Written by the Good Company Disability Services team, NDIS support providers in Perth and Melbourne. Reviewed October 2026.
NDIS capacity building supports are funding in your plan that helps you learn new skills and become more independent, so you can do more for yourself over time. Capacity building has its own budget with up to nine categories, including improved daily living, increased social and community participation, finding and keeping a job, and support coordination. Below we explain each category in plain words, with examples and goal ideas you can use.
What is capacity building in the NDIS?
Capacity building is one of the four NDIS support budgets, alongside core, capital and recurring supports. The NDIA describes capacity building supports as funding that builds your skills so you can do things for yourself and work towards your goals.
A simple way to think about it: core supports help you do things now, and capacity building helps you learn to do them yourself. A support worker who comes with you to a weekly class is helping you take part. A mentor who helps you learn the route so you can get there on your own is building your capacity.
Some capacity building categories, such as support coordination and finding and keeping a job, are usually time-limited. The aim is for your skills to grow and your support needs to change.
What are the NDIS capacity building categories?
Your capacity building budget can include funding in up to nine categories. You only get funding in the ones that match your needs and goals. Here’s what each one covers, with everyday examples.
Improved daily living
Builds living skills, independence and community involvement through assessments, training and therapies, such as occupational therapy or speech therapy. For example, you might work with an occupational therapist on a morning routine, or see a speech therapist to make communicating easier. Some NDIA documents call this category Improved Daily Living Skills.
Increased social and community participation
Helps you find and join activities based on your interests and connect with other people. Examples include joining a community or hobby group, playing sport, outdoor recreation, social skills training, making friends and building your network. Our guide to building confidence through community participation has more ideas.
Finding and keeping a job
A time-limited category for working-age participants. It can include building work skills, career planning, work experience and moving into work or further study. For the skills this support can help with, see top skills to build with NDIS capacity building employment support, and our guide to finding and keeping a job under the NDIS.
Support coordination
Usually time-limited. A support coordinator helps you manage your funding, supports and providers with more confidence and independence. The NDIA describes three levels: support connection, support coordination and specialist support coordination for more complex situations. The NDIA’s support categories factsheet groups psychosocial recovery coaches in this category too, for people with a primary psychosocial disability.
Improved relationships
Helps you develop positive behaviours and social interaction skills. This can include behaviour support plans, behaviour supports and social skills development.
Improved health and wellbeing
Supports your physical and mental wellbeing. For example, working with a dietitian on a meal plan, an exercise physiologist on an exercise plan, or a personal trainer so you can exercise safely.
Improved learning
Helps you move from school to further education, such as TAFE, university or a short course. Examples include help applying for courses and managing your study workload.
Improved life choices
Builds the money and organisation skills you need to manage your own plan, like coordinating supports, paying providers and keeping records. This category also holds funding for a plan manager if you have one. Read more in self-managed vs plan-managed NDIS.
Improved living arrangements
Helps you find and keep suitable housing. For example, a support worker might help you apply for a rental or get ready for an inspection. Rent and rental bonds are not NDIS supports, so you pay those yourself.
How is capacity building different from core supports?
Both budgets can pay for support workers, but they do different jobs.
| Core supports | Capacity building supports | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Help with everyday activities and taking part in your community | Build your skills and independence |
| Example | A support worker comes with you to a weekly class | A mentor helps you learn to get to the class on your own |
| Flexibility | Mostly flexible across core categories | Stated, so money can’t move between categories |
| Time frame | Depends on your needs | Some categories are usually time-limited |
Watch out for two names that sound alike. In the NDIA’s support categories factsheet, assistance with social, economic and community participation is a core category for help or supervision to take part. Increased social and community participation is a capacity building category for skills-based learning, so you can be more independent in your community. Check your plan to see which one you have.
Is capacity building funding flexible?
Not between categories. Capacity building funding is stated, so you can’t move money from one category to another, and you need to buy the kinds of supports described in each category. You can only buy supports from the NDIS supports lists.
You still have choice inside each category. You can pick your provider and decide how many supports you buy within the amount. Therapy funding is shown as one total amount, so you can use it for the therapies that suit your needs. Our guide to NDIS funding categories explains flexible and stated supports across every budget.
What’s changing for capacity building in 2026 and beyond?
- Budget changes from 1 October 2026: the NDIA says budgets are being reduced for two support categories, Improved Daily Living Skills and Social, Economic and Community Participation. This applies to plans created or reassessed from 1 October 2026, and plans renewed from 1 February 2027. Some groups of supports, such as employment supports and disability-related health supports, are not affected.
- New framework planning from April 2027: the NDIA says new framework plans will have a flexible budget and a small number of stated supports, set using a support needs assessment. It hasn’t yet said exactly how capacity building will look in these plans.
- Support coordination from July 2028: the government plans a commissioned support coordination and connection service from 1 July 2028, replacing how participants get support coordination now. Consultation closed on 2 October 2026, and the government will make a final decision after considering feedback.
For the bigger picture, read NDIS changes 2026: what families need to know.
How to get the most from capacity building with a mentor or support worker
Capacity building works best when everyone knows which skill you’re building and how you’ll know it’s working. These tips help.
- Start with your goal. Link each support to a goal in your plan, written in your own words.
- Break it into small steps. “Catch the bus to TAFE” might start with planning the route, then riding with your mentor, then riding on your own while they meet you there.
- Practise in real places. It’s often easier to use a skill when you’ve practised it where you’ll need it, like your kitchen, the local pool or your workplace.
- Step support back over time. A good mentor does less as you do more. That’s the point.
- Keep simple notes. Track what you tried, what worked and what’s next. Notes help show your progress at your next plan reassessment.
- Connect your team. If you see an occupational therapist or speech therapist, ask how your mentor can help you practise their strategies between sessions.
Find out more about how mentoring can help you reach your goals.
Examples of capacity building goals
Good goals describe what you want to be able to do. Here are some examples you can adapt:
- “I want to cook three simple meals a week on my own.”
- “I want to catch public transport to my local shops without help.”
- “I want to join a local club and make new friends.”
- “I want to find a part-time job in retail.”
- “I want to manage my own NDIS budget and pay my providers.”
- “I want to move out of home into a rental.”
- “I want to enrol in a TAFE course and keep up with my study.”
- “I want to build a safe exercise routine.”
- “I want to feel more confident speaking up for myself at appointments.”
For more ideas, see our NDIS goals examples.
How Good Company can help
Our mentors and support workers help you build skills and confidence, one step at a time. We have in-person teams in Perth and Melbourne, including mentors on the Mornington Peninsula, and remote support by phone or video in other states.
- NDIS mentoring to work towards your goals step by step.
- Self-care skills support to learn everyday living skills and routines.
- Social and community participation to build confidence and connections.
- Support coordination to help you get the most from your plan.
Frequently asked questions
What are examples of NDIS capacity building supports?
Examples include occupational therapy or speech therapy to build daily living skills, social skills training, help joining a hobby group or sports club, career planning and work experience, support coordination, help applying for a rental, and working with a dietitian or exercise physiologist. Each example sits in a specific capacity building category, and you only get funding in the categories that match your goals.
What is the difference between core and capacity building supports?
Core supports help you with everyday activities and taking part in your community now, often with a support worker. Capacity building supports help you learn skills so you can do more for yourself over time. Core funding is mostly flexible across its categories. Capacity building funding is stated, so each amount must be used in its own category.
Can I use capacity building funding for a support worker?
Yes, if the support matches a capacity building category in your plan and builds your skills. For example, the NDIA says a support worker can help you apply for a rental under improved living arrangements. Capacity building funding is stated, so it must be used for the supports described in that category, not for general help with daily tasks.
Is support coordination part of capacity building?
Yes. Support coordination is one of the capacity building categories, and it’s usually time-limited. A support coordinator helps you understand your plan, choose providers and build confidence managing your supports. The government plans to replace the current approach with a commissioned support coordination and connection service from 1 July 2028.
Can I move money between capacity building categories?
No. Capacity building funding is stated, so money in one category can’t be moved to another. Within a category you can choose your provider and how many supports you buy. If your needs change in a big and ongoing way, you can ask the NDIA about a plan variation or reassessment.
Ready to start building skills with your plan? Call our team on 08 9334 6995 (office hours 9am to 5:30pm) or contact us online to talk about mentoring and support near you.
