Community & Social Participation referrals for NDIS coordinators

Support to take part in social, recreational and community life — one-to-one community access, outings and activities that build connection and confidence.

NDIS registration group: Participate in community

What Community is under the NDIS

Community & Social Participation is NDIS-funded support that helps a participant take part in social, recreational and community activities. In practice it means a support worker accompanying or assisting a participant to get out into their community — attending outings and events, joining group or centre-based programs, pursuing hobbies and interests, and building the confidence and skills to connect with others.

It sits across two parts of a plan. Day-to-day support to access the community (a worker helping someone get out and about) is usually funded from Core supports under "Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation". Support with a skill-building or goal focus — building a participant's capacity to participate more independently over time — is funded from Capacity Building under "Increased Social and Community Participation".

The underlying aim is inclusion: reducing isolation, maintaining relationships, and helping the participant do the everyday social and recreational things other Australians do. It can be delivered one-to-one or in a group, in the community or from a centre, depending on the participant's goals and what suits them.

What it covers

Who it suits

Refer when a participant has a plan goal around getting out into the community, reducing social isolation, or building the confidence and skills to take part in activities more independently.

It suits people who want structured group programs, 1:1 support to pursue interests and hobbies, or help re-engaging with social and recreational life — including younger participants, people with psychosocial disability, and anyone whose informal supports don't cover community access.

How to refer Community on Novida

Search Novida for verified providers delivering community and social participation in the participant's area. Filter by location and by the type of support you need — 1:1 community access, outings, or group and centre-based programs — then review provider profiles to shortlist those that fit and have current capacity.

Check each shortlisted provider's registration status and current availability before you make contact. Then contact the provider directly with a complete referral: participant consent, NDIS number, plan-management type (agency, plan or self-managed), the relevant support category and available budget, the hours and frequency sought, and any specific requirements such as worker gender, cultural or language needs, or transport.

Novida is free to use and never sits in the middle of the referral. You connect with the provider directly and keep control of the participant relationship and the referral from start to finish.

What to check before you refer

Community — NDIS price limits (2026–27)

How it’s priced

Community and social participation supports are priced under the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (the NDIS Price Guide), which sets the maximum claimable rates and how they vary by time of day, support ratio and state or territory. Group-based supports are charged per participant according to the group ratio, and provider travel and some activity or programming costs may be claimable in line with the current rules.

Coordinator FAQs — Community

Does a provider need to be registered to deliver community participation?
Not always. Community and social participation is not a support that legally requires registration in itself. NDIA-managed (agency-managed) participants must use NDIS-registered providers, but plan-managed and self-managed participants can choose registered or unregistered providers. Registration is only mandatory for specific supports…
Which budget pays for community participation — Core or Capacity Building?
It depends on the purpose. Day-to-day support to access the community is usually funded from Core supports under "Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation". Skill-building or goal-focused support to participate more independently is funded from Capacity Building under "Increased Social and Community Participation".…
Can a participant use this funding for group programs?
Yes. Group and centre-based programs are a core part of this support. In a group, the cost is shared across participants based on the ratio, so it is charged per participant rather than at the full 1:1 rate. Confirm the provider's group ratios, the activities on offer, and that the participant is comfortable in a group setting before…
Is transport to activities covered?
Sometimes. The support worker's time, and provider travel to deliver the activity, can be claimed in line with the pricing rules. A participant's own transport costs — such as getting to a program — are usually funded separately through transport supports in the plan. Check the plan and the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price…
What should I include in the referral?
Include participant consent, the NDIS number, plan-management type, the relevant support category and available budget, the hours and frequency sought, whether it is 1:1 or group, the participant's goals, and any specific requirements — worker gender, cultural or language needs, behaviours of concern, or accessibility. A complete referral…
Can community participation include holidays, camps or day trips?
It can cover the support worker's time to assist the participant during programs, including holiday programs and day trips. The NDIS does not fund the participant's own holiday costs, though — accommodation, entry fees and meals are the participant's personal expense. Confirm with the provider exactly what will be charged to the plan and…
How is this different from personal care or daily living support?
Community and social participation is about getting out and connecting — social, recreational and community activities. Personal care and daily living support cover self-care and in-home tasks. The same worker may deliver both in one shift, but they meet different needs and goals. Be clear which need you are referring for so the provider…
Can plan-managed participants use unregistered providers for this support?
Yes. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can use unregistered providers for community and social participation; only NDIA-managed participants are restricted to registered providers. This widens the pool available to you. Whatever the registration status, still check the provider's quality, insurance, worker screening and current…

Related NDIS registration groups

How to check a provider’s credentials

More on Novida for coordinators