The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) empowers participants to lead more fulfilling lives by providing funding for essential services and supports. One core budget type is Capacity Building Supports.
Split into 10 categories — each focusing on a different life domain — this financial assistance helps you to build everyday living skills, grow your self-confidence, and work towards personal goals.
But how does the Capacity Building Supports budget work, and what can it be used for?
As a registered NDIS provider, Hunter Care Group is here to shed light on this life-changing resource. Below, we’ll explain what Capacity Building Supports are, the various types available, and how they fit into your NDIS plan.
What are Capacity Building Supports?
Capacity Building Supports are one of the main budget types in your NDIS plan. Focusing on long-term growth, it is designed to help NDIS participants develop competencies, foster independence, and achieve their personal goals.
Some examples of Capacity Building Supports include:
- Daily living skills training – learning cooking, cleaning, or personal care skills.
- Mobility and travel training – building confidence using public transport or getting around safely.
- Therapy services – such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, or speech therapy.
- Behaviour support – strategies to improve emotional wellbeing and behaviour management.
- Support coordination – help connecting with the right services and managing your plan.
- Plan management – assistance with managing budgets, invoices, and NDIS funding.
The NDIS includes these supports because it recognises that, with the right tools and opportunities, people living with a disability can build their confidence, take part in their community, and enhance their everyday experience.
10 types of Capacity Building Supports
Behaviour Support
This category funds professional assessments and behaviour support plans for participants who experience behaviours of concern. It helps identify triggers, teaches positive coping strategies, and provides training for families or carers.
The goal is to reduce behaviours that impact safety or quality of life and create a more supportive, positive environment at home and in the community.
Support Coordination & Psychosocial Recovery
Support coordination is designed to help you understand and use your NDIS plan effectively. Coordinators can assist with budgeting, service bookings, and strengthening your ability to manage supports on your own.
Meanwhile, psychosocial recovery coaching is specifically for people with mental health-related disabilities. It focuses on recovery, goal-setting, and connecting with mental health services so participants can rebuild independence and stability in their lives.
Improved Living Arrangements
This category helps participants find and maintain safe, appropriate housing. Funding can cover assistance with rental applications, understanding tenancy agreements, and ensuring the home meets accessibility needs.
Ultimately, it aims to give participants more control over where they live and to support long-term housing stability.
Increased Social and Community Participation
Designed to reduce isolation and encourage connection, this funding supports activities that build social confidence and community involvement.
It can be used for recreational programs, educational courses, or skill-building workshops — anything that helps participants engage with others, learn new things, and feel more included in their communities.
Finding and Keeping a Job
For participants who want to work but need extra support, this category provides job readiness training, workplace mentoring, and assistance with finding and keeping employment.
It helps develop the skills needed to enter the workforce and maintain meaningful, sustainable work over time.
Relationships
Building and maintaining positive relationships can be challenging for some participants. This funding supports therapy, training, and programs that focus on communication skills, emotional well-being, and social confidence.
The objective is to help participants feel more connected, develop trust with others, and enjoy stronger relationships in their personal and community life.
Health and Well-being
This category funds services that improve both physical and mental health. It can include exercise physiology, personal training, nutrition advice, or tailored programs to help participants manage the effects of their disability and live healthier, more active lives.
Lifelong Learning
Transitioning from school to higher education or training can be overwhelming. Lifelong Learning funding supports participants through this process by covering things like application assistance, study skills development, and classroom support. It helps make further education more accessible and achievable for people with disabilities.
Choice and Control
Managing NDIS funding can be complex. This category funds plan management services, giving participants more choice over the providers they use — including non-registered ones — while someone else takes care of the budgeting, invoices, and financial paperwork. It’s all about reducing stress and increasing flexibility.
Improved Daily Living Skills
This category funds therapies and training programs that help participants develop practical skills for everyday life. It can include occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, or training in things like cooking, budgeting, or using public transport.
Ultimately, the goal is to build independence and confidence in daily routines and community participation.
The benefits of Capacity Building Supports
For many participants and their families, Capacity Building Supports in the NDIS provide life-changing opportunities. Here’s how they can make a difference:
Greater independence
Capacity Building funding focuses on skill development and therapy services that help people manage everyday tasks on their own.
From learning daily living skills to accessing the right supports, participants can rely less on others and foster the mindset to live more independently.
Stronger community participation
When participants build communication, mobility, and social skills, they can take part in community activities with confidence. This not only creates a stronger sense of belonging but also helps break down barriers to inclusion.
Improved well-being
Building skills and achieving goals often leads to improved self-esteem and resilience. With the right support, participants can overcome challenges, feel more empowered, and enjoy better emotional well-being.
More employment opportunities
By learning new skills and accessing supports that prepare them for work or study, NDIS participants can explore meaningful job opportunities. This opens doors to financial independence and greater participation in the workforce.
Long-term savings
While Capacity Building Supports may require funding upfront, they can reduce the need for ongoing personal care in the future.
By investing in independence and skill development early on, participants often need fewer long-term support services, making it cost-effective for both families and the NDIS.
How to access Capacity Building Supports under the NDIS
To access Capacity Building Supports through the NDIS, you’ll need to follow a step-by-step process. Here’s how it works:
1. Check your eligibility and apply
If you or someone you care for has a permanent disability that significantly affects daily life, you may be eligible for the NDIS.
To do this, the first step is to submit an NDIS Access Request Form. The NDIS will then review your application and assessment information to determine if you qualify as a participant.
2. Create a personalised NDIS plan
Once approved, you’ll work with an NDIS planner or Local Area Coordinator to create a plan tailored to your goals and needs.
Your NDIS plan will outline the supports you require, including any Capacity Building Supports to help you build skills, confidence, and independence.
3. Connect with preferred service providers
With your NDIS plan in place, you have the flexibility to choose service providers who best meet your needs. This might involve therapy, skill-building programs, or support coordination — whatever is required to help you achieve your goals.
Whether you prefer registered NDIS providers or self-managing your funding, the choice is yours. Take time to compare providers, read reviews, and find the right fit for your goals.
4. Review and update your plan
Your circumstances and goals may change over time, which is why regular NDIS plan reviews are important. These reviews ensure your Capacity Building Supports continue to meet your needs and adapt as your independence grows.
FAQs for Capacity Building Supports
Are Capacity Building Supports included in every NDIS plan?
Not automatically. Capacity Building funding is based on the personal goals you discuss at your planning meeting.
If achieving your goals means you need to learn new skills or access therapy, these supports can be included in your plan. It all comes down to what will help you most.
How much funding will I get for Capacity Building Supports?
The NDIS looks at your individual goals, any professional reports you provide, and what they consider “reasonable and necessary” for your situation.
Because every person’s goals are different, funding amounts will vary depending on what you need to achieve the best outcomes.
Can I move funding between the Capacity Building categories?
No. Unlike your Core Supports budget, which can be used flexibly across different areas, Capacity Building funding is tied to specific categories in your plan and can only be used for the supports listed under each category. That’s why it’s so important to make sure the right supports are requested in your plan.
Can Capacity Building Supports be used for support coordination?
Yes, support coordination is its own category within Capacity Building. It’s there to help you understand your plan, connect with services, and make the most of your funding.
Can Capacity Building funding be used for assistive technology or home modifications?
No. Capacity Building funding is specifically for services that help you build skills, confidence, and independence — things like therapy, training, or support coordination.
If you need funding for assistive technology such as wheelchairs, communication devices, or home modifications like ramps or bathroom upgrades, this comes under the Capital Supports budget in your NDIS plan.
Capital Supports cover one-off purchases and physical items, while Capacity Building focuses on personal skill development and long-term independence.
Can Capacity Building Supports be used for employment and education goals?
Yes, they can. There are specific Capacity Building categories, like Finding and Keeping a Job or Improved Learning, that can help you prepare for work or study.
This could include workplace readiness training, mentoring, or support to access further education.
Do Capacity Building Supports cover mental health and wellbeing services?
They often do. Supports such as counselling, psychology, or programs that help you build emotional resilience may be funded under categories like Improved Daily Living or Improved Health and Wellbeing, especially if they connect directly to the goals in your NDIS plan.
How do I request Capacity Building Supports in my NDIS plan review?
When it’s time for your plan review, clearly explain how these supports will help you achieve your goals.
Bringing along reports or recommendations from therapists, doctors, or support coordinators can make it easier for the NDIS to see why the funding is necessary.
Can I choose my own provider for Capacity Building Supports?
Yes, you have full choice and control over your providers. If you’re plan-managed or self-managed, you can even choose non-registered providers if you prefer.
What matters most is finding someone who understands your goals and can deliver the right supports for you.
Discover NDIS support services in Newcastle
From accessing therapy to forging stronger community connections, Capacity Building Supports give NDIS participants the resources to build confidence, learn new skills, and lead more independent lives.
At Hunter Care Group, we’re dedicated to helping participants in Newcastle and the Hunter region make the most of this NDIS funding category. Our services include support coordination, Supported Independent Living and psychosocial recovery coaching. To learn more, call our friendly team on (02) 4950 2269 or enquire online today.