Community and social supports: how to choose what suits you
· Everyday supports · Source checked 12 October 2026
Social and community participation supports are about doing things you enjoy, with the right amount of help. Here is how to match the support to the person.
Start with what you enjoy
Community and social supports work best when they start with your interests, not with what a provider happens to run. Write down things you have enjoyed, things you would like to try, and places you would like to go. Think about people as well as activities.
The aim is usually to take part in community life, build skills and confidence, and meet people, with a level of help that suits you.
One-to-one or group
A support worker who goes with you to an activity gives you personal attention and flexibility. A group program can be more social and may be more affordable, but it follows a set programme. Some people use both. Think about how much help you need, how you feel in groups and how important choice of activity is.
Questions to ask
Ask what a typical session involves, who else attends, how many staff there are and how activities are chosen. Ask about transport, costs beyond the support itself such as entry fees, and what happens if you want to stop or change.
Ask whether you can try it once before committing, and how the provider will check that it is working for you.
Mainstream and local options
Not everything has to be an NDIS service. Libraries, clubs, community centres, councils, sporting groups and volunteering organisations may all offer ways to take part, sometimes with a support worker alongside. Mixing funded supports with local community options can make life more varied and sustainable.
Tell your coordinator or plan manager what you plan to do so you know how it will be funded. This is general information, not advice about your plan.
Start small and review
Try an activity for a few weeks before deciding whether to continue. Set one simple goal, such as “go once a week” or “introduce myself to someone new”, and check in on it. Ask the worker or provider how they think it is going, and tell them what you think.
It is fine to change your mind. Interests shift, and the best arrangements are the ones that keep changing as you do.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose community and social supports?
Start with what you enjoy, not with what a provider happens to run. Write down things you have enjoyed, things you would like to try and places you would like to go, and think about people as well as activities.
Should I choose one-to-one support or a group program?
A support worker who goes with you gives you personal attention and flexibility. A group program can be more social and may be more affordable, but it follows a set programme. Some people use both. Think about how much help you need, how you feel in groups and how important choice of activity is.
Does everything have to be an NDIS service?
No. Libraries, clubs, community centres, councils, sporting groups and volunteering organisations may all offer ways to take part, sometimes with a support worker alongside. Tell your coordinator or plan manager what you plan to do so you know how it will be funded.
Keep learning
- How to choose an NDIS provider: 12 questions to ask before you commit: A practical checklist for comparing providers, from how a service fits your plan to what happens when something goes wrong.
- Registered or unregistered? What it means when you choose an NDIS provider: Registered and unregistered providers can both be legitimate, but the rules, checks and options for your plan are not the same. Here is how to think about the difference.
- How to change NDIS provider without losing support: You are allowed to change providers. A little planning means the new service is ready before the old one ends, and nothing falls through the gap.
- Making a complaint about an NDIS provider or worker: where to start: Raising a concern can feel daunting. Here is a clear order of steps, who deals with what, and how to keep a record as you go.
More in our NDIS updates and insights, our step-by-step guides, or the NDIS and aged care provider directory.
Official sources
Source checked 12 October 2026. Rules and guidance can change; verify current details with the responsible agency. How we write and check our guides.