NDIS life skills support: examples of everyday goals

What can a life skills goal look like?

• Planning two meals and making a shopping list.
• Practising a familiar trip on public transport.
• Using a weekly calendar to remember activities.
• Comparing prices while shopping.
• Organising laundry into a routine that is easier to follow.

A worked example: preparing a simple meal

Choose a meal you enjoy and already know a little about. Start by looking at the ingredients together. You might practise writing the list first, then finding items at the shop on another day.

At home, decide which parts you want to try and where you need help. A picture sequence, written checklist or demonstration may be useful. Choose tools and tasks that match your abilities and the support you need.

Learning together and doing a task for you

Sometimes you need a task completed efficiently. At other times you want to practise. Both can be valid needs, but they make for different support sessions. Tell your provider which approach you want on a particular day.

A useful sign of progress might be needing fewer prompts, feeling more comfortable or deciding how to do the task. It does not have to mean doing every step without assistance.

Keep the goal flexible

Try to practise in a familiar setting and allow enough time. If fatigue, health or interests change, adjust the task. A smaller step can still move you towards something important.

Discuss how skill-building support fits your goals and plan. Keep brief notes about the assistance that helped, so another worker can follow the same approach with your agreement.