07/02/2026
🤔 Let's talk about something nobody explains properly: Core vs Capacity Building
We get asked about this ALL the time, and honestly? The NDIS doesn't make it easy to understand. So here's our plain-English breakdown:
CORE SUPPORTS = The stuff you need NOW
Think of this as your day-to-day survival budget.
It covers:
- Daily personal activities (showering, dressing, eating)
- Transport to get around
- Consumables (continence products, low-cost assistive tech)
- Community participation - and this is the one people forget about! This is for getting out, doing activities, living your life
Core is usually more flexible. Need to shift money from transport to assistance with daily living? Usually doable.
CAPACITY BUILDING = Investing in your future
This is about building skills and independence over time:
- Support coordination (someone to help you navigate all this!)
- Improved living arrangements
- Increased social and community participation (building SKILLS, not just doing activities)
- Employment support
- Therapy and health supports
Here's the tricky bit: These budgets are separate. You can't just move money from one to the other without a plan review.
Here's an example:
Say we had a client who wanted a support worker to come to the gym with them. The question would be: Is this Core (assistance with daily activities) or Capacity Building (developing fitness skills)?
Answer: Depends how it's framed in their plan! If it's about assistance and participation, it's Core. If it's about building skills toward independent gym use, it's Capacity Building.
Confused yet? Yeah, we don't blame you. This is why support coordinators exist!
Bottom line: Check your plan breakdown. Know what buckets you've got and how much is in each. Makes everything easier.
Questions? Fire away in the comments - we'll do our best to answer! 💬
📞 Or call us: 0437 341 666 - we're always happy to have a chat!
