather than have tasks done for them. It suits people moving toward more independent living, young people transitioning from school, and participants rebuilding daily function — including those working with a psychosocial recovery coach after a period of poor mental health.
How to refer Life Skills on Novida
Start by searching Novida for verified providers who deliver Development of Daily Living and Life Skills supports. Filter by location and the delivery mode the participant needs — one-to-one or group, in-home or community-based — and shortlist providers who work with the participant's disability type and goals.
Before you make contact, check each provider's registration status against the participant's plan-management type and confirm they have current capacity to take a new referral. Then contact the provider directly with a complete referral: participant consent, NDIS number, plan-management type, the relevant Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living line item or budget, the goals to work toward, preferred frequency and location, and any specific requirements or supporting reports.
Novida is free to use and never sits in the middle of the referral. You contact and engage the provider directly, keeping the referral relationship between you, the participant and the provider from the first conversation.
What to check before you refer
- Confirm the participant's plan holds funding in the Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living support category, and that a plan goal about independence or daily-living skills the training will work toward is recorded.
- Confirm the plan-management type (agency, plan or self-managed) so you know whether the provider must be NDIS registered, and match the provider accordingly.
- Confirm the provider's current capacity, delivery mode (one-to-one or group) and whether they can deliver in the settings the skill requires — the participant's home, the local community, or on real transport routes.
Life Skills — NDIS price limits (2026–27)
- Individual Skill Development And Training - Weekday Daytime — $69.34 per hour (09_009_0117_6_3)
- Individual Skill Development And Training - Saturday — $97.58 per hour (09_011_0117_6_3)
How it’s priced
This support is priced under the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (formerly the NDIS Price Guide) and is claimed from the participant's Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living budget. Hourly price limits apply and vary by factors such as time of day, day of week, provider location and whether the session is individual or group-based, so always check the current pricing arrangements at ndis.gov.au rather than relying on a fixed rate.
Coordinator FAQs — Life Skills
- Which budget does this support come from?
- It's funded from the participant's Capacity Building budget, under the Improved Daily Living support category. Because Capacity Building funding is category-specific rather than flexible across the whole plan, check that this category holds enough funding before you refer. Capacity Building supports are goal-linked, so the plan should…
- Does the provider need to be NDIS registered?
- It depends on how the plan is managed. Agency-managed (NDIA-managed) participants must use NDIS-registered providers. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can use registered or unregistered providers, subject to the plan manager's requirements. This support isn't one the law restricts to registered providers only, unlike specialist…
- Can this be delivered in a group?
- Yes. Daily-living and life-skills training is often delivered one-to-one but can also run in groups, such as a cooking or budgeting program. Group delivery is claimed at a shared ratio, so the per-participant cost differs from individual sessions. Confirm with the provider whether the participant prefers or needs individual support, and…
- How is this different from Core daily-living supports?
- Core supports (Assistance with Daily Life) help a participant complete tasks — a worker does or shares the task with them. This capacity-building support instead teaches the skill so the participant can eventually do it themselves. The aim is increased independence over time, not ongoing task completion. Many participants use both, but…
- Can it be delivered in the home and community?
- Yes. Much of this support happens in real settings — cooking in the participant's own kitchen, practising public transport on an actual route, or shopping at the local supermarket. Delivery location should match the skill being built. When you refer, tell the provider where sessions need to happen and whether the participant needs support…
- What evidence should I include in a referral?
- Include the plan goal that links to daily-living independence, the participant's NDIS number, plan-management type and the relevant budget line, plus consent to share information. Any assessments or reports from allied health or previous providers help the new provider plan and set measurable goals. Clear information about the…
- Who actually delivers this support?
- It can be delivered by trained support workers, allied health assistants, or allied health professionals such as occupational therapists, depending on the complexity of the skills and the participant's needs. Simple routine-building may suit a skilled support worker, while complex or clinical goals may need therapy input. Ask the provider…
- Can training involve the participant's family or carers?
- Yes. This support can include training for a participant's carers or family so they can reinforce new skills between sessions, which often helps the learning stick. It is delivered in the participant's interest and linked to their goals, not as respite or care for the carer. Confirm the plan and goals support this and that the participant…
- How long does this support usually last?
- Because it is capacity building, it is generally time-limited and goal-focused rather than open-ended. The provider works with the participant to build a specific skill, with progress reviewed and reported against the plan goals, typically at the participant's plan review. When you refer, discuss expected duration and how the provider…
Related NDIS registration groups
- Community & Social Participation referrals
- Group & Centre-Based Activities referrals
- Innovative Community Participation referrals
How to check a provider’s credentials
- NDIS Commission provider register — NDIS registration
- How worker screening works — Worker screening
- Make a complaint to the NDIS Commission — Complaints & conduct