We know that NDIS terms can be confusing. Sure, you have funds that can be used in various ways, but how can you spend them, what’s actually covered, and what does it all mean?

Understanding the various categories of funding can be tricky. Fortunately, we’re here to help you simplify the process.

Here we’re covering Capacity Building Supports to help you make the most of your plan and your funding categories. Let’s take a look.

What is Capacity Building?

Capacity Building Supports are one of three categories of supports that may be in your NDIS plan. This funding category is there to help you (or your participant) build independence and skills to move towards the goals laid out in the plan.

While Core Supports are flexible and moveable to different categories (you can learn more about Core Supports here), the funding in your Capacity Building budget can only be used for the Capacity Building categories.

What can Capacity Building Supports be used for?

There are nine support categories for which Capacity Building Supports can be used. These are:

• 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


• Improved daily living

How do Capacity Building Supports work in practice?

Day-to-day Capacity Building Supports are there to help you increase your skills and boost your independence. The categories cover a range of different needs associated with this. These include:

• Support Coordination


This category covers funding for your Support Coordinator. Support Coordinators can help you make the most of your plan to work towards your goals and increase your independence.

• Improved living arrangements


Funding in this category helps you to find and maintain suitable accommodation and independent living arrangements. This can cover things like assistance in finding accommodation and help with rental property inspections.

• Increased social and community participation


To help you better participate in the community, this category funds things like classes, coaching and mentorship that can boost independence and access to your community.

• Finding and keeping a job


To help you find meaningful employment, you may gain support for training, assessments, and career counselling. Those supports are covered in this category.

• Improved relationships


To better your ability to have healthy and meaningful relationships with others, you can use funding for social skills support or behavioural therapy.

• Improved health and wellbeing


Staying mentally and physically healthy is essential for overall well-being. This category allows you to gain access to supports like physical trainers and dietitians to boost overall health. Do note though, that gym memberships are not covered here.

• Improved learning


To boost learning opportunities, this category offers supports, such as training or advice, to move from school to higher learning such as TAFE or university.

• Improved life choices


This category is available to pay for your plan manager (if you have one) which manages your plan on your behalf.

• Improved daily living


To improve your skills and independence day-to-day, this category covers training, therapy and assessments. Supports including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy are covered here.

Is it reasonable and necessary?

Keep in mind, for any support to be covered, it must also meet the NDIA’s reasonable and necessary test.

As we’ve covered before, for a support to be considered reasonable and necessary it must:

• Relate to the participant’s disability


• Relate to a goal in the participant’s plan


• Be value for money


• Be accurately provided by the NDIS.

You can discover more about the reasonable and necessary requirements on the NDIS website.

We’re a call away

We know NDIS terms and jargon can be confusing. It’s our aim to make the process simple for you so that you can make the most of your plan.

Have a question or query? Our friendly team is only too happy to help. Contact us at 1300 60 33 89 or at [email protected]