Understanding NDIS capacity building supports
Capacity building supports play an important role in helping NDIS participants develop skills, confidence and independence in everyday life, to help you work towards achieving your goals. Capacity building supports can include supporting you with daily living skills, helping you develop social connections and improve your living arrangements, while also enabling you to navigate employment, education and community participation opportunities.
Although, not every NDIS participant will have capacity building included as part of their plan, as every plan is tailored to individual needs, unique goals and circumstances. However, for those who do, there can be a range of different support categories included depending on the participant’s goals and support needs.
To help explain how NDIS capacity building supports work, we spoke with our Director, Jodi Perkin, who is also a Specialist Support Coordinator to talk through some of the most commonly asked questions our client’s want to know. From understanding what capacity building supports are and what can be claimed, to finding the right providers and building greater independence over time. Jodi shares her experiences about how capacity building supports work in supporting participants in everyday life and how you can make the most of your funding.
Question: What are capacity building supports in the NDIS?
Answer: “Capacity building supports are designed to help participants develop skills, confidence and independence over time. Unlike supports which help with day to day activities, capacity building focuses on helping a person learn, improve and grow so you can be more independent, while helping you work towards achieving your goals and live your life the way you choose,” explains Jodi.
“The NDIS created these supports to help you work towards achieving your goals, that could mean you might be wanting to learn a new skill, improve communication, find a job, develop social connections or become more confident and independent in managing your own supports.
“Capacity building is all about empowering people and creating long term independence,” says Jodi.
Question: What services or supports are provided as part of capacity building?
Answer: “Capacity building supports is the overarching category for services that enable people to develop their skills, confidence and independence,” says Jodi.
“As a NDIS participant, you can have funding in your plan for up to nine capacity building support categories including 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.”
Support coordination – a support coordinator works together with a participant to:
Understand your NDIS plan
Connect you with service providers
Help build your confidence to manage your own supports
Navigate services
Develop problem solving skills
Strengthen your independence over time
“Most importantly, a support coordinator will help build a participant’s own capacity so you can feel confident in making informed decisions,” says Jodi.
Improved living arrangements - helping participants develop the skills needed to find and maintain suitable housing by:
Helping you attend group programs and community activities
Participating in recreational activities
Having a mentor
Developing your social skills
“Many NDIS participants want support to help build their confidence socially, meet new people, participate in activities that are of interest to them and simply feel more connected within their community. The goal isn’t just about participating, it is about inclusion,” says Jodi.
Finding a keeping a job – employment supports are designed to help NDIS participants prepare for, find and maintain employment by:
Having a resume developed
Helping you prepare for an interview
Undertaking work readiness training
Planning a career
Developing workplace skills
Providing support to help you transition from education to employment or further education
“For many NDIS participants, employment is closely connected to independence, confidence and social inclusion,” says Jodi.
Improved relationships – supporting NDIS participants to develop positive social skills and improve interaction and connection with others by accessing services including:
Behaviour support services
Social skill development
Communication support
Behaviour management strategies
Programs that support positive relationships and community interaction
“For some participants, these supports can play an important role in building confidence in social situations and help improve overall quality of life,” says Jodi.
Improved health and wellbeing – health related supports with the aim of improving a participant’s overall health and wellbeing including services such as:
Exercise physiology
Dietitian services
Personal training tailored to disability needs
Programs supporting your physical or mental wellbeing
“Supports such as these can help participants to live healthier, happier and more independent lives,” says Jodi.
Improved learning – supports designed to help participants transition from school to further education and other learning opportunities, which can include:
Transitioning to TAFE or university
Assisting you with application processes for courses
Tutoring and literacy support
Study skill development
Building your confidence in educational settings
“Improved learning supports can help participants not only further their educational opportunities while working towards future career goals, but can also help participants build their independence, confidence and social skills,” says Jodi.
Improved life choices – services which help participants develop the skills needed to manage their NDIS plan and make informed decisions about their supports, including:
Managing NDIS budgets
Paying providers
Keeping records, receipts and invoices
Understanding funding and claims
Building your confidence to self-manage supports
Funding for a Plan Manager - find out more about NDIS plan management
“This category is designed to help increase participant choice and control while helping participants feel more confident in navigating the NDIS over time,” says Jodi.
Improved daily living – therapists who provide services and assessments to help participants increase their independence in everyday life including:
Occupational therapy
Speech therapy
Physiotherapy
Psychology
Skill development
Functional assessments
“These supports help participants build practical life skills and improve participation at home, school, in the workplace and the community,” says Jodi.
Question: Are all participants funded for the same capacity building supports?
Answer: “No, not everyone receives funding for capacity building supports and those who do, their NDIS plans will be very individual,” says Jodi.
“A participant may receive funding for several capacity building categories, or only just one or two. It really depends on your individual and unique needs and your goals that you are working towards achieving.”
Some examples of NDIS capacity building supports can include:
Working with an occupational therapist to improve your daily living skills
Receiving speech therapy to help you build communication skills
Having a support coordinator to help you understand and implement your NDIS plan
Assistance with learning budgeting and managing your money
Employment supports to help you prepare for work
Applying for rental properties or helping you maintain a tenancy
Assistance with helping you transition from school into further education
Supporting you to attend community activities or programs
“It is important to remember that every participant’s capacity building supports will look different and these services should always connect back to your goals and what you want to achieve. They are designed to help you learn new skills, which you can continue using long into the future,” says Jodi.
Question: What can I claim under the NDIS capacity building category?
Answer: “What can be claimed depends on the individual participant’s goals and the capacity building categories that have been included in your NDIS plan.
“In general, supports should be related to the participant’s disability, considered reasonable and necessary, connected to your NDIS goals and included within funded support categories. Depending on your plan, claimable supports may include therapies, assessments, support coordination, employment supports, skill building programs and health and wellbeing supports. Because every plan is different, understanding your funding and how it can be used is really important,” says Jodi.
Question: Who can provide capacity building supports?
Answer: “There are many different professionals, support services and providers who deliver NDIS capacity building supports depending on your goals and needs. Finding the right providers is really important, particularly providers who genuinely understand your goals, can meet your needs and are focused on helping you build long term independence,” says Jodi.
Providers and support services who provide capacity building supports can include, but are not limited to:
Support coordinators - find out more about how JP Trusted Advisor can help you
Occupational therapists
Speech pathologists
Physiotherapists
Psychologists
Behaviour support practitioners
Employment providers
Plan managers
Mentors and support workers
Question: What advice would you give someone searching for providers specialising in NDIS capacity building supports and how can I find providers near me?
Answer: “Finding the right provider starts with finding people who take the time to listen, understand you, your goals and how you want your supports delivered,” explains Jodi.
“A good provider should listen to your goals, respect your choice and control, communicate with you and your family or carer clearly, work together with you, focus on long term outcomes and help you build your independence.
“Support coordinators can also play an important role in helping you connect with providers who are suited to your individual needs and goals, in your local area,” says Jodi.
Question: If there was one thing you would like NDIS participants, their families and carers to know and understand about capacity building supports, what would it be?
Answer: “Capacity building is about helping you move towards living the life you want to live,” says Jodi.
“Capacity building supports are more than just services. These types of supports help participants build confidence, skills and independence in ways that create meaningful, positive and long term outcomes to not only help you meet your goals, but enable you to live your life the way you choose.
“For some participants, that may mean learning a new daily living skill, while for others it might mean building social confidence, finding a job, improving communication or becoming more independent while navigating your NDIS plan.
“Every participant has different needs and goals, but the purpose of capacity building support remains the same. It’s about supporting you to work towards living the life you want to live,” says Jodi.
Question: I need support understanding my NDIS plan, can JP Trusted Advisor help me?
Answer: “Yes, we can. Everyday our team of support coordinators and specialist support coordinators work with participants, their families and carers to help navigate the NDIS. Whether you need assistance understanding your capacity building funding, finding and connecting to a provider or building your independence over time, we are here to help,” says Jodi.