Goals

What you want to work towards; the supports in your plan are built around them.

What it means

Goals are what you want to work towards in your life. They describe the outcomes that matter to you, such as becoming more independent, finding or keeping a job, studying, building relationships, or taking part in your community. In the NDIS, your goals sit at the heart of your plan and give it direction.

Goals can be short-term, focusing on something you want to achieve fairly soon, or longer-term, describing a bigger direction you are heading in over time. They are personal to you, and there is no single right kind of goal. What connects them is that they reflect your own priorities and the life you want to build, rather than what others think you should do.

In practice

Your plan's funded supports are built around your goals, so the clearer your goals are, the easier it is to show how a support helps you work towards them. When the NDIA considers whether a support is reasonable and necessary, one of the things it looks at is whether the support helps you pursue your goals.

It helps to think about what you want to achieve before your planning meeting or reassessment, and to describe your goals in a way that is meaningful to you. You do not need to have everything figured out, and goals can grow and change as your life does. A support coordinator or allied health professional can help you turn broad hopes into clear goals, and connect them to the supports that will help you get there step by step.

A real example

For example, Daniel told his planner that his main goal was to move out of the family home and live more independently. Working back from that goal, they identified shorter-term steps, such as learning to cook and manage a budget, and his plan funded skill-building supports to help him build towards living on his own.

Goals — FAQs

What are goals in an NDIS plan?
Goals are what you want to work towards in your life, such as more independence, work, study or community involvement. They sit at the heart of your NDIS plan and give it direction. Your funded supports are built around your goals, so the supports in your plan are meant to help you make progress towards them.
What is the difference between short-term and long-term goals?
Short-term goals focus on something you want to achieve fairly soon, and often act as steps towards a bigger aim. Long-term goals describe a broader direction you are heading in over time. Both are useful in your plan, and breaking a long-term goal into short-term steps can make it easier to see and fund the supports you need.
How do I set goals for my NDIS plan?
Think about what matters to you and what you want your life to look like, then describe it in your own words. Your goals can cover independence, work, study, relationships or community. You do not need every detail worked out. A support coordinator or allied health professional can help you turn broad hopes into clear, meaningful goals.
Can I change my goals?
Yes. Goals can grow and change as your life does. You can talk about new or updated goals at a plan reassessment, and your supports can be adjusted to match. It is normal for priorities to shift over time, and your plan is meant to reflect the life you want to build now and in the future.
Why do goals matter for my funding?
Your funded supports are built around your goals, so goals shape what the NDIS will fund. When the NDIA decides whether a support is reasonable and necessary, one thing it checks is whether the support helps you pursue your goals. Clear goals make it easier to show how a support connects to your life and needs.

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Official NDIS sources

Novida is an independent directory, not the NDIA. We explain each form in plain English and link you to the official copy — always download and submit the current version from the official website, as forms are updated from time to time.