”Your NDIS plan is like a roadmap to achieving your goals and living life to the fullest.
One important aspect of your NDIS plan is the funding allocated to different categories of support. Today, we will be looking at Capacity Building funding, explaining the purpose of capacity building and what you can use this funding for.
Capacity Building supports are used to support goals that focus on building independence and skills.
Predominately, Capacity Building funding is used for therapies such as Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Physiotherapy and these come from the Improved Daily Living category and can usually be used flexible within this category to make sure you are receiving the correct therapies.
If you have a Plan Manager, Support Coordinator or a PBSP (Positive Behaviour Support Plan), they will have their own funding for the duration of the plan and this funding cannot be used for anything else. Any service listed as a ‘stated support’ in a NDIS plan must be used for that purpose.
I have added a quick reference guide below that will help breakdown the Capacity funding categories, but if you are ever confused you can contact the NDIS or call a Focal support coordinator and they can talk you through the funding.
You can have supports funded under the Increased Social and Community Participation category where your support workers will be assisting you to build your capacity in the community whether it be learning to use public transport or attending classes or training.
There are eight support subcategories in the capacity building budget. These include:
| Subcategory | Description | How funding can be used |
|---|---|---|
| Support Coordination | The fixed amount for a Support Coordinator to strengthen NDIS participant’s abilities to coordinate and implement supports in their NDIS plans and to integrate in the community. | Asking a support coordinator to locate and link you with an allied health professional. |
| Improved Living Arrangements | Supports that help to find and maintain a place to reside. | Assistance with searching for a rental property, attending rental inspections, and meeting obligations for a tenancy agreement. |
| Increased Social & Community Participation | Supports that provide skill development tools to increase participation in the community, social and recreational activities. | Assistance with public transport training, attending camps, classes or community activities that build capacity. |
| Finding & Keeping a Job | Services that will assist to find a job including training. | Assistance with resume writing and preparation for interviews. |
| Relationships | Supports to help develop positive behaviours strategies and build social skills. | Accessing support through a positive behaviour support practitioner to develop a positive behaviour support plan. |
| Health & Wellbeing | Supports that help to improve health and wellbeing. | Accessing support through a dietician, personal trainer, or exercise physiologist. |
| Lifelong Learning | Supports that help to build skills to transition from school to lifelong learning such as university or Tafe. | Support with course applications, study schedules, and time management. |
| Choice & Control | Services to assist monitor funding and payment paying for services. | Engaging with a plan manager to help with financial administrative tasks. |
| Improved Daily Living | Therapies or training that can help to build capacity to participate in the community. | Accessing occupational therapy to help pursue NDIS goals. |
Written by: Taleesha Crone
Support Coordinator
With a background in supporting individuals with disabilities across various settings, Taleesha is committed to enhancing the quality of life for her participants. She focuses on building capacity, connecting participants to service providers and community supports, and effectively managing resources to achieve the best outcomes for NDIS plans. Passionate about her work, Taleesha studied Individual Support and continues to expand her expertise to better support her participants every day.
