Creating NDIS goals for social and community participation can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to understand what the NDIS looks for and how to frame your goals in a way that reflects both your needs and your aspirations.

There are two key life areas that the NDIS specifically funds and actively measures, as outlined in the NDIS Quarterly Report. These are participation in work, and participation in community and social activities.

In 2021, the NDIS also funded two major research studies focused on improving social, community, and civic participation for adults on the autism spectrum or living with intellectual or psychosocial disability. The outcomes of this research have since been used to develop official guides that help participants and families understand how to create meaningful and effective social goals using NDIS-aligned language and outcomes.

Understanding this framework can make a significant difference when preparing for a planning meeting or reviewing an existing plan.

What the NDIS Means by Social and Community Participation

Before writing goals, it helps to understand how the NDIS defines this area of funding.

According to the NDIS, social and community participation is about meeting people with similar interests and taking part in social and community activities. It means going where others go, doing what others do, with other people, and choosing activities you enjoy.

They also acknowledge that social and community participation looks different for everyone.

It can include activities such as going to a local café, joining a sports team, bushwalking with a friend, doing a craft class, getting work experience, or volunteering.

Importantly, the NDIS frames social and community participation as part of everyday life. These are activities done for enjoyment, connection, and wellbeing, not just as formal programs or services.

Prepare, Connect, and Maintain

The NDIS guidelines break social and community participation into three key stages. This helps recognise that people often need different types of support at different points in their journey.

The first stage is preparation. This can include building confidence, developing social or communication skills, and gaining the readiness needed to take part in activities.

The second stage is connection. This involves accessing activities and supports, working with providers, engaging with peer mentors, and learning how to navigate social or community environments.

The third stage is maintenance. This focuses on sustaining participation, finding new opportunities, and receiving ongoing coaching, mentoring, or support to keep building connections over time.

The NDIS recognises that funding may be needed across all three areas to help someone reach their social goals. This reflects a long-term, holistic approach rather than a short-term solution.

What Goals Can Attract Social and Community Participation Funding

To access funding in this area, your NDIS plan needs goals that clearly relate to social and community participation.

Using language that aligns with NDIS guidelines can help demonstrate how your goals fit within their framework.

Examples of goals that may attract funding across preparation, connection, and maintenance include:

  • I want to feel included and connected to others.

  • I want opportunities to build relationships with friends.

  • I want to grow my social networks and feel more included in my community.

  • I want to increase my confidence and build my ability to participate with my peers.

  • I need help to develop skills to be more independent and feel safe in my community.

  • I need to build skills and relationships that help me move toward employment.

  • I want to find activities I enjoy where I can meet people and make friends.

These types of goals show that participation is not just about attending activities, but about building skills, confidence, relationships, and long-term independence.

Goals Can Change With Each NDIS Plan

Your social and community participation goals do not have to stay the same forever.

As you grow, your interests, needs, and life stage will change. Your goals can evolve to reflect new priorities, such as finding a job, living independently, dating, or becoming more involved in your community.

The NDIS acknowledges this by encouraging participants to try different activities and explore new opportunities. They recognise that you may not know what you enjoy until you try it, and that with the right support, activities that feel unfamiliar at first can become meaningful and enjoyable over time.

Research also shows that the activities you enjoy most, and the people who make you feel valued, are often the ones that bring the greatest wellbeing benefits.

Types of Activities the NDIS Encourages

NDIS research highlights that connecting with social and community activities can help people feel more included, build social skills, and improve emotional wellbeing.

They suggest a wide range of possible activities, including:

  • Visiting friends and family

  • Going to the movies or a concert

  • Shopping or visiting a museum

  • Active hobbies such as bike riding or dancing

  • Playing sport, such as tennis or basketball

  • Learning new skills, including art or craft classes

These examples show that social participation does not need to be formal or structured. Everyday activities can be just as valuable as organised programs.

Finding Social and Community Activities

The A List is a national online platform that brings together social options and providers across disability, mainstream, and community supports.

It is designed to help people find activities, meet like-minded individuals, and explore opportunities that match their interests and goals.

The aim is to make it easier to connect with something enjoyable and meaningful, rather than feeling limited to a narrow set of options.

Questions to Ask a Provider

Before engaging a provider, it can be helpful to ask questions about how they work and what outcomes they focus on. This can help you decide whether they are the right fit for you and your family.

Skills and Experience

You might ask:

  • How will you help me learn about supports that may be useful for me now and in the future?

  • What experience do you have working with people on the autism spectrum or with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities?

  • What outcomes do your programs and activities aim to achieve?

Working With You and Your Support Network

You might ask:

  • How will you work with me to meet my individual needs?

  • What evidence or information will you use to help guide decisions about my participation supports?

  • Can you connect me with peers or others with similar experiences?

Delivering Supports

You might ask:

  • How will I know if I am benefiting from this service?

  • What steps will you take if I am not reaching the outcomes we agreed on?

Sources and Disclaimer

This guide is informed by the latest NDIS publications and research, including:

National Disability Insurance Agency (2021). Interventions to improve social, community and civic participation of adults on the autism spectrum or living with intellectual or psychosocial disability: A systematic review.
National Disability Insurance Agency (2021). Getting out into the world: Pathways to community participation and connectedness for NDIS participants with intellectual disability, on the autism spectrum and/or with psychosocial disability.

This article is designed to help you understand the types of social and community participation supports that may be available. It does not guarantee that any specific support will be included in an NDIS plan. All funded supports must meet the NDIS reasonable and necessary criteria, and some supports may be available outside the NDIS system.

For official guidance, this information should be read alongside NDIS guidelines on social and recreation supports.