Being part of a community matters. It can mean catching up with friends, going to a local event, joining a group, volunteering, learning a new skill, going to work, or simply getting out and doing the everyday things other people may take for granted.
For many people with disability, especially people with complex support needs, this is only possible with the right support. That is where NDIS funding for assistance with social, economic and community participation comes in.
Assistance with social, economic and community participation is a type of NDIS Core Support. It’s about ensuring people have the support they need to take part in everyday community life.
The funding usually pays for the support a person needs to take part, not the general cost of the activity. For example, the NDIS may fund a support worker to assist Maria to attend a class, sporting activity, community event or social group. Maria would still pay the same entry fee, membership fee or ticket cost that anyone else would pay.
What can it be used for?
This funding can be used in different ways, depending on a person’s goals, needs and their individualised NDIS plan.
It may include support to:
For some people, this support might be short term while they build skills and confidence. For others, including people with complex support needs, it may be ongoing because they need support to communicate, move around safely, manage health needs, regulate emotions, understand what is happening, make choices, or stay connected with other people.
Community participation is not an extra. It is part of a good life, an “ordinary” life. It supports connection, confidence, wellbeing, learning, choice and belonging.
NDIS research has found that social and community participation can help people feel more connected and included, build relationships, reduce isolation, increase confidence and create more opportunities for work, study and community involvement.
For a person with complex support needs, the right support can be the difference between being present in the community and being excluded from it.
Reducing this funding could have a serious impact on a person’s daily life, this impact is multiplied if a person has complex needs and relies on skilled, consistent support to be part of their community.
It could mean fewer opportunities to leave home, see people, take part in activities, build skills or make choices about how they spend their time. It could also place more pressure on families and informal supports, who may not be able to provide the level of support needed.
Over time, reduced support can lead to greater isolation, poorer health and wellbeing, loss of confidence, fewer relationships and fewer pathways to work, study or volunteering. For some people, it may also increase the risk of behaviours of protest, distress or crisis because their routines, relationships and opportunities have been disrupted.
Imagine someone who needs support to communicate, manage anxiety, stay safe in busy places and make decisions about what they want to do. With the right funding, they might go to a weekly music group, visit a favourite café, attend a community event, volunteer for a few hours, or practise using public transport with support.
If that funding is reduced, those opportunities may stop or become much less frequent. The person may spend more time at home, lose contact with people they know, and have fewer chances to make choices, build skills or do things that bring meaning to their life.
Good community participation support is not just about getting someone from one place to another. It is about knowing the person, understanding their communication, respecting their choices, supporting dignity of risk, and helping them take part in life on their own terms.
For people with complex support needs, quality support takes time, skill and trust. When funding is reduced, it can become harder to provide consistent support from people who know the person well. That can affect safety, confidence, relationships and outcomes.
Community participation funding helps people with disability live more connected, active and self-directed lives. For people with complex support needs, it can protect against isolation and create real opportunities for belonging, contribution and choice.
Reducing this support does not just reduce a line item in a plan. It can reduce a person’s access to friendships, routines, interests, community, learning and the everyday experiences that make life meaningful.
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