What Is NDIS Capacity Building and How Can It Help You?

NDIS Capacity Building can help you learn new skills, become more independent and work towards the goals that matter to you.

You may want to learn how to cook a simple meal, use public transport, manage your daily routine, communicate more clearly or take part in activities in your community. You may need support to practise these skills and become more confident.

This is where capacity building supports can be useful.

The NDIS describes capacity building supports as supports that help participants build skills to do things for themselves and work towards their goals. Your NDIS plan is based on your individual needs, so you will only have funding for support categories that apply to you.

In this guide, we will explain what capacity building means, the types of support it can include, how it can help with everyday life and what to think about when choosing support.

What Is NDIS Capacity Building?

NDIS Capacity Building is about helping you develop skills and become more independent.

The word “capacity” can sound complicated, but the idea is simple. It means building your ability to do things, make choices and take part in everyday life.

For example, you may currently need help preparing meals. With the right support, you may learn how to plan a meal, collect the ingredients, prepare the food and clean the kitchen.

The aim is not always to remove support completely.

Instead, the goal may be to help you do more for yourself while keeping the support you need.

Capacity building supports are one of the four support budgets that may be included in an NDIS plan. The other budgets are core supports, capital supports and recurring supports. Not every participant receives funding in every budget.

How Does NDIS Capacity Building Work?

Capacity building support is usually linked to your goals and individual needs.

Your goals may relate to your home life, relationships, community participation, education, employment, health or personal independence.

The support you receive should connect with what you are trying to achieve.

For example, if one of your goals is to become more confident using public transport, your support may focus on learning how to read timetables, plan a trip, use a bus or train safely and handle changes during the journey.

If your goal is to become more independent at home, support may focus on cooking, cleaning, organising your belongings or following a daily routine.

The NDIS explains that capacity building supports are designed to build skills and increase independence.

What Types of NDIS Capacity Building Support Are Available?

Capacity building is not just one type of service.

The NDIS currently lists several capacity building support categories. These can include support coordination, improved living arrangements, increased social and community participation, finding and keeping a job, improved relationships, improved health and wellbeing, improved learning, improved life choices and improved daily living.

The type of support you receive depends on your NDIS plan and your individual needs.

Support Coordination

Support coordination can help you understand and manage your NDIS supports.

A support coordinator may help you connect with providers, understand your choices and organise the supports that relate to your goals.

The NDIS says support coordination is usually a time-limited support designed to help participants become more self-sufficient and confident in managing their funding, supports and providers.

Improved Living Arrangements

Some people need help finding or keeping a suitable place to live.

Capacity building supports in this area may help with tasks such as preparing for a rental inspection or applying for a rental property.

It is important to understand that this does not mean the NDIS pays your ordinary rent or rental bond. The NDIS states that rent payments and rental bond costs are not NDIS supports.

Increased Social and Community Participation

Being part of your community can help you meet people, develop interests and feel connected.

Capacity building support may help you take part in activities that interest you.

For example, you might want to join a sports group, hobby group, community activity or other local program.

You may also receive support to develop social skills, make new friends and become more confident when meeting other people.

Finding and Keeping a Job

Some participants may want to work but need help preparing for employment.

Capacity building support can include assistance with developing work skills, creating a career plan, gaining work experience or moving into employment or further education.

The NDIS identifies finding and keeping a job as one of its capacity building support categories for working-age participants.

Improved Relationships

Relationships are an important part of everyday life.

Some participants may need help developing communication and social skills or managing behaviours that make relationships difficult.

Capacity building support can help people develop positive behaviours and improve their ability to interact with others.

This can support relationships with family members, friends, co-workers and people in the wider community.

Improved Health and Wellbeing

Capacity building can also support some areas of health and wellbeing.

Depending on your plan and needs, this may include support from professionals such as a dietitian, exercise physiologist or other appropriate provider.

For example, a participant may receive support to develop a meal plan or an exercise plan that suits their needs.

The purpose is to help build skills and habits that can support a healthier everyday life.

Improved Learning

Learning does not stop when you leave school.

Some people may need support to move into further education, TAFE, university or other courses.

Capacity building support may help with applying for a course, managing study tasks or improving certain learning skills.

The type of support depends on your individual goals and NDIS plan.

Improved Life Choices

Some participants may need help developing the skills needed to manage their NDIS plan.

This can include learning about organising supports, managing providers, paying providers and keeping records.

The NDIS lists improved life choices as a capacity building support category. It can also include funding for a plan manager where plan management is included in your plan.

Improved Daily Living

Improved daily living is another important capacity building area.

It can help participants build living skills and increase independence and participation in the community.

The NDIS says this can include assessments, training and therapies. Examples include occupational therapy and speech therapy where they are appropriate for the participant’s needs.

How NDIS Capacity Building Can Help With Everyday Skills

Everyday tasks can seem simple to some people but may be difficult for others.

Learning these skills can make a big difference to daily life.

For example, you may want to learn how to:

• Prepare simple meals
• Use kitchen appliances safely
• Keep your home clean
• Do your laundry
• Organise your belongings
• Follow a daily routine
• Use public transport
• Communicate your needs
• Make appointments
• Join community activities
• Develop social skills
• Prepare for work
• Manage parts of your NDIS plan

You do not need to learn everything at once.

A support worker or qualified professional can help break a task into smaller steps.

Over time, you may become more comfortable doing some of these tasks yourself.

NDIS Capacity Building and Independence

Independence does not mean doing everything without help.

For one person, independence may mean preparing their own breakfast.

For another person, it may mean choosing their clothes, making decisions about their day or travelling to a local activity.

For someone else, independence may mean being able to communicate what support they need.

This is why your goals should be personal.

The NDIS explains that capacity building supports can help build skills and increase independence.

Your progress may also look different from someone else’s.

The important thing is that the support helps you move towards your own goals.

How Therapy Can Support Capacity Building

Therapy can sometimes play an important role in building skills.

Depending on your needs, this may include occupational therapy, speech therapy or other appropriate therapy supports.

For example, speech therapy may help with communication and social skills.

Occupational therapy may help you develop functional skills for everyday activities.

The NDIS says therapy supports can help improve skills and independence in areas such as communication, personal care, mobility, social interaction, problem-solving and community living.

Therapy should have a clear purpose connected to your needs and goals.

How Support Workers Can Help Build Your Skills

A support worker can help you practise everyday tasks. The important difference is that support does not always mean someone does the task for you.

Sometimes the worker may show you how to do something and sometimes they may guide you while you try or they may stay nearby to make sure you are safe.

For example, if you want to learn laundry skills, a support worker might help you sort clothes, understand the washing machine settings and follow the steps.

With practice, you may become more confident doing some of the process yourself. This type of support can help turn everyday activities into learning opportunities.

Building Social and Community Skills

Being independent is not only about what happens inside your home. Community skills can also be important.

You may want to learn how to visit a local library, attend a community centre, join a sports group or travel to an appointment. Support can help you practise these activities.

For example, you may start by travelling with a support worker. Later, you may feel confident enough to complete part of the trip yourself.

The NDIS includes increased social and community participation within its capacity building support categories.

Building Confidence Through Small Steps

Learning a new skill can sometimes feel difficult. You may make mistakes but that is normal. A good support approach can break a large goal into smaller steps.

For example, instead of trying to learn everything about cooking in one day, you could start with one simple meal.

You might first learn how to collect the ingredients. Then you could practise preparing them. After that, you could learn how to use the cooking equipment safely.

Small steps can make a difficult task feel easier.

How to Set Goals for Capacity Building

Clear goals can help you understand what you want to achieve.

Instead of saying:

“I want to be more independent.”

You could make the goal more specific:

“I want to prepare two simple meals each week.”

Or:

“I want to learn how to use public transport to visit my local community centre.”

A clear goal gives you something you can practise.

It can also make it easier to see your progress.

Your goals should be based on what matters to you, not what someone else thinks you should do.

How to Know if Your Support Is Helping

It is useful to check your progress from time to time.

Ask yourself:

• What can I do now that I could not do before?
• What tasks feel easier?
• What do I still need help with?
• What would I like to learn next?
• Is my support helping me work towards my goals?
• Do I feel more confident making everyday choices?

Progress does not always happen quickly.

Some skills can take weeks, months or longer to develop.

What matters is that your support has a clear purpose and continues to meet your needs.

Choosing the Right Provider for Capacity Building

Choosing a provider is an important decision.

Look for a provider that listens to your goals and explains the support clearly.

You should understand what the service involves and how it can help you work towards your goals.

Ask how workers are trained and whether they have experience providing the type of support you need.

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission says registered providers must meet the NDIS Practice Standards, which set quality standards for registered providers. The standards include participant rights, provision of supports and provider governance.

You can also ask how your progress will be discussed and what happens if your needs change.

Questions to Ask a Capacity Building Provider

Before starting a service, consider asking:

How will you help me work towards my goals?

The provider should be able to explain how the support connects with what you want to achieve. You should not feel that you are receiving support without knowing why it is being provided.

Who will provide my support?

Ask about the workers or professionals who will support you. You can ask about their experience, training and how they understand your individual needs.

How will we measure progress?

Ask how you and your provider will know whether the support is helping. Progress may be shown through new skills, increased confidence, greater participation or improved ability to complete everyday tasks.

What happens if my needs change?

Your needs may change over time. Ask how the provider handles changes in your goals, routines or support requirements.

Can I ask questions or raise concerns?

You should feel comfortable speaking up if something is not working. Ask the provider how you can provide feedback or make a complaint.

NDIS Capacity Building and Your NDIS Plan

Not every participant will have capacity building funding.

The NDIS says your plan is based on your individual needs, so you only receive funding in the support budgets and categories that are relevant to you.

Capacity building funding can also have specific rules.

The NDIS currently explains that capacity building supports are stated supports. This means you cannot simply move funding between capacity building support categories whenever you want.

You should check your own plan to understand what funding and support categories you have.

If you are unsure, speak with the NDIS or someone who helps you understand your plan.

What If Your Needs Change?

Your goals can change as your life changes.

You may achieve a goal and decide that you want to work towards something new.

You may also find that your current support is no longer meeting your needs.

Tell your support team when this happens.

Keeping track of your progress can help you explain what has changed.

You may also want to keep notes about new skills you have developed, areas where you still need help and new goals you want to work towards.

How Care Wise Connection Can Help

At Care Wise Connection, we understand that every participant has different goals and support needs.

One person may want to develop daily living skills.

Another person may want to become more confident in the community.

Someone else may need support with routines, communication or social participation.

Our NDIS disability support services are designed around individual needs and goals.

We can work with participants to understand what support they need and how it may fit into their everyday life.

If you are looking for support with daily activities, community participation or building greater independence, you can also explore our NDIS Assistance with Daily Living options.

The right support should help you feel respected, heard and involved in decisions about your own life.