NDIS goals are the things you want to work towards, written in your own words. Good examples of NDIS goals are specific and personal, like “I want to learn to catch the train on my own so that I can get to my course without a lift”. Below are 32 NDIS goals examples across eight areas of life, plus a simple formula for writing your own.
Every example is a starting point, not a script. Your goals should sound like you and describe the life you want.
What are NDIS goals?
The NDIS describes goals as things you want to work towards. They help the NDIA understand what matters to you and which supports your plan may need. A few things are worth knowing before you write yours:
- Your plan must include at least one goal, and you can have as many as you want.
- Goals can be small and short-term or big and long-term. They can be specific or broad.
- You can write your NDIS plan goals in your own words before your plan meeting. If that is hard, your planner can write them down with you.
- Goals can change. You can update them without getting a new plan.
Do NDIS goals affect your funding?
Not directly. The NDIS says goals do not link straight to funding, and setting more or bigger goals does not mean more funding. The NDIA does not have to fund a support for every goal, and every support still has to be “reasonable and necessary”.
What clear goals do is help everyone see why a support matters. “I want to be more independent” tells a planner very little. “I want to cook dinner for myself three nights a week” shows exactly what you are working on and makes your progress easy to see.
Clear goals are also useful when your plan is reassessed. Some NDIS support budgets are being reduced as plans are created or reassessed from 1 October 2026, so it helps to know which goals matter most to you. Our guide to the NDIS community participation cuts explains what is changing.
How to write an NDIS goal: a simple formula
NDIS goal setting does not need special wording. A goal that works answers two questions: what do you want to do, and why does it matter to you?
I want to [do what] so that [why it matters to me].
Start with the life you want, not with a service. “I want a support worker” is a support. “I want to go to the footy with my mates” is a goal. The supports come later.
| Too vague | Clearer |
|---|---|
| I want to be more independent. | I want to learn to plan and cook three dinners a week so that I can move into my own place. |
| I want to get out more. | I want to join a weekly social group so that I can make friends my own age. |
| I want a job. | I want to try work experience in a café so that I can find out if hospitality suits me. |
| I want to be healthier. | I want to go to the pool twice a week so that I have more energy during the day. |
NDIS goals examples by area of life
These NDIS goal examples are written for teenagers and adults. Mix and match them, change the details and make them yours.
Daily living and independence
- I want to learn to cook simple meals so that I can make my own dinner three nights a week.
- I want to build a morning routine I can follow on my own so that I get to work on time.
- I want to learn to do my own washing and keep my room tidy so that I am ready to move out of home.
- I want to learn to manage my money and pay my own bills so that I rely less on my family.
Related support: NDIS self care.
Social and community participation
- I want to join a local sports club so that I can keep fit and meet people who like what I like.
- I want to go to a weekly art class so that I can build my skills and share my work.
- I want to learn to catch public transport on my own so that I can visit friends without needing a lift.
- I want to volunteer once a week so that I can give back to my community and meet new people.
Related support: social and community participation.
Finding and keeping a job
- I want to work out what kind of job suits me so that I can look for work I will enjoy.
- I want to practise interview skills so that I feel confident meeting an employer.
- I want to find a part-time job in retail so that I can earn my own money.
- I want support to settle into my new job so that I can keep it for the long term.
Related support: NDIS employment support.
Leaving school
- I want to try work experience in two different industries so that I can decide what to do after Year 12.
- I want to learn to travel to TAFE on my own so that I can start my course next year.
- I want to build my communication skills so that I can speak up for myself at work.
- I want to learn how to handle my money so that I am ready for my first pay.
Related support: School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES).
Starting a small business
- I want to turn my baking into a small market stall so that I can earn an income doing what I love.
- I want to learn how to price and sell my artwork so that my hobby can become a business.
- I want to set up a simple online shop so that customers can order from me.
- I want to learn basic bookkeeping so that I can keep track of what my business earns.
Related support: microenterprise support.
Health and wellbeing
- I want to walk for 30 minutes most days so that I have more energy.
- I want to learn to plan healthy meals so that I can look after my own health.
- I want to learn ways to manage stress so that I can stay calm in busy places.
- I want to go to the gym with support so that I can exercise safely and regularly.
Relationships and communication
- I want to build my confidence in conversations so that I can make and keep friends.
- I want to learn to use my phone and email so that I can stay in touch with my family.
- I want to learn about healthy relationships so that I can make safe choices.
- I want to practise speaking up for myself so that people understand what I need.
Home and living
- I want to build the skills to live in my own place so that I can move out within two years.
- I want to learn to do the grocery shopping on a budget so that I can run my own household.
- I want to learn what to do in an emergency at home so that I feel safe living on my own.
- I want to try a short stay away from home so that my family and I can get used to more independence.
Related support: STA and assistance (including respite).
How a mentor helps you work on your NDIS goals
Writing the goal is the easy part. The progress happens in the weeks that follow. At Good Company we call our support workers mentors, and a big part of NDIS mentoring is turning a goal into small, regular steps.
- Break it down. “Catch the train on my own” might start with reading the timetable together, then travelling with your mentor, then your mentor meeting you at the other end.
- Practise regularly. Seeing the same mentor at regular times means you can pick up where you left off.
- Keep track. Notes on what you tried and what you achieved make it easier to show your progress when your plan is reassessed.
For more on this, read 5 ways mentoring can support NDIS participants in reaching their goals.
NDIS goals examples: frequently asked questions
What is a good example of an NDIS goal?
A good NDIS goal says what you want to do and why it matters to you. For example: “I want to learn to catch the bus on my own so that I can get to work without a lift.”
How many goals should I have in my NDIS plan?
Your plan needs at least one goal and there is no maximum. A few goals you really care about are usually easier to work on than a long list.
Do more goals mean more NDIS funding?
No. The NDIS says setting more or bigger goals does not mean more funding. Supports have to be reasonable and necessary, and working towards a goal is only one part of that decision.
Can I change my NDIS goals?
Yes. You can change your goals without getting a new plan. Call the NDIS on 1800 800 110 or speak to your my NDIS contact. Updating goals is a small change called a plan variation, and it does not add funding to your plan.
Who can help me write my NDIS goals?
The NDIS suggests talking with a family member, a friend, your my NDIS contact, your support coordinator or your recovery coach. If you already have a mentor or support worker, they can help you think about what you want to work on next.
How Good Company can help
Good Company supports NDIS participants in Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide. We match you with a mentor based on personality, interests and location, and you see their profile before you meet. If you have goals you want to get moving on, get in touch for a relaxed chat about what you want to work on.
Sources and further reading
- NDIS: What are goals
- NDIS: How to set goals
- NDIS: How to change your goals
- NDIS: Changes to support budgets from 1 October
This article is general information only and was current at 13 October 2026. The goals in it are examples, not recommendations for your plan. NDIS rules, and how they apply to individual plans, can change, and we can’t guarantee the article is complete or up to date. It is not advice about your plan and you should not rely on it to make decisions about your supports. Check ndis.gov.au, call the NDIS on 1800 800 110, or speak with your support coordinator or plan manager. Good Company Disability Services is an independent provider and is not affiliated with the NDIS or the NDIA.
