NDIS Social & Community Participation
Get out, get involved, and connect with your community your way
Enabling you to connect with your community
- Helping you make (and keep) connections
Being part of your community can change how your week feels.
If getting out and staying connected is one of your NDIS goals, we can support you to make it happen. Our NDIS social and community participation support in Melbourne is built around what you want to do, who you want to do it with, and the life you want to live.
What is social and community participation under the NDIS?
Social and community participation is the NDIS support that helps you take part in life outside your home.
It covers the everyday things that keep you connected: joining a group or class, getting to appointments, catching up with friends, volunteering, trying a new hobby, or simply getting out for a coffee at your local cafe. A support worker goes with you, helps you get there, and gives you a hand to join in with confidence.
Community participation NDIS support means different things to different people and that is the point. For one person it is a weekly art class. For another it is help to use public transport, attend a local footy game, or take part in community events. Whatever taking part looks like for you, we shape the support around your goals rather than a fixed program.
We deliver NDIS community participation across Melbourne and support participants of all abilities, including younger people, people building independence, and anyone who has felt isolated and wants to reconnect.
What we can help you with
Assistance with social and community participation is flexible, so your support can grow and change as you do. Here is what our support workers commonly help with.
Getting out and about
- Getting to and from activities, appointments, and social outings
- Using public transport with confidence, or being driven where you need to go
- Running errands and using local amenities, from the shops to the library
Hobbies, interests, and recreation
- Taking part in classes and workshops, from art and music to cooking
- Sport, exercise, and recreation, including group activities and one-to-one support
- Exploring a new interest or getting back to one you have missed
Social connection and relationships
- Meeting up with friends and family, or making new connections
- Joining social groups, clubs, and community events
- Support to attend cultural, religious, or community gatherings that matter to you
Building confidence and independence
- Researching local services, groups, and activities that suit you
- Making and attending appointments
- Building the skills and confidence to take part more independently over time
How social and community participation is funded
The NDIS funds community participation through two different parts of your plan. They work together, and many people use both. Understanding the difference helps you get the most from your funding, and we are always happy to walk you through it.
Assistance with social and community participation (Core Supports)
This is the funding that pays a support worker to help you take part in community life now. It covers the ongoing, week-to-week help you need to get out and join in, such as a support worker going with you to a class, a social group, or a community event. It sits in your Core Supports budget, which is flexible, so you can use it in the way that suits your routine. This is the category most participants use for their regular outings and social activities.
Increased social and community participation (Capacity Building)
Increased social and community participation is the capacity building side of your plan. Instead of ongoing help to attend, it funds structured, time-limited support that builds your skills and confidence so you can take part more independently in the future. Because it sits under Capacity Building, this funding is stated, which means it is set aside specifically for increased social and community participation and cannot be moved to other categories.
Common examples of increased social and community participation under the NDIS include learning to use public transport on your own, building communication and social skills to feel comfortable in a group, or a limited run of lessons to explore a new hobby or interest. If your goal is to get out more, meet new people, and grow your independence over time, this is usually where that support is funded.
Innovative community participation
Some plans also include innovative community participation, an NDIS support that funds new and creative ways to build skills and take part in your community, often through group or mainstream settings rather than traditional one-to-one support. If this is in your plan, we can help you make the most of it.
Not sure which supports are in your plan, or which budget applies? That is completely normal. Talk to our team and we will help you understand what is covered and match you with the right support.
Who this support is for
Our NDIS social and community participation support in Melbourne suits you if you want to:
- Get out of the house more often and take part in your local community
- Build friendships and feel less isolated
- Try new activities, hobbies, or classes with the right support beside you
- Grow your confidence and independence to take part on your own over time
- Reach the social and community goals in your NDIS plan
We work with NDIS participants across a wide range of needs and support support coordinators and plan managers looking for a reliable, person-first provider for their clients.
The right people for you
Whatever support you are receiving, it matters that you feel you have the right person alongside you.
We take our brief from you about the sort of person you would like to work with, and we involve you in choosing them.
- Personality matching
- Cultural understanding
- Multilingual caregivers
- Preference for male or female caregivers
- LGBTI awareness
Good community participation depends on trust and a genuine connection, so we take the match seriously.
The right people for you
Whatever support you are receiving, it matters that you feel you have the right person alongside you.
We take our brief from you about the sort of person you would like to work with, and we involve you in choosing them.
- Personality matching
- Cultural understanding
- Multilingual caregivers
- Preference for male or female caregivers
- LGBTI awareness
Good community participation depends on trust and a genuine connection, so we take the match seriously.
NDIS community participation across Melbourne
We provide social and community participation support close to home, right across Melbourne. Our support workers know their local areas, which means they can help you connect with the groups, activities, and amenities near you.
If you’re searching for assistance with social and community participation near you in Melbourne, chances are we already care for someone in your suburb. Check your area with our team.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about social & community participation NDIS
These are some of the most common questions, answered for you.
What is social and community participation in the NDIS?
It is the NDIS support that helps you take part in activities outside your home, such as social groups, classes, hobbies, appointments, and community events. A support worker helps you get there and join in. Community participation NDIS support is shaped around your own goals, so it looks different for everyone.
What is the difference between assistance with social and community participation and increased social and community participation?
Assistance with social and community participation is a Core Support. It pays a support worker to help you take part in the community now, such as going with you to a weekly group. Increased social and community participation is a Capacity Building support. It funds structured, time-limited help to build the skills and confidence you need to take part more independently in the future. Many people have both in their plan.
Is community participation a Core Support or Capacity Building?
It can be either. The ongoing help to attend activities sits in your Core Supports budget as assistance with social and community participation. The skill-building side sits in Capacity Building as increased social and community participation. Your plan may include one or both.
What are some examples of increased social and community participation under the NDIS?
Examples of increased social and community participation include learning to use public transport on your own, building communication and social skills to feel confident in a group, a limited run of classes to explore a new hobby, or joining a structured program that helps you take part more independently over time.
What activities can I use my community participation funding for?
You can use it for a wide range of activities, as long as they are reasonable and necessary and connect to your NDIS goals. That includes social groups and clubs, classes and workshops, sport and recreation, volunteering, community events, and getting out to use local amenities. We can help you plan activities that fit your goals and your budget.
Do you provide NDIS community participation in Melbourne?
Yes. We provide social and community participation support across Melbourne metro, including South Yarra, Werribee, Hawthorn, Toorak, Northcote, Glen Waverley, Malvern, Camberwell, St Kilda, Brighton, Kew, and the Mornington Peninsula, as well as the wider Melbourne area. Get in touch and we will confirm we cover your suburb.
Can a support worker take me to activities and appointments?
Yes. Getting you to and from activities, appointments, and social outings is a core part of this support. Your support worker can travel with you, help you use public transport, or drive you where you need to go, depending on what suits you and what is funded in your plan.
How do I know if community participation is in my NDIS plan?
Look for assistance with social and community participation in your Core Supports, and increased social and community participation in your Capacity Building budget. If you are not sure, contact our team and we will help you understand what is covered and how to use it.
How do I start social and community participation support with Absolute Care & Health?
Get in touch online or call 1300 030 032. We will talk through your goals and your plan, match you with the right support worker, and help you get out and take part when and where you want to.
Discover more about how we work
Absolute Care & Health provides personalised individual support and nursing services, perfectly matched to you.
We work across in-home aged care, the NDIS (disability support) and recovery care. Each of these areas is led by a specialist team with extensive experience and knowledge of their sector.
With hundreds of Support Workers from Australia and around the World, we can offer many languages and cultural backgrounds.
What our clients say about us
“When the Absolute Care & Health Carers are here I know that if James asked for something he would get it. They even do the ironing which is such an incredible help to me. That has allowed me to get out and do what I need to do.”
- James and Sue, Melbourne
It's your life. Live it, love it, own it.
By making sure we absolutely understand your goals, your needs and your situation, we deliver great customer experiences, creating and celebrating positive outcomes every day.
