NDIS Community Participation in Melbourne
Get out, get involved and stay connected. Our support workers help you join activities, try new interests, build social confidence and take part in your community, whether that is a class, a club, volunteering or simply a coffee with friends.
NDIS community participation funds the support you need to take part in social, recreational and community life, such as a support worker to help you attend activities, build confidence and connect with others. It is funded through Assistance with Social and Community Participation in Core Supports, and Increased Social and Community Participation in Capacity Building.
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A Richer Life Beyond the Front Door
Community participation is NDIS support that helps you be an active, valued part of your community. Rather than funding the activity itself, the NDIS funds the disability-related support you need to take part, from a worker who attends with you to programs that build new skills.
The NDIS looks at participation in three ways: social (friends, family and personal connections), community (clubs, classes, events and sport) and economic (volunteering, study and work readiness). It pairs well with our self-care, transport and support coordination services.
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Activities We Can Support You to Join
From trying something new to keeping up a lifelong passion, here are some of the ways we help you take part.
Classes & Hobbies
Art, pottery, cooking, music or photography classes, with support to attend and take part.
Sport & Fitness
Inclusive sports teams, walking clubs, swimming or accessible gym and yoga sessions.
Events & Outings
Movies, concerts, theatre, markets and local festivals, with companionship and help to navigate crowds.
Social Groups
Peer support groups, book clubs, community gardens and interest groups to meet new people.
Volunteering
Give back at a local charity, op-shop or animal shelter and build skills and purpose.
Skills & Study
Workshops, TAFE or adult education courses, and programs that build work readiness.
Everyday Connection
A coffee with a friend, visiting family, or a walk in the park to stay socially connected.
Advocacy & Culture
Advocacy groups, cultural and spiritual activities, and community events that matter to you.
1:1 or Group
Choose one-on-one support for focused goals, or group activities to build social connections.
Core Supports vs Capacity Building
Community participation is funded from two budgets. In short, Core funds the person who helps you take part, and Capacity Building funds the program that teaches you new skills.
1 Core Supports
Assistance with Social and Community Participation
- A support worker to help you attend and take part
- 1:1 support during an activity or event
- Support to build confidence and connect socially
- Help getting to and from activities
2 Capacity Building
Increased Social and Community Participation
- Programs and courses that build new skills
- Tuition or class costs that increase independence
- Group skill-building and mentoring programs
- Work-readiness and study support
Clear on What's Included
The NDIS funds the support you need to take part, not the everyday costs anyone in the community pays. Here is the quick guide.
✓ Funded
- A support worker to help you attend and participate
- 1:1 and group support during activities
- Help to build social confidence and skills
- Skill-building programs and courses (Capacity Building)
- Your support worker's transport and entry ticket when they attend with you
- Support to try volunteering, study or work readiness
✕ Not funded
- Membership or joining fees anyone would pay (gym, sports club)
- Your own general admission or entry ticket
- Food, drinks and holiday costs
- Activities not related to your disability goals
- Everyday items you would buy anyway
- Supports already funded by another system
Community Participation Price Limits
Support is charged at the NDIS worker rates, which change by the time of day and day of week. Group activities are charged at these rates and split across the group, and high-intensity support is a little higher.
| When support is delivered | Price limit / hour |
|---|---|
| Weekday daytime | $73.58 |
| Weekday evening | $81.07 |
| Saturday | $103.54 |
| Sunday | $133.50 |
| Public holiday | $163.46 |
| High-intensity (weekday daytime) | $79.60 |
Source: NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27 (effective 1 July 2026), Schedule 1. Transport to activities is claimed separately at a set per-kilometre rate or from your transport budget. See our full NDIS Price Guide.
What Changed for 2026
Keep these 2026 points in mind
- New price limits from 1 July 2026. The NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27 updated the worker rates for community, social and recreation activities and group activities.
- New NDIS resource guide. The NDIA released a guide to help participants understand social and community participation supports and how to use them well.
- The NDIS funds supports, not activities. Membership fees and general admission that anyone pays are not funded, but a support worker to help you take part is.
- Link everything to your goals. Supports must be reasonable and necessary and clearly connected to your NDIS goals, so it helps to describe activities in terms of the outcome you want.
Joining Your Community in 3 Steps
From your first idea to your first outing, here is how we help you take part with confidence.
Share Your Goals
Tell us the activities and connections you want, and the confidence or support you need to get there.
Meet Your Worker
We match you with a support worker who shares your interests and makes participation feel natural.
Get Out & Connect
Start small or dive in, building skills, friendships and a real sense of belonging over time.
Support Workers Who Share Your Interests
Community participation works best with the right companion. We match you with a screened, trained support worker who shares your passions and sense of humour, so getting out and taking part feels like time with a friend, not a service.
NDIS Registration No: 4050172644 · ABN 27 672 665 235NDIS Community Participation, FAQs
Direct answers to the questions we hear most. See our full FAQ page for more.
What is NDIS community participation? +
Community participation is NDIS support that helps you take part in social, recreational and community life. Rather than paying for the activity itself, the NDIS funds the disability-related support you need to attend and take part, such as a support worker who goes with you, and programs that build new skills and confidence.
What is the difference between social and community participation? +
Social participation is about your personal, informal networks, like catching up with a friend or family. Community participation is about more structured public life, such as joining a class, a club, a sports team or a local event. Together they reduce isolation and improve wellbeing.
Which NDIS budget covers community participation? +
Two budgets. Core Supports, under Assistance with Social and Community Participation, funds the support worker who helps you attend and take part. Capacity Building, under Increased Social and Community Participation, funds programs or courses that build new skills. In short, Core pays for the person, Capacity Building pays for the program.
What activities can I do with community participation funding? +
Almost anything that connects to your goals, including art and cooking classes, sport and fitness, live events and outings, social and peer groups, volunteering, study and work-readiness programs, and everyday connection like coffee with a friend. Your support worker helps you take part safely and confidently.
How much does community participation cost in 2026-27? +
Under the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27 (from 1 July 2026), the National standard rates are $73.58 per hour weekday daytime, $81.07 weekday evening, $103.54 Saturday, $133.50 Sunday and $163.46 public holidays. High-intensity support starts at $79.60 per hour. Group activities are charged at these rates and shared across the group.
Does the NDIS pay for my membership or entry fees? +
Generally no. The NDIS does not cover costs that anyone in the community would pay, like a gym membership, sports club fee or your own movie ticket. It does fund the support worker who helps you take part, and if a worker needs a ticket to attend an event with you, their ticket can usually be funded.
Can my support worker drive me to activities? +
Yes. If getting to and from activities is a barrier, your support worker can help with transport. This is usually claimed from your transport budget or at a set per-kilometre rate, and we are always transparent about these costs so you keep choice and control.
What is the difference between 1:1 and group support? +
With 1:1 support, a worker is dedicated entirely to you for an activity, which is great for focused, targeted goals. In group support, you take part with other participants and share support staff, which is great for building social connections in a friendly setting. You can use both.
How do I get community participation funded in my plan? +
Set clear goals that link to the activities you want, for example building social confidence or work-readiness skills. Bring evidence such as a therapist letter to your planning meeting or plan review, and ask for Assistance with Social and Community Participation in Core, or Increased Social and Community Participation in Capacity Building. A support coordinator can help you prepare.
How do I start with Sky Care Solutions? +
Call 03 7047 9499 or book a free consultation. We talk through your goals and interests, match you with a support worker who suits you, and help you take that first step into the community. We support participants across South-East Melbourne, greater Melbourne and Victoria.
- Understanding social and community participation supports, ndis.gov.au
- What are NDIS supports, ndis.gov.au
- NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, ndis.gov.au
- NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27 (effective 1 July 2026), National Disability Insurance Agency
Ready to Connect With Your Community?
Book a free, no-obligation consultation. We help you turn your NDIS plan into real friendships, activities and confidence, matched with a support worker who gets you, with no pressure to commit.