NDIS Development-Life Skills

Build Skills for Everyday Life

Small skills lead to big independence. Cooking a meal, catching a bus, managing your money, speaking up for yourself—these are the abilities that let you live life on your own terms. The team at Serene Life helps you build them step by step, at a pace that works for you.

Support Built Around Your Growth

Development-Life Skills (NDIS Support Category 0117) helps you build the everyday skills you need to live more independently. It sits under Capacity Building in your NDIS plan.

Unlike Core Supports, which help you get through the day, this support is designed to grow what you can do for yourself over time. Serene Life builds every program around your actual goals, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Familiar People Who Want to See You Succeed

Trust makes learning easier. Serene Life matches you with the same support workers over time so familiarity builds naturally. They learn how you think, what encourages you, and what pace feels right. That consistency turns every session into something you can actually look forward to.

Expert Backing Every Step of the Way

Behind every Serene Life program is a team with real depth. Experienced Support Workers deliver day-to-day skill-building sessions. Registered Nurses (RNs) and Enrolled Nurses (ENs) are available for participants managing health needs during the process. Families and allied health professionals trust Serene Life because they see the results firsthand.

Skills Serene Life Helps You Build

The skills you work on depend entirely on your NDIS goals and your life. Here are the most common areas Serene Life participants focus on:

Cooking and Nutrition

Start with simple meals and build confidence over time. Meal planning, food shopping, and cooking safely at home give you control over what you eat and how you take care of yourself.

Money and Budget Management

Learn to read bills, set a budget, use banking apps, and make spending decisions. Serene Life practitioners help you build financial skills that reduce stress and give you more control over your daily life.

Getting Around Independently

Being able to travel on your own opens up opportunities. Serene Life helps you learn bus, train, and light rail routes, practising trips together until you feel ready to travel independently. For those in SIL homes, access to a car and driver is also available across Sydney.

Self-Care and Health Routines

Routines around personal hygiene, medication management, sleep, and health appointments make a real difference to how you feel and function. The team helps you build habits that stick and reduce your reliance on others over time.

Speaking Up for Yourself

Learn to ask for what you need, say no when necessary, and communicate clearly with doctors, support workers, and others. Serene Life practitioners help you practise self-advocacy in real, everyday situations.

Household Skills

Cleaning, laundry, managing bins, and keeping your home organised. The focus here is teaching you how to do these tasks yourself, not just doing them for you. That distinction matters for your long-term independence.

Social Skills and Building Relationships

Learn to start conversations, read social cues, and manage friendships. Support workers practise these skills with you in real community settings, not just in a room.

Technology and Digital Skills

Smartphones, apps, online banking, email, and video calls are part of everyday life. Serene Life helps you get comfortable with the technology that makes life easier and keeps you connected with the people you care about.

Planning and Organisation

Manage your calendar, set reminders, keep appointments, and plan your week. These organising habits support your independence across every other area of your life.

Getting Involved in Your Community

Joining groups, volunteering, and running errands independently are key to building life skills. Serene Life encourages participation in activities that match your interests, with support tailored to your needs.

Who Is This Support For?

Young People Leaving School
Transitioning from school to adult life is a big step. Serene Life helps young people with disability build the practical skills they need to live, work, and connect as adults.

People Moving Into Their Own Home
Cooking, cleaning, paying bills, and managing a home take practice. Serene Life helps new residents build these skills at a pace that works for them.

People Working Towards Employment
Time management, communication, personal presentation, and travel training all connect to work readiness. Serene Life can run 0117 skill-building alongside 0102 employment support for participants with work goals.

People Recovering from Acquired Disability
A stroke, brain injury, or accident can require relearning skills that once felt automatic. Practitioners help you rebuild these skills in a structured, respectful way with progress tracked against your goals and NDIS plan.

People with Intellectual Disability
Sessions are structured, repetitive, and designed around what works for the individual. Progress happens at your pace with no pressure or judgment.

Families Planning for the Long Term
Many families use this support to help their loved one live more independently in the future. Building skills now reduces reliance on informal support later. Serene Life works with families to set realistic goals and track meaningful progress.

Who Is This Support For?

People with Specific Independence Goals in Their Plan
If your NDIS plan includes a goal around becoming more independent in the community, Serene Life uses 0116 funding to help you work toward that goal in a structured and meaningful way.

People Who Feel Socially Isolated
If you spend most of your time at home and want to change that, the Serene Life team provides a structured and supportive way to start building real community connections without feeling overwhelmed.

Young Adults Stepping Into Independent Life
Young people moving out of school, leaving home for the first time, or transitioning to adult life often have big goals around community involvement. Serene Life practitioners help you build the skills you need for the next chapter.

People Ready to Do More on Their Own
If you have relied on group programs or one-on-one support for a while and feel ready to take steps toward greater independence, 0116 is the capacity-building bridge that Serene Life uses to get you there.

How Does 0116 Differ from 0125 and 0136?

Support Category 0125 funds ongoing one-on-one community access. Support Category 0136 funds group- and centre-based activities. Support Category 0116 is a Capacity Building support funded separately, designed to build your skills so you can participate more independently over time. Many people use all three together. Serene Life can help you understand how each fits your plan.

How Your Program Gets Started

Development-Life Skills (0117) is funded through Capacity Building Supports, a separate budget from your Core Supports. Here’s how Serene Life gets your program running:

Step 1: Find It in Your Capacity Building Budget
Open your NDIS plan and look for the Capacity Building Supports section. Development-Life Skills (0117) draws from this budget, which is separate from Core Supports.

Step 2: Connect Your Goals to Your Skills
Serene Life reviews your goals with you. Every skill you work on is connected to at least one of those goals, as required by the NDIS.

Step 3: Serene Life Designs Your Skill Program
There is no fixed program. Each plan is built around your goals and starting point. Some participants begin with one skill, others work across several areas at once. The pace is always yours to set.

Step 4: Progress Is Tracked and Recorded
Serene Life keeps clear records of each session, the skills practised, and the progress made. This evidence can be shown to your NDIS planner to demonstrate the impact of your Capacity Building funding.

Step 5: Your Program Adjusts as You Grow
As your skills develop, sessions adapt. Support may increase in some areas or decrease in others. Programs are reviewed regularly to remain focused and useful.

Can 0117 and Core Supports Be Used at the Same Time?

Yes. Development-Life Skills can be used alongside Core Supports like personal care or community participation. They are separate budgets and do not affect each other. Your plan manager or support coordinator can confirm what is available in each budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 0117 and 0115?

0115 provides ongoing help with household tasks—your support worker does the tasks with you or for you. 0117 teaches you to do those tasks yourself. Many participants use both together.

Does this support come from a support worker or an allied health professional?

It depends on the skill area and your goals. Some sessions are led by support workers, others by allied health professionals such as speech pathologists, occupational therapists, or psychologists. Your support coordinator can help determine the right mix.

How do I know which skills to focus on?

Your NDIS goals guide the focus. Any goal related to independence, daily living, or community access can connect to this support. Practitioners work with you and your support coordinator to map your goals to the right skills.

Can young people use this support while still at school?

Yes. Participants can access Development-Life Skills support outside school hours. This is especially common for transition planning during Years 11 and 12. Confirm with your support coordinator to avoid overlap with school-funded programs.

Will my progress be tracked and reported?

Yes. Serene Life records each session, the skills practised, and your progress. These records help at plan review time and demonstrate measurable outcomes for your Capacity Building funding.

What if I reach my goals before my plan ends?

That’s a great outcome. Serene Life works with you and your support coordinator to set new goals or redirect remaining funding to other areas. Reaching your goals is the point, and the team celebrates this success with you.

I am a support coordinator. How do I refer someone?

Serene Life works with support coordinators across Sydney on capacity building programs. Call, email, or use the referral form. The team responds within one business day and can join planning meetings to map participant goals to the right skill areas from day one.

Talk to the Serene Life team today.

Let’s Create Something Amazing Together.