Innovative Community Participation referrals for NDIS coordinators
Capacity-building support that helps a participant build the skills and confidence to take part in the community in new, more independent ways.
NDIS registration group: Innovative community participation
What Innovative Participation is under the NDIS
Innovative Community Participation is a capacity-building support funded under the Capacity Building budget, in the "Increased Social and Community Participation" support category. It funds supports that help a participant build the skills and confidence to take part in community, social and recreational life in new or non-traditional ways.
The "innovative" element means going beyond standard, group-based day programs. Supports are tailored and often creative, focusing on developing transferable skills, independence and social connection — frequently as a stepping stone toward volunteering, further education or employment. The emphasis is on capacity building, not simply being accompanied to activities.
This distinguishes it from "Assistance with Social and Community Participation," which is a Core support for ongoing help to access activities. Innovative Community Participation is not a support that legally requires provider registration (unlike Specialist Disability Accommodation or specialist behaviour support); whether a registered provider must be used depends on the participant's plan management type.
What it covers
- Building skills to join mainstream community, social or recreational activities
- Tailored, non-traditional programs beyond standard group day options
- Developing confidence and independence to participate in new settings
- Skill-building toward volunteering, education or employment pathways
- Support to explore new interests, hobbies or creative pursuits
- Mentoring and structured skill development in community settings
- Building social connections and personal support networks
- Individual or small-group capacity building focused on transferable skills
Who it suits
Refer when a participant has a goal to increase their community involvement and needs to build the underlying skills and confidence, rather than simply be accompanied to activities.
It suits participants ready to move beyond standard day programs, those wanting a tailored or creative approach, and people working toward volunteering, study or work who need foundational social and community skills first.
How to refer Innovative Participation on Novida
Search Novida's verified provider listings for Innovative Community Participation in the participant's region. Filter by the provider's approach and their current capacity so you shortlist services that genuinely build skills rather than only supervise attendance.
Before contacting anyone, check the provider's registration status against the participant's plan management type and confirm they have current availability. This avoids referring an agency-managed participant to an unregistered provider or approaching a service with no room to take on new referrals.
Contact the provider directly with a complete referral: participant consent, NDIS number, plan management type, the relevant support category and available budget, the community-participation goal, preferred frequency and location, and any access or communication requirements. Novida is free and never sits in the middle of the referral — you deal directly with the provider.
What to check before you refer
- Confirm the plan has Capacity Building "Increased Social and Community Participation" funding available and that a documented goal aligns with the referral.
- Check whether the participant is agency-, plan- or self-managed to determine whether the provider must be NDIS-registered.
- Confirm the provider's approach is genuinely capacity-building (skill and confidence development) rather than ongoing supervised participation.
Innovative Participation — NDIS price limits (2026–27)
- Individual Skill Development And Training - Weekday Daytime — $69.34 per hour (09_009_0117_6_3)
How it’s priced
Innovative Community Participation is priced in line with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (the NDIS Price Guide), which sets the price limits for this capacity-building support. It is generally claimed on an hourly basis, with group-based delivery apportioned across participants; check ndis.gov.au for the current limits and claiming rules.
Coordinator FAQs — Innovative Participation
- Which budget does Innovative Community Participation come from?
- It is funded from the Capacity Building budget, under the "Increased Social and Community Participation" support category. Because Capacity Building funding is tied to plan goals, confirm the participant's plan lists a relevant community-participation goal before referring. Unlike Core supports, Capacity Building funds generally cannot be…
- How is this different from Assistance with Social and Community Participation?
- Assistance with Social and Community Participation is a Core support for ongoing help to access activities, typically someone accompanying the participant. Innovative Community Participation is capacity building: the focus is developing skills and confidence so the participant can eventually take part more independently. If your…
- Does the provider need to be registered?
- Not by law. Innovative Community Participation is not a support that mandates registration, unlike Specialist Disability Accommodation or specialist behaviour support. Whether registration is required depends on plan management: agency-managed participants must use NDIS-registered providers, while plan- and self-managed participants can…
- What goals suit this support?
- Goals about increasing community involvement, building social connections, developing independence, or working toward volunteering, education or employment. The plan should show the participant wants to build capacity — new skills and confidence — rather than simply attend activities with support. Aligning the referral to a documented…
- Can it be delivered one-to-one or only in groups?
- Both. Innovative Community Participation can be delivered individually or in small groups, depending on what best builds the participant's skills. The innovative aspect is about tailored, non-traditional approaches, so delivery is flexible. Group ratios affect how the support is claimed, so confirm the proposed model and check the…
- How is it priced?
- In line with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (the NDIS Price Guide), which sets the price limits for this capacity-building support. It is typically claimed hourly, with group-based delivery apportioned across participants. For current price limits and claiming rules, check the latest NDIS Pricing Arrangements on…
- What should be in my referral?
- Send a complete package: participant consent, NDIS number, plan management type, the relevant support category and available budget, the community-participation goal, preferred frequency and location, and any access or communication requirements. A complete referral lets the provider confirm fit and capacity quickly. Through Novida you…
- How does this support a pathway to employment?
- By building the foundational social, community and confidence skills many participants need before formal employment supports. It can bridge toward volunteering, education or School Leaver Employment Supports. Frame the referral around this trajectory so the provider can design activities that build transferable skills and evidence…
- Can it fund the cost of the activities themselves?
- Generally no. The NDIS funds the support to build skills and participate, not the everyday cost of an activity that a member of the public would also pay, such as entry fees. Confirm with the provider how they structure supports, and check the participant understands any out-of-pocket activity costs before you make the referral.
Related NDIS registration groups
- Community & Social Participation referrals
- Group & Centre-Based Activities 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