NDIS capacity building vs core supports: what is the difference?

If you are an NDIS participant trying to work out where your mental health support fits in your plan, one of the first things to understand is the difference between capacity building and core supports. These are two different funding categories, and they are used for different purposes.

Core supports

Core supports fund the things you need help with in your daily life right now. This includes assistance with daily activities like personal care, household tasks, and getting to appointments. It also covers transport, consumables, and community participation. Core supports are about maintaining your current level of functioning and meeting your day-to-day needs.

Capacity building

Capacity building funds things that help you develop skills and independence over time. The idea is that these supports build your ability to do things on your own, or to manage challenges more effectively. This is where therapeutic support usually sits, specifically under the category called "Improved Daily Living."

Therapy that focuses on emotional regulation, coping strategies, communication skills, or daily functioning goals is typically capacity building. The aim is not to do things for you, but to help you build the skills to manage them yourself.

Where mental health fits

Mental health-related therapeutic support mostly falls under capacity building. If your therapy goals are about building regulation skills, improving daily functioning, learning to manage stress or overwhelm, or developing strategies for communication and relationships, it is likely capacity building.

Some plans also include psychosocial supports under core, which can include things like support workers who help you engage with your community or manage daily tasks. These are different from therapeutic support but can work alongside it.

What this means in practice

If your plan has funding for Improved Daily Living under Capacity Building, you can likely use it for therapeutic support with a qualified practitioner. Check with your plan manager or support coordinator to confirm what is available in your plan, and reach out if you want to talk about whether this service fits your goals.