How to Build a Budget When a Participant Doesn’t Know Their Goals Yet

Will, EnableUs Community

Hey everyone, welcome back to NDIS Pricing & Budgeting. I’m Will, and as always, I’m here with Winter. Today we’re diving into a situation that, honestly, comes up way more than people think—what do you do when a participant doesn’t really know what their goals are yet?

Winter, EnableUs Community

Yeah, it’s such a common thing, isn’t it? Especially with people who are new to the NDIS, or maybe folks who’ve just come out of, like, informal care situations. Sometimes it’s just... they haven’t had to think about goals in a structured way before.

Will, EnableUs Community

Exactly. And it’s not just new participants, either. I’ve worked with young adults who’ve just left school, and suddenly everyone’s asking them, “What are your goals?” and they’re like, “Uh, I dunno, I just want to get through the week.” I remember one guy—let’s call him Sam—he’d always had his parents or teachers making decisions for him. When he got his first plan, he just stared at me and said, “I haven’t really thought about that.”

Winter, EnableUs Community

That’s so real. And sometimes there’s trauma or burnout in the mix, too. People might have had rough experiences with services before, or maybe they’re living with cognitive or psychosocial disabilities that make it hard to even picture what a goal could look like. It’s not that they don’t care—it’s just, the process is overwhelming or unfamiliar.

Will, EnableUs Community

Yeah, and from a compliance point of view, it gets tricky. The NDIS is built around funding supports that are linked to goals. If those links are missing or vague, you can run into issues with service agreements, invoices, even getting paid. I mean, we talked about this a bit in our episode on budgeting for outcomes—if you can’t show that connection, you’re at risk of claims being rejected or flagged.

Winter, EnableUs Community

Right, and it’s not just about ticking boxes. If you try to set goals for someone, or just make something up to fill the paperwork, that’s not ethical—and it can backfire. The whole point is to support people to discover their own direction, not to impose one on them.

Will, EnableUs Community

So, what do you actually do when someone says, “I don’t really have any goals”? I mean, you can’t just leave the plan blank, right? I usually start by focusing on what their day-to-day looks like. Like, “What’s hard for you right now?” or “What would make your life easier this week?”

Winter, EnableUs Community

Yeah, I love that. It’s about meeting people where they’re at. Sometimes it’s as simple as, “I’d like help cooking,” or “I want to get out of the house more.” You can translate those into NDIS language—so, Assistance with Daily Living, or Community Participation. It’s not about forcing a big, long-term goal, it’s about supporting what matters now.

Will, EnableUs Community

And the budget can reflect that. I like to use what I call a “starter budget”—so, you allocate some funds for immediate needs, some for exploratory stuff, and leave a chunk unallocated for when things become clearer. That way, you’re not locking anyone in, but you’re still providing real support.

Winter, EnableUs Community

Totally. I had a participant once who was really unsure about what she wanted, so I worked with her OT to just try different things—like, a few sessions focused on daily routines, some time with a peer mentor, and a bit of support coordination to help her explore options. Over a couple of months, she started to figure out what she enjoyed and what she wanted to work towards. It was all about keeping things flexible and checking in regularly.

Will, EnableUs Community

And documenting that process is so important. If you note in the service agreement that goals are still being developed, and you’re focusing on functional outcomes for now, it protects everyone. Plus, it gives the participant space to grow without feeling rushed.

Winter, EnableUs Community

Yeah, and don’t forget to actually build in review points. Like, set a 6-week or 3-month check-in to see how things are going. That way, you can adjust the plan as new goals emerge, instead of being stuck with something that doesn’t fit anymore.

Will, EnableUs Community

This is where supports like Support Coordination or Recovery Coaching can really shine. They’re not about telling someone what their goals should be—they’re about giving people the tools and space to figure it out for themselves. And, you know, sometimes that means just trying things and seeing what sticks.

Winter, EnableUs Community

Exactly. And it’s so important not to overcommit or frontload the plan just to fill hours. Leave room for participant-led exploration. I’ve seen people get overwhelmed when their plan is packed with stuff they’re not ready for. Instead, use things like feedback forms, self-reflection worksheets, or just regular chats to track what’s working and what’s not.

Will, EnableUs Community

I had a case where we set up a 3-month review cycle. The participant started with just a couple of supports—some community access, a bit of OT, and a recovery coach. Every three months, we’d sit down, look at what was working, and tweak the plan. By the end of the year, their goals were way clearer, and the supports actually matched what they wanted. It was slow, but it worked.

Winter, EnableUs Community

That’s the key, isn’t it? Don’t rush it. Ethical goal development is about balancing accountability with flexibility. And, like we said in our episode on stretching budgets, leaving some funds unallocated at first can be a real lifesaver. It gives you room to move as things change.

Will, EnableUs Community

So, if you’re working with someone who’s not sure about their goals yet, don’t see it as a problem—see it as a chance to support them in a way that’s actually meaningful. Build the budget around their current needs, document everything, and keep the process open. The clarity will come, and when it does, you’ll know you did it right.

Winter, EnableUs Community

Alright, that’s it for today. Thanks for tuning in, everyone. If you’ve got questions or want us to cover something specific next time, let us know. Will, always good chatting with you.

Will, EnableUs Community

You too, Winter. Thanks everyone—catch you in the next episode!