Building Financial Confidence, Capability & Independence

Financial skills can help people make everyday choices with greater confidence and participate more independently. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s 2024 report, using 2021 data, found that 33% of people with disability aged 15–64 were dissatisfied with their financial situation, compared with 14% of people without disability. It also reported that 25% of people with disability in that age group could not raise $3,000 within a week for an emergency, compared with 9.4% of people without disability. Read the AIHW findings and data notes.

Financial literacy is connected to self-management in everyday life. Depending on a participant’s goals, practising budgeting, planning purchases, understanding spending, recognising scams and making informed choices can support:

• Confidence and decision-making
• Everyday living skills and independence
• Safe use of banking and payment tools
• Participation in the community

We use meaningful everyday situations so participants can practise a skill in the places and routines where they may use it. Activities are shaped around the participant’s interests, goals, preferences and support needs, helping connect discussion with practical choices.

Direct NDIS arrangements may be available for self-managed or plan-managed participants, subject to the support type, provider registration requirements and current NDIS rules. A self-managed participant generally pays the provider and claims from their plan; a plan manager generally receives and processes the provider’s invoice. NDIA-managed funding requires a registered provider. Invested Finance currently receives most NDIS enquiries through agency partnerships and referrals, so contact us to confirm the pathway that applies. Read the NDIS Commission’s registration guidance.

No. Invested Finance focuses on specialist financial literacy education, structured learning, practical coaching and progress review. We do not provide personal care, domestic assistance, transport-only services, generic support work or labour hire. Community activities are used only as learning settings for agreed money skills; a participant’s existing support team may help reinforce the learning where appropriate.

In some circumstances, a support that builds skills and independence may be considered where it relates to a participant’s disability support needs, aligns with their goals, is an NDIS support and meets the applicable reasonable and necessary criteria. NDIS Capacity Building supports are intended to help participants build skills, do things for themselves and work towards their goals. Funding is not automatic: it depends on the participant’s plan, support needs, evidence, available funding and current NDIS rules. Read about Capacity Building supports and reasonable and necessary criteria.

Depending on the participant’s circumstances, relevant goals may include:

• Developing budgeting and everyday money skills
• Building self-management and daily living skills
• Increasing confidence when making decisions
• Learning to manage personal spending
• Using banking and payment tools safely
• Building community participation and greater independence in adulthood

The learning is most relevant when it directly supports goals that matter to the participant in everyday life.

Information may help explain how the proposed learning relates to the participant’s disability support needs and goals. Where relevant, this could include occupational therapy or psychology reports, a functional capacity assessment, school transition planning, allied health information, support coordinator recommendations or participant goal-planning documents. The NDIA considers the information available when making funding decisions; no document or recommendation guarantees funding.

If building financial confidence, self-management or everyday independence is important to the participant, they may discuss those goals with their Support Coordinator, Plan Manager, Local Area Coordinator or NDIA Planner. A goal may be explored in future planning conversations or a plan reassessment, but the NDIA makes all funding decisions based on the participant’s individual situation and available evidence. Adding a goal does not guarantee funding.

Ordinary day-to-day costs—such as groceries, utility bills, internet and general personal shopping—are usually the participant’s responsibility. Phones, computers and other common household items are generally everyday purchases too. Some disability-related assistive technology may be considered under specific NDIS rules, but an item must meet the relevant requirements and may need approval before purchase. Check the participant’s plan and current guidance first. NDIS information about day-to-day costs; NDIS assistive technology guidance.

Yes. Depending on the participant’s goals and agreed arrangements, practical learning may involve grocery shopping, comparing prices and value, planning purchases, budgeting activities, using EFTPOS or digital payment tools, and other everyday decision-making activities. The supermarket budgeting exercise is in person only.

Where appropriate and with the participant’s consent, we may collaborate with their regular support worker if Invested Finance does not have staff within a reasonable travel distance. This may include demonstrating agreed activities, sharing practical resources and approaches, and supporting practice between sessions.

Invested Finance offers online, in-person and community-based learning where appropriate and available. If face-to-face delivery is not practical, we can discuss online support or possible collaboration with the participant’s existing support network. Availability and arrangements depend on the location, goals and support needs, so please enquire to discuss what may be suitable.

Yes. Enquiries are welcome from participants, families, Support Coordinators, Plan Managers, occupational therapists, psychologists, allied health professionals and disability support organisations. We can discuss the participant’s goals, support needs, delivery options and whether the service may be a suitable fit.

We’ll arrange an initial conversation to discuss the participant’s goals, support needs, funding arrangements, delivery options, availability and proposed costs. An enquiry does not create a booking or guarantee NDIS funding. The conversation helps determine whether Invested Finance may be a suitable fit.

You can also call 0415 648 786 or email hello@investedfinance.com.au.