NDIS goals for children: how to write them, with examples

A good NDIS goal for a child names something they'll be able to do, in a real part of their day, and is clear enough that you can tell later whether it happened. Every NDIS plan needs at least one goal.^[] Goals don't buy supports directly, but they tell the NDIA what your child is working towards, and that informs which supports go into the plan.^[] When the plan funds therapy, your child's therapist turns those goals into a therapy plan and reports on progress before the next plan.^[]

How goals connect to therapy funding

The chain usually looks like this:

1. You set plan goals with the NDIA, based on what matters for your child and family.^[]
2. The NDIA decides on supports. Goals are one part of that decision. The NDIA can only fund supports that are reasonable and necessary, and more or bigger goals don't mean more funding.^[]
3. The therapist writes a therapy plan with strategies, home practice and a way to measure progress against your goals.^[]
4. Progress is reported. Before a plan reassessment, the NDIA may ask for evidence from therapists showing progress towards goals and measurable outcomes.^[] For children under 9, progress reports should record how much progress was made towards each goal and suggest future goals.^[]

That last step is why vague goals cause problems. If a goal can't be measured, it's hard for anyone to show it's working. See what NDIS funding covers for which budget pays for therapy.

What makes a goal useful

Before writing anything, Raising Children Network suggests thinking about your child's strengths, what a typical day looks like, what's working, and what they need help with.^[] Then check each goal against this list:

• It's about everyday life: mealtimes, getting dressed, playing with a sibling, the kindy drop-off.
• It names a skill or activity, not a therapy. "Talk to my teacher when I need help" beats "speech therapy".
• It has a setting, such as home, childcare, school or the park.
• You could see it happen. Someone could tell you whether it's happening more, less or the same.
• It fits your child. It builds on what they enjoy and what's important to your family.

Mix short-term goals, for the next 3 to 12 months, with one or two longer-term hopes.^[] The NDIA also suggests short-term goals that work towards bigger ones.^[]

From vague to clear

Worked examples

These are made-up examples to show the structure. They're not taken from real families. Your child's goals should come from your child's life.

Communication

• Plan goal: I want to tell my family what I want and how I feel, using words, pictures or my AAC device.
• What therapy might work on: a speech pathologist helps your child choose between two options at snack time and builds up to naming feelings with pictures.
• How progress could be measured: how often your child makes a request without a prompt during a set routine, recorded before therapy and again later.

Daily living

• Plan goal: I want to do more of my morning routine by myself so we're not rushing before school.
• What therapy might work on: an occupational therapist breaks dressing into steps, works on buttons and zips, and sets up a picture schedule.
• How progress could be measured: which steps your child completes alone, and how many reminders they need.

Social and play

• Plan goal: I want to play a game with my brother and take turns without it ending in tears.
• What therapy might work on: turn-taking games in sessions, then practising the same game at home with coaching for parents.
• How progress could be measured: how long a shared game lasts, and how many turns happen before an adult steps in.

School readiness

• Plan goal: I want to join in at kindy, sit with the group for story time and follow simple instructions.
• What therapy might work on: attention and regulation strategies, listening and following two-step instructions, and sharing ideas with the kindy teacher.
• How progress could be measured: how long your child stays with the group, and how many instructions they follow with one prompt.

Notice that each plan goal is about the child's life, while the therapy and measures sit underneath it. That matches how the NDIA expects therapists to work. They help your child work towards specific therapy goals and towards the plan goals at the same time.^[]

Goals the NDIS may not fund supports for

A goal can be important to your family and still not attract NDIS funding. The NDIA says a goal might need supports its rules don't allow.^[] For example:

• support that's mainly about school learning, which is the education system's responsibility^[]
• the everyday care parents provide for any child of the same age^[]

You can still include goals like these. Other supports, such as the school or a community activity, may help your child work towards them.^[]

Changing goals during a plan

If your child meets a goal early or things change, you can update goals as a plan variation without a new plan. Call 1800 800 110, use Service Hub, or talk to your my NDIS contact. Changing goals doesn't add funding by itself.^[]

Before your next plan meeting

Bring your goals to your child's plan check-in or reassessment.

Write three or four goals in plain words, ask your child's therapists and teachers what they'd add, and bring any recent reports. Our milestones guides can help you think about where to focus. If you'd like to talk through therapy options for a plan-managed or self-managed plan, you can send Hey Sprout an enquiry.