Getting NDIS goals right: a practical guide for therapists and families

Well-written NDIS goals are one of the most important tools in a participant's plan. When goals don't reflect what's actually meaningful to someone, or aren't written in a way that clearly communicates functional value, funding can be harder to secure. This can lead to delays in therapy and extra stress for participants and their families. The good news is that goals written with the person at the centre — using their language, reflecting their priorities, and grounded in real life — are also the ones the NDIA funds best. Below, we've pulled together our practical tips for writing goals that are both affirming and funding-ready.

🤝 Writing goals that are both affirming and fundable

The NDIS funds goals that build a participant's capacity and connect to outcomes that matter in their everyday life. Here's how to write goals that achieve both:

🔹 Use clear, outcome-focused language rooted in the client's life

• Affirming: "Finn will independently prepare one familiar snack or simple meal per week using a visual recipe, completing this in 8 out of 10 consecutive weeks, supporting increased independence in daily living."
• Less effective: "Improve meal preparation."
• The difference: the NDIS needs to understand what will change, in what context, and over what timeframe.
  

🔹 Link goals to real participation — school, home, community, daily life

Explain how achieving this goal helps the participant take part in the routines and environments that are meaningful to them, and how it builds their capacity over time.

🔹 Include baseline, target, timeframe, and supports

• Baseline: Where is the participant starting from? (e.g. currently requires full adult prompting for morning routine)
• Target: What does success look like for them? (e.g. completing a 2-step routine independently on 4 out of 5 mornings)
• Timeframe: A realistic, reviewable period (e.g. 12 weeks, or Term 3)
• Supports: Therapy type (e.g. Occupational Therapy), frequency, and estimated hours
  

🔹 Be clear about why this level of support is needed

Explain the clinical reasoning behind the frequency and approach. For example, why a graded, strengths-based strategy supports this particular client's learning style and goals. Where relevant, reference evidence-informed approaches.

🔹 Capture satisfaction alongside skill

At BlueRocket, we always include pre- and post-satisfaction scores alongside goal measurement. This captures the client's own sense of how things are going — not just observable performance — which is especially important for goals around confidence, regulation, identity, and connection. The NDIS recognises this kind of qualitative change too.

🔹 Where relevant, show how goals support greater independence

If achieving a goal will reduce the need for paid supports, decrease carer load, or support community access, include that. Frame it in terms of what becomes possible for the participant, not just what's saved.

🔹 Keep goals participant-led and meaningful

Use the participant's own words and priorities where you can. Goals that reflect what someone actually wants — returning to a hobby, managing their morning more independently, connecting with peers — communicate genuine need and build better plans.

🗒️ A useful goal structure

[Participant name] will [specific activity or outcome], from [baseline] to [target], within [timeframe], supported by [any key supports]. This will support [participation outcome — in their words where possible].

👉 Example (Occupational Therapy)

"Ava will independently complete her 2-step morning routine (get dressed and pack her school bag) on at least 4 out of 5 school days per week for 4 consecutive weeks, as reported by her Dad. Achieving this goal will support Ava's independence, reduce stress for her family in the mornings, and contribute to a more settled start to her school day. Dad currently rates his satisfaction with the morning routine at 5/10."

Strong, clear goals support meaningful outcomes and can help inform funding decisions. If you’d like support refining goals or reviewing a plan, we’re here to help.