What are capacity building supports?

Capacity building supports are services funded through disability support schemes to help people with disability develop practical skills, build confidence, and increase their independence in daily life. These supports focus on enabling individuals to participate more fully in employment, education, volunteering, or community activities.

The purpose of capacity building is to work with a person towards their goals rather than providing ongoing dependency on support. Services typically aim to teach specific skills, build self-direction, and help people overcome barriers to participation. This might mean working on communication skills, workplace readiness, budgeting, transport use, self-care routines, or social participation.

Common capacity building support types include one-on-one coaching or mentoring, group skill-building programs, workplace or education support, life skills training, and confidence-building activities. Some supports focus on helping people navigate community services independently or develop strategies to manage their own support needs. Providers in Perth offer these services across different settings, from community centers to workplaces to home-based learning.

Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), capacity building supports sit within participants' plans as a distinct support category, separate from daily support or care services. This reflects the scheme's emphasis on building participant capability over time rather than only meeting immediate support needs.