Social and community support can be a great way to work towards goals in your NDIS plan. All supports claimed under this item need to be deemed reasonable and necessary, as well as aligned with your goals.
Funding for core supports is fairly flexible. You can shift money from this budget into other categories, except transport.
Accessibility
Getting the right support and services is vital to help individuals with disability. The NDIS connects people with disability, their families and carers with government services and community activities, while also providing funding for individualised support to meet personal goals, like learning a new skill, increasing independence or finding work.
However, it’s important to note that the NDIS will not replace existing informal support networks. This includes the help provided by family and friends – often known as ‘family support services’. NDIS participants frequently ask if they can use their NDIS funding to hire family members as paid carers, but this isn’t possible unless you can demonstrate that the supports are reasonable and necessary under the NDIS’s operational guidelines.
Inclusion
People with disability rely on community participation, socialising and fun for their health and wellbeing. The NDIS recognises that these things are not always available to someone with disability, which is why it provides funding specifically for community participation. These supports are classified as ‘reasonable and necessary’ under the NDIS pricing arrangements and price limits, and can be accessed via the support catalogue.
NDIS participants receive their own personalised plans and budget allocations, which are designed to align with their goals. Funding under the Core Supports budget called ’Assistance with Social and Community Participation’ can be used to book accessible community activities, while Capacity Building supports can be used to participate in community-based training and build independence and skills.
Many families with a person with disability also provide significant unpaid support in the form of family care and respite. Carers can use the specialised NDIS support funded under the Core Supports category (‘04 Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation’) to arrange respite for their loved ones.
Supports
The NDIS offers participants a choice and control over the supports they access. This includes choosing their provider, determining what support is reasonable and necessary and developing their own goals to achieve those supports.
One of the NDIS community support services available is plan management. This involves a service coordinator helping you understand your NDIS funds, organising your supports and increasing your independence.
Another support option is home and living. This could include someone helping you find accommodation, inspecting properties and negotiating your contract. It could also include assistance with household chores, cooking, cleaning, bathing and dressing.
There is a funding category in your NDIS plan called 'Assistance with Social,
Community and Civic Participation' or 'Capacity Building'. This can be used to pay for a support worker to accompany you on activities in the community, including social events and recreational groups. It could also be used to fund mentoring, peer support and training to build your independence.
Getting started
The NDIS provides a range of supports for people with disability. These are grouped into different categories in your myplace portal and include supports to build independence, community inclusion, home modifications, personal care and respite.
Your plan manager or support coordinator will help you understand these supports and how they relate to your goals. They will work with you to ensure you have the best possible support to achieve your goals and to get the most out of your NDIS funding.
NDIS participants can access mainstream community services and support organisations, including local government services (for example, education, health, social housing and transport), as well as community groups (such as neighbourhood houses, men’s sheds and community centres). This stream aims to strengthen these existing services by increasing the capacity of the community.
Family and carers play a critical role in supporting people with disability. NDIS participants can use their plans to purchase respite supports that give their carers time off from their caring responsibilities.
