Community Participation is NDIS-funded support that helps people with disabilities take part in social, recreational and community life. It’s funded under the Assistance with Social and Community Participation category of your NDIS Core Supports budget, and it can be delivered one-on-one or through group and centre-based programs, depending on what suits you.
Mercy Life Care is a registered NDIS provider supporting participants across Sydney and Western Sydney, including Toongabbie, Parramatta, Blacktown and The Hills District. Our support workers help people get out into their community, build friendships, and take part in activities that matter to them.
Assistance with Social and Community Participation is one of four categories under NDIS Core Supports (alongside Assistance with Daily Life, Consumables, and Transport). According to the NDIS Guide to Support Budgets, this category funds a support worker to help you take part in community, social and recreational activities and work toward the participation goals in your plan.
It’s worth knowing this sits apart from Increased Social and Community Participation, a separate Capacity Building category that funds skill-building programs rather than day-to-day support to attend activities. If skill-building and building independence is your main goal, our Innovative Community Participation page covers that side of your plan.
Generally, this funding covers the cost of the support worker’s time, not the cost of the activity itself — entry tickets, course fees and class fees are usually a separate cost to the participant
Individual community support
A support worker accompanies you one-on-one to social outings, community events, appointments, or simply out into your local area. This might mean visiting friends and family, attending a local event, or building the confidence to access public spaces independently over time.
Group and centre-based programs
For participants who’d rather join others, we run group and centre-based activities at a lower support-worker ratio, which usually makes it a more cost-effective way to use your Core Supports budget.
Programs include:
Group sizes and activities are matched to participant interests, so the same program isn’t run the same way for everyone.
Regular participation reduces isolation, builds confidence, and helps people maintain the social connections that matter most to them. For many participants, consistent contact with a familiar support worker and a regular group program is what makes staying connected to community realistic week to week, not just an occasional outing.
At Mercy Life Care, we are committed to delivering compassionate, person-centred care that supports individuals with disabilities in living independent, fulfilling lives. Our promise is to provide high-quality services that respect the dignity, preferences, and rights of each person we serve.
Our core values guide all of our actions and interactions. We operate with integrity — honesty, transparency, and accountability in everything we do. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is encouraged to participate fully in their community and live a life that reflects their unique identity.
Mercy Life Care specialises in flexible community participation support across Sydney, from one-on-one outings to structured group programs. As a registered NDIS provider, our support workers are trained in person-centred care and community access, so participation happens safely and at each person’s own pace.
It funds a support worker’s time to help you take part in social, recreational and community activities, either one-on-one or in a group setting. It doesn’t cover the cost of the activity itself, such as tickets or class fees.
Core Supports (Assistance with Social and Community Participation) funds support to take part now. Capacity Building (Increased Social and Community Participation) funds building skills and independence for the future — different budget, different goal.
Generally yes. Group and centre-based programs use a lower support-worker-to-participant ratio, which typically means a lower hourly cost than individual 1:1 support.
Yes. Many participants use a mix of both, depending on the activity and what they’re comfortable with. Your support plan can reflect either or both.
Check your NDIS plan for funding under Core Supports, then contact Mercy Life Care to arrange an assessment and set up your support.
