Improved Relationships & Social Skills referrals for NDIS coordinators

Capacity building for social, emotional and relationship skills — counselling, peer mentoring, social-skills programs and support for behaviours of concern that affect relationships.

NDIS registration group: Improved relationships

What Relationships is under the NDIS

Improved Relationships & Social Skills is a Capacity Building support under the NDIS that helps participants develop the interpersonal, emotional and social skills they need to build and maintain relationships and take part in their community. It falls within the Improved Relationships support category and is designed to grow a person's independence rather than provide day-to-day assistance. Because it is capacity building, the funding is linked to goals in the participant's plan and is intended to reduce the need for support over time.

This support type covers specialist work aimed at interpersonal development, including counselling and psychology focused on relationships and emotional regulation, peer mentoring, and structured social-skills programs. It also includes specialist behaviour support for participants whose behaviours of concern affect their relationships, safety and community participation, delivered in line with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission's requirements for behaviour support.

The aim is functional improvement: helping a participant understand social cues, manage strong emotions, resolve conflict, connect with peers, and reduce restrictive or risky behaviours. Providers work to the goals set out in the participant's NDIS plan, and detailed definitions and any applicable rules are set out on ndis.gov.au and in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.

What it covers

Who it suits

A coordinator refers for this support when a participant has goals around building relationships, improving social confidence, managing emotions, or reducing behaviours that get in the way of their community and family life. It suits participants who need specialist, goal-directed intervention rather than everyday assistance, including those who benefit from counselling, peer mentoring, social-skills groups, or a positive behaviour support approach.

How to refer Relationships on Novida

To refer a participant, search Novida for verified providers offering Improved Relationships & Social Skills supports and filter by location, service type and delivery mode. Review each provider's profile to confirm their registration status, the specific supports they deliver (for example counselling, social-skills groups or specialist behaviour support), and whether they have current capacity to take on a new referral.

Once you have a shortlist, contact the provider directly with a complete referral. Include the participant's consent to share information, their NDIS number, plan-management type (agency, plan or self-managed), the relevant line items or budget available under Improved Relationships, the frequency and setting of support required, and any specific requirements such as cultural considerations, communication needs, or a behaviour support context.

Novida is free to use and never sits in the middle of the referral. You connect with the provider directly and manage the relationship from there, which keeps the process fast and gives you full control over who supports your participant.

What to check before you refer

Relationships — NDIS price limits (2026–27)

How it’s priced

This support is delivered under the NDIS Capacity Building budget in the Improved Relationships category, and applicable price limits are set out in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (the NDIS Price Guide). Always confirm the current line items and rates on ndis.gov.au, as they are updated periodically.

Coordinator FAQs — Relationships

What budget does Improved Relationships & Social Skills come from?
It is funded from the Capacity Building Supports budget, specifically the Improved Relationships category in a participant's NDIS plan. This funding is generally goal-linked and cannot be freely reallocated between all budget areas. Before referring, check the participant's plan to confirm the category holds funding and review the current…
How is this different from Improved Daily Living supports?
Both are Capacity Building supports, but Improved Relationships specifically targets social, emotional and relationship skills, including specialist behaviour support for behaviours of concern. Improved Daily Living focuses more broadly on independence, daily-living skills and therapy assessments. A participant may hold funding in both…
Can this funding pay for specialist behaviour support?
Yes. Specialist behaviour support, including assessment and the development of a behaviour support plan for behaviours of concern that affect a person's relationships and community life, is delivered under the Improved Relationships category. Ensure the provider uses practitioners considered suitable by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards…
Does the participant need to be plan-managed or agency-managed to use these supports?
Participants can access these supports whether they are agency-managed, plan-managed or self-managed, but the management type affects which providers they can use and how invoices are paid. Agency-managed participants generally need an NDIS-registered provider. Always confirm the plan-management type in your referral so the provider can…
How do I find providers with current capacity through Novida?
Search Novida for verified providers offering Improved Relationships & Social Skills supports and filter by location and service type. Provider profiles indicate the supports they deliver and their registration status. Because capacity changes frequently, contact shortlisted providers directly to confirm availability, any waitlist, and…
Does Novida charge for referrals or take a commission?
No. Novida is free for support coordinators and recovery coaches to use, and it never sits in the middle of the referral or takes a commission. You search verified providers, then contact them directly and manage the relationship yourself. This keeps the process transparent and gives you full control over who supports your participant.
What information should I include in a referral for this support?
Include the participant's consent to share information, their NDIS number, plan-management type, and the funding available under Improved Relationships. Add the specific support needed (counselling, social-skills group, peer mentoring or behaviour support), the required frequency and setting, and any cultural, communication or risk…
Can group social-skills programs be funded under this support?
Yes. Structured, group-based social-skills programs that build a participant's interpersonal and social capacity can be delivered under the Improved Relationships category, provided they align with the participant's plan goals. Group supports may be priced differently to one-to-one work, so confirm the applicable line items in the NDIS…
How is this support priced?
It is priced under the NDIS Capacity Building budget in line with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, also known as the NDIS Price Guide. Rates vary by the type of support and practitioner delivering it, and price limits are updated periodically. Always confirm the current line items and limits on ndis.gov.au rather than…

Related NDIS registration groups

How to check a provider’s credentials

More on Novida for coordinators