NDIS Community Participation Support
- Community Participation
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What Community Participation Means Under The NDIS
Community participation is the NDIS Core Support that pays for help getting out into the community — to social events, appointments, sports, classes, hobbies, family visits, religious or cultural activities, or just to local cafes and shops. It is funded under ‘Assistance with Social, Community and Civic Participation’.
The point is connection. The NDIS recognises that being part of the community is not optional — it is part of a meaningful life. Community participation funding pays for the support worker time and (where applicable) entry costs and transport that make those connections possible.
What We Help With
- Social outings — coffee, lunch, the movies, a walk in the park, a trip to the shops with someone you trust.
- Sport and recreation — swimming, gym, bowling, walking groups, spectating at local matches.
- Classes and clubs — art classes, cooking classes, choir, book clubs, hobby groups.
- Cultural and religious activities — places of worship, cultural events, community gatherings.
- Appointments — GP, specialist, allied health, dentist, optometrist.
- Family and friend visits — support to attend birthdays, weddings, family lunches.
- Volunteering — support to attend a regular volunteer role, often as a stepping stone toward employment.
How The Service Works
Most community participation is one-on-one with a regular support worker. Some participants do better with the same worker for everything; others have a different worker for different activities (one for the gym, another for art class).
Schedule looks different for everyone. Some participants book a few hours a week; others have daily community access built into their routine. Where appropriate, we can build group community participation — small groups going to an activity together, which is more cost-effective on the funding side.
Community Participation vs Innovative Community Participation
Community participation pays for the support to attend an existing activity. Innovative community participation pays for a structured program designed to build a specific skill or capacity. Both can run in parallel — community participation might cover a Saturday outing while innovative community participation runs a weekday social skills program.
Where We Work
We deliver community participation support across all five regions: Redbank Plains, Logan, Ipswich, Toowoomba, and Brisbane South. Local workers know the venues, public transport options, and accessible places that work for participants.
Our Services
Contact Info
Frequently Asked Questions
Is community participation funded under Core or Capacity Building?
Community participation is funded under Core Supports as ‘Assistance with Social, Community and Civic Participation’. Innovative Community Participation is funded under Capacity Building and is separate.
Can my support worker pay for entry costs and meals?
The participant generally covers their own entry costs, meal costs, and personal expenses. The support worker is paid out of NDIS funding for their time. Some events have a separate disability access cost (like a paid carer ticket) which the participant pays from their own funds.
Can I have a different support worker for different activities?
Yes. Some participants have one worker for medical appointments and another for social outings. Others prefer one regular worker for everything. We work to whatever fits.
Can group community participation reduce my hourly cost?
Yes. Group ratios — typically 1:2 or 1:3 — are funded at lower per-participant rates than one-on-one support. For some activities (group fitness, regular outings) a small-group format works well and stretches funding further.
Can community participation include sleepover or interstate trips?
Day trips and longer outings can be supported. Multi-day camps, sleepovers, or interstate trips need to be planned carefully against the participant’s plan and discussed with their coordinator. NDIS funding does not cover holiday costs (accommodation, flights) but can cover the support worker time.