Volunteering and community groups

NDIS Core support

Support to take part in volunteering or join community groups, helping people build connections and contribute to their community.

The short answer

This support helps you take part in volunteering or join community groups, so you can build connections and contribute to your community.

About Volunteering and community groups

Volunteering is a way to meet people, learn skills and make a difference. Community groups, from sporting clubs to gardening groups to book clubs, offer belonging and friendship. With the right support, people with disability can enjoy these opportunities like anyone else.

A support worker can help you find opportunities that match your interests, contact the organisation, get there and settle in. They can also talk with the organisation about any adjustments and explain how you like to be supported. Over time, support often reduces as you become part of the group.

Think about what you would like to get out of it. Some people want to build work skills, others want friendship or to contribute to a cause they care about. Volunteering organisations and local councils list opportunities, and a provider can help you explore options.

Who is this service for?

People who would like to volunteer or join community groups and need support to take part.

What a typical session looks like

Volunteering and community groups give you a chance to contribute, meet people and try new things. A worker or coordinator helps you find a group or role that matches your interests, whether that is a community garden, an animal shelter, a sports club, a choir or a charity shop. They may go with you the first few times and help you settle in.

Once you have a regular role, support reduces as you become part of the group. The worker stays in touch with you and the organisation, so that any problems can be solved early. Many people find that volunteering builds confidence, skills and friendships, and can lead to paid work.

Who delivers this support

Support may come from community connectors, support workers, volunteer centres and the organisations themselves. Some volunteer centres have staff who specialise in including people with disability. Ask about how the organisation welcomes volunteers, what training is provided and how adjustments are made.

How to choose a provider

• Ask how they help you find opportunities that match your interests.
• Find out how they work with the host organisation.
• Check how they help you get there and settle in.
• Ask how support will reduce over time.
• Ask how they review whether it is working for you.

Questions to ask a provider

• How can you help me find a volunteering role that fits my interests?
• Can you go with me at first and then step back?
• What training and support does the organisation provide?
• How are adjustments made for my needs?
• How can I try a role before committing?
• Can volunteering lead to paid work or study?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a role because it is convenient rather than interesting.
• Not talking with the organisation about adjustments.
• Relying on a worker to stay, and not building connections with others.
• Taking on too much at once.
• Not asking for feedback or recognition of your contribution.

Getting started

1. List your interests and what you would like to get out of volunteering.
2. Search local volunteering organisations and community groups.
3. Visit or contact a group with your support worker.
4. Try it for a few weeks and review.

How it fits with the rest of your plan

Volunteering links with community access, social activities and employment preparation. It suits people who want to contribute and build skills. It is worth choosing something you really care about, since you are more likely to stay involved and enjoy it.

Eligibility

You can use NDIS funding for Volunteering and community groups 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

Core supports help with everyday activities and are usually the most flexible part of an NDIS plan. If Volunteering and community groups is in your plan, it is normally paid from a Core budget. Your plan shows how much you have and how it can be used. 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 Volunteering and community groups 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.

Community access providers on the NDIS register

15,301 NDIS providers list community access supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.

Providers listing community access

• 00 Towards your Horizon - SA; includes Glenelg South, SA
• 1 Abbira Care Services - VIC; includes Fraser Rise, VIC
• 1 All Care - SA; includes Findon, SA
• 1 Care Connect - NSW; includes Manly, NSW; Rooty Hill, NSW; Rosehill, NSW
• 1 Circle Of Care - VIC; includes Pakenham, VIC
• 1 Disability Support Services - SA; includes Prospect, SA
• 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
• 10 Winchester Farm - NSW; includes Piggabeen, NSW

See all 15,301 community access providers

Listings by state and territory

• New South Wales (5,202)
• Victoria (4,426)
• Queensland (2,760)
• South Australia (1,458)
• Western Australia (1,251)
• Northern Territory (343)
• Australian Capital Territory (334)
• Tasmania (272)

Suburbs with the most listings

• Brisbane, QLD (636)
• Melbourne, VIC (494)
• Sydney, NSW (385)
• Central Coast, NSW (313)
• Perth, WA (297)
• Adelaide, SA (262)
• Blacktown, NSW (258)
• Parramatta, NSW (242)
• Liverpool, NSW (224)
• Tarneit, VIC (206)
• Canberra, ACT (192)
• Geelong, VIC (191)

Listings covering the most areas

• Permalink Support Services - 503 areas
• Nurse Next Door Batemans Bay - 413 areas
• Hunter Valley Care & Assistance - 249 areas
• Nurse Next Door Ballarat - 233 areas
• Nurse Next Door Armidale - 230 areas
• Nurse Next Door Wagga Wagga - 207 areas
• Nurse Next Door Canberra - 189 areas
• Huge Care - 188 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

• Yard maintenance and gardening
• Activity-based transport
• Cultural, religious and civic participation
• Group / shared living support

Frequently asked questions

What support can help me volunteer?

A support worker can help you find opportunities, get there and settle in, and support you until you feel confident.

How do I find a volunteering role?

Volunteering organisations and local councils list opportunities. A support worker can help you explore options that fit your interests.

Can volunteering lead to work?

It can help you build skills and experience, and some people move on to paid work. Explore what you want to get out of it.

Do I need experience to volunteer?

Often not. Many organisations provide training.

Can volunteering lead to paid work?

It can help you build skills and experience, and some people move on to paid work.

Is there an age limit?

Requirements vary by organisation. Ask when you enquire.

Can I volunteer if I have never done it before?

Usually not. Many organisations offer training, and they value enthusiasm and reliability.

Can volunteering help me get a job?

It can build skills, experience and contacts, and some people move into paid work through it.

What if the role does not suit me?

You can talk to the organisation about changes or try something else. Volunteering is meant to be positive for you as well.

Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Volunteering and community groups?

If Volunteering and community groups 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 Volunteering and community groups 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