Innovative community participation is the capacity-building cousin of standard community participation. Same idea — getting out and engaging — but with a specific goal attached. Build a skill, build confidence, build a routine you can sustain.
Goal-led programs that use community engagement as the vehicle for skill-building or capacity development.
Programs designed around building specific skills — communication, social, life-skill clusters.
Community outings that target specific NDIS goals from your plan.
Graduated exposure to new environments — supported, then less supported, then independent.
Trying things outside your usual routine to expand what you know you're capable of.
Working towards doing community activities without worker support.
Building lasting links with groups, clubs, or organisations beyond worker time.
Innovative community participation funding is goal-driven — usually for participants with specific capacity-building goals in their plan.
Young people transitioning from school to community life, building independence.
Participants rebuilding skills after illness, injury, or hospital admission.
Participants working on managed exposure or rebuilding social confidence.
Building social and confidence skills as a stepping stone to work or study.
Four things that aren't industry standard but should be.
Two or three regulars per participant — not a different person every visit.
Real people on the line, not call queues or IVR menus.
Workers based in the regions we serve — not interstate.
If we're not right for you, we'll say so up front.
Regular community participation focuses on getting out and doing things. Innovative is about building a specific skill or capacity through community engagement. Same activity, different funding category and intent.
Yes — the NDIS funds Capacity Building based on goals in your plan. Innovative community participation is most useful when there's a clear capacity goal it's working toward.
Yes. Many innovative programs are group-based — peer learning, shared experiences, and social interaction are part of the model.
Varies. Some are 6–12 weeks with a defined endpoint, others are ongoing as part of a longer-term plan goal.
Often that's the goal — build skills, then maintain participation through regular Core funding. Talk to your plan reviewer at your next review.
No pressure, no sales pitch. Just an honest discussion about what you need and whether we're the right fit.