Group & Centre-Based Activities referrals for NDIS coordinators
Supports delivered in a group or at a centre — day programs, social groups and shared skill-building. Shared ratios make these a cost-effective way to build routine and connection.
NDIS registration group: Group and centre based activities
What Group Activities is under the NDIS
Group and centre-based activities are NDIS supports delivered to several participants at the same time, either at a provider's centre or out in the community. They cover structured day programs, social and recreational groups, and shared skill-building sessions where participants work towards their goals alongside peers rather than one-to-one. Because staff are shared across the group, the cost to each participant is lower than an equivalent individual support.
These supports sit largely within a participant's Core budget (Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation) and, where the activity is capacity-building in nature, can also draw on Capacity Building budgets. The distinguishing feature is the shared support ratio - for example one worker to three or one worker to five participants - which the provider reflects in the rate they charge each person.
The focus is on participation, connection and development: building social and daily-living skills, reducing isolation, and giving participants a consistent, meaningful routine. Programs range from centre-based day options to community outings and interest-based groups, and are chosen to match the participant's goals, interests and the level of support they need in a group environment.
What it covers
- Centre-based day programs with a structured weekly timetable
- Social and recreational groups and community outings
- Group skill-building - cooking, budgeting, travel training, technology
- Peer-support and interest-based groups (art, music, gardening, sport)
- School holiday and after-school group programs for younger participants
- Group-based community access and social participation supports
- Shared supports delivered at varying ratios (e.g. 1:3, 1:5)
- Pre-employment and work-readiness group activities
- Health, wellbeing and active-living group sessions
- Optional 1:1 support provided within a group or centre setting
Who it suits
Refer for group and centre-based activities when a participant has goals around social connection, community participation, daily-living skills or a consistent routine, and is comfortable working alongside peers.
It suits participants who benefit from structure and peer interaction, those experiencing isolation, and people who want to build skills or stretch their Core budget further through shared-ratio supports rather than one-to-one delivery.
How to refer Group Activities on Novida
Start on Novida by searching verified providers that deliver group and centre-based activities in the participant's area. Filter by program type, location and the specific supports you need - day program, social group or skill-building - and shortlist providers whose focus and group profile fit your participant's goals.
Open each shortlisted provider to check their registration status and current capacity, including which programs have places available and on what days. Then contact the provider directly with a complete referral: participant consent, NDIS number, plan-management type (agency, plan or self-managed), the relevant line items or budget available, the program or frequency you're seeking, and any access, cultural, communication or behaviour-support requirements.
Novida is free to use and never sits in the middle of the referral. You contact and engage the provider directly and the service agreement is between the participant and the provider - Novida simply helps you find and compare the right options quickly.
What to check before you refer
- Confirm the provider runs the specific program type the participant needs (day program, social group, or targeted skill-building) and that the group's focus, peer mix and staff-to-participant ratio suit the participant's goals and support needs.
- Check the participant's plan holds funding that can be used for group or centre-based supports, and confirm how the provider bills the shared ratio plus any centre capital / non-face-to-face components so it aligns with the available budget.
- Verify accessibility and logistics — venue access, transport to and from the centre, program days and hours, and whether the participant needs 1:1 support within the group setting.
Group Activities — NDIS price limits (2026–27)
- Group Activities - Standard - Weekday Daytime - Centre — $21.62 per hour (04_111_0136_6_1)
- Group Activities In The Community - 1:2 - Weekday Daytime — $36.65 per hour (04_136_0136_6_1)
How it’s priced
Group and centre-based activities are priced under the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (the current NDIS Price Guide) on ndis.gov.au, with the provider's per-participant rate set according to the shared support ratio, which lowers the cost to each participant compared with 1:1 support. Some centre-based programs may also attract a separate centre capital cost component and time-limited non-face-to-face or program-development items, all of which are governed by the published price limits rather than any figure set here.
Coordinator FAQs — Group Activities
- Do providers need to be registered to deliver group and centre-based activities?
- Not always. Registration is required to invoice NDIA-managed participants, so agency-managed referrals must go to a registered provider. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can use registered or unregistered providers. Always confirm the participant's plan-management type against the provider's registration before referring, and…
- Which budget pays for group and centre-based activities?
- Most group and centre-based supports come from the participant's Core budget, specifically Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation, which is generally flexible across Core supports. Where a program is capacity-building - for example structured skill development - it may instead draw on a Capacity Building budget.…
- How does the shared ratio affect cost?
- In group supports, one worker supports several participants at once, so the provider divides staffing cost across the group. A 1:3 or 1:5 ratio means each participant pays a lower per-hour rate than 1:1 support. The exact rate for each ratio is set in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Confirm the ratio and how the provider…
- What is a centre capital cost and will it affect the budget?
- Some centre-based programs can charge a separate centre capital cost component to help cover the cost of running a physical venue, in addition to the support rate. It is defined in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Ask the provider whether they charge it and how, so you can factor it into the participant's available Core…
- Can a participant get 1:1 support within a group setting?
- Yes. A participant may join a group program but need higher individual support for part or all of the session - for example due to complex needs or behaviours of concern. This is usually billed at the relevant individual ratio for that time. Confirm with the provider how the group and any 1:1 components are structured and priced before…
- How do I match a participant to the right group?
- Look beyond availability to fit. Check the program's focus, the peer group, the activities offered and the support ratio against the participant's goals, interests and support needs. Ask about a trial or orientation visit so the participant can see whether the setting suits them. On Novida you can compare several providers' programs side…
- What should I confirm about transport?
- Transport to and from a centre is not automatically included in the program. Clarify whether the provider offers transport, whether it is billed separately, and how it interacts with the participant's transport funding or Core budget. If the participant travels independently or by family, confirm the venue is accessible and the program…
- Is group and centre-based support suitable for psychosocial disability?
- It can be, when the participant's recovery goals include connection, routine and skill-building alongside peers. Peer-based and interest groups can reduce isolation and support engagement. Match the program's intensity and environment to the person's current capacity, and coordinate with any recovery coaching so group participation…
- Does using Novida commit my participant to a provider?
- No. Novida is a free directory that helps you find and compare verified providers of group and centre-based activities. It never sits in the middle of the referral. You contact the provider directly, and the service agreement is made between the participant and the provider. There is no obligation from searching, shortlisting or making an…
Related NDIS registration groups
- Community & Social Participation referrals
- Innovative Community Participation referrals
- Development of Daily Living & Life Skills referrals
How to check a provider’s credentials
- NDIS Commission provider register — NDIS registration
- How worker screening works — Worker screening
- Make a complaint to the NDIS Commission — Complaints & conduct