Skill-building community access
NDIS Capacity Building support
Community outings with a focus on learning a skill, such as using public transport, handling money or joining a local group.
The short answer
Skill-building community access is support in the community that focuses on learning a skill while you are out, such as using public transport, handling money or joining a local group.
About Skill-building community access
Community outings can be about enjoyment, but they can also be about learning. With skill-building support, a worker helps you practise a specific skill in the place where you will use it. That might be catching a bus, paying for groceries, ordering at a café, using a library or joining a club.
Progress is planned. You and the worker agree a goal, break it into steps and practise, with the worker gradually stepping back as you gain confidence. Regular reviews check that you are learning and that the goal is still the right one.
This is different from one-to-one community access, where the emphasis is on taking part and having support to do it. Many people do both, and providers can help you decide which mix suits you.
Who is this service for?
People who want support in the community that also helps them learn a skill, such as using public transport or handling money.
What a typical session looks like
In this kind of support, a worker helps you learn skills while you are out in the community, such as catching a bus, ordering at a cafe, using an ATM, shopping for groceries or joining a class. The worker first shows you how, then does it alongside you, then steps back and lets you try on your own.
Each outing has a goal. You and the worker agree what you want to be able to do, keep a note of how it went and build up from simple to more challenging tasks. Over time, the aim is that you need less support and can do more independently or with the help of people naturally in your community.
Who delivers this support
Skill-building community access is provided by support workers with experience in teaching skills, and often guided by an occupational therapist or another professional. Choose a worker who is patient, encouraging and takes a teaching approach rather than doing things for you.
How to choose a provider
- Ask how goals are set and how progress is measured.
- Find out how the worker steps back as you gain skills.
- Check how the provider keeps you safe in the community.
- Ask how they work with family and other supporters.
- Ask how the plan changes when you achieve a goal.
Questions to ask a provider
- How will we choose which skills to work on?
- How will you teach me, and how will you reduce your support over time?
- How will we record and review my progress?
- What will you do if I find something too hard?
- How do you help me practise skills between outings?
- How will you help me use these skills without a support worker?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Having the worker do tasks for you instead of teaching you.
- Setting goals that are too big to reach.
- Not practising between sessions.
- Not recording progress, so it feels like nothing is changing.
- Not linking the skills to something you want, such as work or study.
Getting started
- Choose one skill you want to learn in the community.
- Talk to providers about how they would teach it.
- Agree steps, dates and a review.
- Practise between sessions where you can.
How it fits with the rest of your plan
This support connects with daily living skills, transport, community participation and employment preparation. It suits people who want to become more independent in community settings. Reviewing progress regularly helps you see how far you have come and choose the next goals.
Eligibility
You can use NDIS funding for Skill-building community access if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.
Funding
Capacity Building supports help you build skills and independence. If Skill-building community access is in your plan, it is normally paid from a Capacity Building budget. These budgets are usually set for particular types of support, so check which one your plan uses. Many NDIS supports have price limits, so ask providers for a quote and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.
What it costs
Supports such as Skill-building community access that are funded by the NDIS are paid at rates that follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which the NDIA reviews regularly. Many items have a maximum price, and some prices are higher in remote areas. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.
Life skills providers on the NDIS register
13,003 NDIS providers list life skills supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.
Providers listing life skills
- 1 Abbira Care Services - VIC; includes Fraser Rise, VIC
- 1 Care Connect - NSW; includes Manly, NSW; Rooty Hill, NSW; Rosehill, NSW
- 1 Circle Of Care - VIC; includes Pakenham, VIC
- 1 Heart Care Services - NSW; includes Orange, NSW
- 1 In Town Services - SA; includes Mansfield Park, SA
- 1 The Helpers - NSW; includes Parramatta, NSW
- 1-Care - NSW; includes Lalor Park, NSW
- 10 Plus Care - VIC; includes Camberwell, VIC
- 121 Best Care - QLD; includes Calamvale, QLD
- 121 Supports Hunter - NSW; includes Hamilton, NSW; Newcastle, NSW; Newcastle West, NSW
- 123 Community Support - NSW; includes Ermington, NSW
- 13 Care Solutions - VIC; includes Cobblebank, VIC
See all 13,003 life skills providers
Listings by state and territory
- New South Wales (4,401)
- Victoria (3,825)
- Queensland (2,354)
- South Australia (1,257)
- Western Australia (1,066)
- Northern Territory (297)
- Australian Capital Territory (283)
- Tasmania (212)
Suburbs with the most listings
- Brisbane, QLD (608)
- Melbourne, VIC (477)
- Sydney, NSW (348)
- Central Coast, NSW (282)
- Perth, WA (264)
- Blacktown, NSW (241)
- Adelaide, SA (237)
- Parramatta, NSW (234)
- Liverpool, NSW (213)
- Tarneit, VIC (198)
- Geelong, VIC (185)
- Ipswich, QLD (185)
Listings covering the most areas
- Permalink Support Services - 503 areas
- Hunter Valley Care & Assistance - 249 areas
- Nurse Next Door Canberra - 189 areas
- Huge Care - 188 areas
- Aligned Assist - 184 areas
- Amazing Procare Toowoomba - 171 areas
- Allabilities Cares - 170 areas
- Allied Horizon Disability Services - 154 areas
Checking credentials
- Check registration Search the NDIS Commission's register of registered providers to see whether a provider is registered and for which types of support. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use unregistered providers.
- Ask about worker screening Ask whether workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check where their role requires one, and how the provider checks its workers' identity and qualifications.
- Get it in writing Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that describes the support, the prices, how to change or end it and how to make a complaint.
Regulation and safeguards
NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulates NDIS providers and handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports. Phone: 1800 035 544.
- National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Runs the NDIS. Contact them about your plan, your funding and eligibility. Phone: 1800 800 110.
Related services
- Social skills and relationship development
- Social work
- Specialised driver training
- Specialist Positive Behaviour Support
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from ordinary community access?
The focus is learning a skill while you are out, for example catching a bus, shopping with a budget or joining a local group, with the aim of doing more independently.
What skills can it cover?
Examples include travel training, money handling, communication, joining clubs and using local services.
How do I know if it is working?
Good providers set clear goals with you and review progress regularly, changing the support as you become more confident.
How long does it take to learn a skill?
It varies from person to person. Regular practice and clear steps help.
Can I work on more than one skill?
Yes, though it can help to focus on one or two at a time.
What if I feel anxious in the community?
Tell your worker. Good support starts gently and builds up.
What is the difference between community access and skill-building community access?
Community access is about taking part in activities. Skill-building access has a focus on learning specific skills while you are out and about, with the aim of increasing independence.
How long will I need a worker for each skill?
It depends on the skill and how quickly you learn. The aim is for support to gradually reduce.
Can we practise skills in the places I actually use?
Yes, and it is best to do so. Practising where you will use the skill helps it stick.
Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Skill-building community access?
If Skill-building community access is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.
How do I find a Skill-building community access provider near me?
Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.
Sources and further reading
- NDIS: how the NDIS works, plans and price limits
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: find a registered provider, make a complaint
Browse the NDIS and aged care provider directory
Helpful reading
- 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.