Goals help an assessor understand what matters to you. They might concern a new activity, something you want to do more often, or an ability you want to maintain.
You do not need to arrive with a professionally written goal. A short description of what you would like to change, continue or make easier is enough to begin the discussion.
From a priority to a practical question
Suppose your priority is to make lunch at home more often. The assessment might explore planning the meal, using kitchen equipment, managing fatigue and cleaning up. It also needs to ask what you already do and what kind of assistance you prefer.
The goal does not have to be doing every step alone. Preparing part of the meal with suitable help may be the outcome that matters to you. The recommendation should explain how support would enable that activity.
Other goals may take longer to work towards, such as moving home or entering study. An FCA can describe current abilities and the support questions that need answering before that change. It cannot predict every future need from one assessment.
Goals can include maintaining what works
Continuing to dress with the equipment you use, staying involved in a community group or maintaining a routine may be meaningful goals. For someone whose condition is changing, reducing the rate of decline or adapting an activity may also be relevant.
An assessment should not treat the absence of improvement as a lack of effort. It needs to consider the person's condition, circumstances and the purpose of the support.
Getting help to explain your priorities
You can use notes, communication aids or help from a person you trust. The assessor should make space for your way of communicating rather than judge the goal by how fluently you describe it.
A family member may have a related but different concern. For example, you may want to keep attending an activity while a relative needs the transport arrangement to become more manageable. Both are relevant, but they should not be presented as though they are the same person's preference.
For children, priorities should include the child's interests and participation as well as the family's account. How the child contributes will depend on their age and communication needs.
How goals relate to funding
A goal helps explain the purpose of a recommended support. It does not make every activity or expense NDIS-funded. The report still needs to explain the disability-related need and why the recommendation is appropriate under the relevant funding criteria.
Bring your existing goals when you have them, and tell the OT when they no longer reflect what matters to you. The assessment should work from your current priorities, not preserve old wording for its own sake.