What community participation pays for
In your plan this sits in the Core budget called assistance with social, economic and community participation (previously called social, civic and community participation). It pays for support so you can take part in activities you choose, for example:
- A support worker going with you to a class, gym, church, mosque, library or club
- Support to join a sporting team, art group or volunteering role
- Group and centre based programs, such as day programs
- Travel to and from the activity with your worker, claimed as activity based transport
- Support in employment, through specialised supported employment
What it does not pay for
The funding pays for the support, not the activity. Entry fees, memberships, event tickets, meals and other costs that everyone pays are day to day living costs, so you pay them yourself. Many venues accept a Companion Card, which can mean your worker gets in free.
Community participation is also different from the Capacity Building budget called increased social and community participation, which pays for supports that build your skills so you need less help over time.
The 50% reset from 1 October 2026
From 1 October 2026, funding for social, economic and community participation supports is reduced by 50% when a plan is created, reassessed or renewed. Renewals are included from 1 February 2027, and everyone affected will have had their plan renewed by 30 September 2027. Your current plan keeps working until then.
The cut comes off the budget, not your spending. In the government's example, someone with $50,000 a year who uses $30,000 ends up with $25,000 available, a real drop of $5,000. Some subgroups are protected, including supports in employment, high intensity supports and intensive and complex behaviour supports. The reset does not apply to new framework plans, which start rolling out from 1 April 2027.
Making the funding go further
- Look at what you actually spend now. If you use less than half your budget, the real impact may be small
- Ask your provider whether a group ratio, such as 1:2 or 1:3, suits some activities, because the cost is shared
- Prioritise the activities that matter most to your goals and wellbeing
- Use Capacity Building supports to build skills, so you can do some activities with less support
- If your needs or circumstances have changed in a significant and ongoing way, you can ask for a plan variation or unscheduled reassessment. The reset on its own does not count as a change
- If you need 24 hour disability support, check the separate high support needs plan variation pathway
Choosing a provider
Good community participation starts with you. Look for a worker or organisation who asks what you want to do, matches you with someone who shares your interests or language, and is reliable with times. If you are self managed or plan managed you can use registered or unregistered providers. Agency managed participants must use registered providers.
For providers
Expect clients to have smaller budgets after their next plan change, and quote against the funding available, not the total. Separately, the NDIA's Annual Pricing Review recommended a 10% lower price for social, community and civic participation supports from unregistered providers from 1 January 2027. As of October 2026 that is still under consultation and not final.