Enabling you to
connect with the community
Helping you build your social skills
AboutCommunity Access Support
This NDIS service encourages participants to engage in community activities and help build skills needed to be an active member of society. Under this service, support is typically found in two different parts of your NDIS budget, depending on whether you need hands-on help or skill-building help.
Core Supports
Category: Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation
How this helps: Paying for a support worker to physically take you to an activity, help you participate, and bring you home.
Example: A support worker drives you to a football match and stays with you to help with mobility or communication.
Capacity Building
Category: Increased Social and Community Participation
How this helps: Paying for skills and training (e.g., tuition fees, art class costs, or a mentor to help you learn how to use the bus).
Example: Paying for a 10-week photography course or a travel training program to build your independence.
Highlights of the Community Access Support
The NDIS usually pays for the support (the person helping you), but not the activity cost itself. You still have to pay for your own movie ticket,club membership fees, etc. as these are everyday living costs.
The activity must be reasonable based on your goals, and relate to your disability.
This support is highly personalized. It can be delivered one-on-one or in a group setting.
Recreation & Hobbies:
Joining a local sports club, attending art/music classes, or going to the gym.
Social Connections:
Visiting friends and family, going to the movies, or attending community festivals.
Skill Development:
Learning to use public transport, managing money while shopping, or attending a cooking workshop.
Employment & Volunteering:
Support to volunteer at a local charity or help with work experience to see if a job is right for you.
Practical Life Tasks:
Someone to help you attend medical appointments or go grocery shopping.
Who can benefit from
Community Access Support ?
Those participants who are working towards reducing isolation. Community Access Support breaks the cycle of staying at home and helps build natural support (friends and neighbours).
Participants working towards their health & well-being. Physical activities improve health, while social connection improves mental health.
Building on increased independence? This service helps you become more confident in your community, while building on your social skills.
Participants working towards creating new employment pathways. Many people find that social groups may lead to networking and eventually paid work.
What you need to get started
To receive Community Access Support, you must first be an eligible NDIS participant, and then the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Agency – NDIA) must assess Community Access Support as a necessary support for you.
If you have more questions and need help to understand this better, do get in touch with us.
NDIS Eligibility for Community Access Support
Eligibility for Community Access Support (formally known as Social and Community Participation) is determined by two factors: your status as an NDIS participant and whether the specific service meets the NDIS reasonable and necessary criteria.
Even if you are in the NDIS, a specific Community Access Support is only funded if it meets these six legal standards:
Goal-Related: The service must help you achieve a specific goal in your plan.
Disability-Related: You need the support because of your disability.
Social/Economic Benefit: The service must help you participate in the community or build social connections.
Value for Money: The cost must be reasonable and the benefits must justify the expense compared to other options.
Effective and Beneficial: There must be evidence that the support actually helps you (e.g., a mentor helping you build social confidence).
Informal Support Check: The NDIS won’t fund support that a family member or friend would normally provide for free.
A person with a NDIS plan will generally be able to access funding through the NDIS for transport assistance, if you cannot use public transport without substantial difficulty due to your disability.
Depending on the NDIS transport budgets, Lifest Healthcare can provide transport options to align with your NDIS goals.
Type of Participant
Transport Line Item Code
Transport Line Item Name
SIL (Supported Independent Living)
1_799_0115_1_1
Provider travel – non-labour costs
CAS (Community Social and Rec Activities)
04_799_0125_6_1
Provider travel – non-labour costs
Self-Care Activities
01_799_0107_1_1
Provider travel – non-labour costs
You could also request either of these services in addition to any selected service if you need them, and your NDIS plan covers them.
Our participants’ journeys receiving support via Community Access Support
ABC joined us on 01/01/2026
ABC was provided with
Community Access Support in
<___area>
ABC built their social skills and became an
active participant in their community through
the Community Access Support.
ABC joined us on 01/01/2026
ABC was provided with
Community Access Support in
<___area>
ABC built their social skills and became an
active participant in their community through
the Community Access Support.
Meet our
expert caregivers
We can provide unmatched care and support because of the team of dedicated and skilled professionals.
Liva Robinson
Health Services Designation
Maria Mervyn
Founder & CEO Shine Health Services
Maria Mervyn
Founder & CEO Shine Health Services
TESTIMONIALS
Care Receivers
Edwina Lucifer
NDIS service received: Medium Term Accommodation
Caregivers
-Henna John
Professional Tag
Offering Service Since
Care Receivers
Edwina Lucifer
NDIS service received: Medium Term Accommodation
Caregivers
-Henna John
Professional Tag
Offering Service Since
FAQsabout Community Access Support
What is Community Access Support?
Community Access Support (often referred to as Social and Community Participation) is a person-centered support designed to help you live a full, connected life. It moves beyond just “being present” to “meaningfully participating” in society.
What does Community Access Support fund and not fund?
It is important to understand the “Support vs. Activity” rule: NDIS Funds: The cost of the support person (their time, their expertise) and sometimes the transport to get there. NDIS Does NOT Fund: The cost of the activity itself. This includes ticket prices, entry fees, meals, drinks, or registration fees (e.g., your soccer club membership fee). These are considered everyday living costs that everyone has to pay.
Can you help understand what kind of support I need right now?
If you contact us on 1300 523 524, a member of the Lifest Healthcare team can help you determine what disability support services you require for your specific needs.
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