What goals are you looking to achieve through your NDIS Plan in 2025?

We understand that everyone’s goals are different depending on their individual wants and needs, and we have seen all kinds of goals with the participants we support through our services.

At Helping Solutions, we strive to help people achieve their goals so that they can live the life they want to live.

If you’re just getting started with an NDIS Plan and wondering what kind of goals you can set to achieve more independence, we first recommend thinking about what you’d like to be able to do or achieve a year from now. What kinds of skills will help you feel more supported and confident to do the things you want to do in your life? We’ve found this exercise has helped many of our participants make incredible progress towards their individual goals.

For example, participants who face challenges with mobility have set goals such as:

• Finding adaptable ways to prepare meals with the assistance of a support worker.
• Building a personal care routine for just one aspect of their day (e.g. getting out of bed and tending to care needs for the day ahead).
• Working on a schedule to be able to attend personal appointments or complete household maintenance tasks.

Other participants with psychosocial disabilities face different challenges and therefore have different goals, which have included:

• Increasing their confidence and capacity to access their local community through community access supports.
• Finding a local group or activity that they love participating in and socialising at regularly.
• Developing a familiar travel route to various locations while accompanied by a support worker.

If you’re looking for ideas on what you can put your Core Supports budget towards to develop more independence, then keep reading for a comprehensive list.

1) Learn to prepare simple, healthy meals

For many of our participants, learning recipes that are easy for them to prepare each day is a huge goal for building their independence. By increasing their capacity to cook, they are progressing towards:

• Having the freedom to choose when and what they cook and eat each day.
• Being able to cook for others (whether this be housemates, a loved one, or preparing food for celebrations and gatherings).
• Transitioning into a Supported Independent Living arrangement, which is a huge step towards living completely independently eventually.

Regardless of whether you’re looking to cook for yourself or for others, cooking can be an enjoyable and social experience—and it doesn’t have to feel like a lot of work.

Some easy recipes to get you started include:

• One pot dishes such as this Creamy Tuscan Salmon.
• Rice cooker recipes like this Spanish Rice that can be served as a side, or in burritos and tacos.
• Easy soups like 10 Minute Chicken and Vegetable Soup.

Our Support Workers can support this goal by assisting you to prepare easy recipes and find adaptable alternatives to cooking through our Daily Living Supports. Get in touch to learn more.

2) Build a personal care routine

Another huge goal that our participants often work towards is creating a personal care routine. This empowers them to take care of their needs with reduced support (even if it’s just for a short duration of the day).

Some of the benefits of a personal care routine include:

• Regaining freedom to do things in their own time—when was the last time you had a morning to yourself to enjoy a quiet cup of tea and read a book without anyone else present?
• Experiencing a new level of privacy—being able to shower and dress on your own is an incredible step towards independent living.
• Managing your own schedule—being able to take routine medication on time gives you control, choice, and builds your confidence in living independently.

Imagine what your personal care routine might look like by 2025 if you started now? Our Support Workers can help you start with one goal, such as independent dressing, and build from there. Get in touch to learn more.

3) Join a local group or regular class

Is 2025 the year you discover a new hobby or passion?

Joining a regular class (such as art, cooking, dancing or even horse riding) can be a great way to meet new people and learn new skills.

Many of our community participation participants have found communities this way, reconnected with their peers, and formed meaningful connections.

Plus, it provides a consistent and familiar opportunity to practice leaving the house and accessing the community each week, which may be an area you want to build confidence in.

Another way to discover a new passion and try new things is to join a local group, such as a sports club or a local volunteer organisation.

Both are great ways to get involved in activities you love, with like-minded individuals, and participate meaningfully to causes you care about.

To find classes and groups you might be interested in joining, try:

• ClassBento (information for NDIS Participant invoicing here)
• ReboundWA for a range of all abilities sports groups.

Our Support Workers can assist you with accessing the community through our  Community Participation Supports. Get in touch to learn more.

4) Move into a Supported Independent Living arrangement

Moving out of home and into a place of your own is a massive step, and we believe it’s possible for you.

Supported Independent Living (SIL) makes it more accessible to take this step, by allowing you to live independently in a shared living arrangement with 2 – 3 other housemates and a support worker (depending on the supports you have and the ratio of the living arrangement).

SIL sets you up in a location close to public transport, amenities and shops, while also providing the opportunity to build various skills both within the home and out in the local community.

If one of your big goals for 2025 is more autonomy and socialisation opportunities, SIL offers the opportunity to connect with like-minded housemates who share similar interests and lifestyle preferences.

Plus, you’ll receive support with any daily living skills you’re building (such as cooking or building personal care routine) giving you increased freedom over time.

We have a number of SIL properties available in Atwell and Forestdale—if you’re interested and want to find out more, or enquire about your eligibility, get in touch with our friendly team today.

Supporting you to achieve your goals in 2025

Building independence doesn’t necessarily mean doing everything by yourself—it can mean establishing interdependence, expanding your support network, or even developing your capacity to take on more tasks with more autonomy. All of these individual outcomes help you to become more independent over time.

No matter your goals for independence, we’re ready to support you as you work towards them. Get in touch with our friendly and caring team today to get started.