For the first time since the scheme began, the NDIS is planning to reduce a whole category of funding, and it’s the one that pays for life outside the house. In April 2026, the Federal Government announced that budgets for social and community participation supports will be reset from 1 October 2026.
Understandably, that announcement has caused worry. But most of the coverage has focused on providers rather than families, and much of it skips the basics of how this funding works in the first place. This guide from Unisson Disability covers both: what is included in community participation funding, and what the October changes will actually mean for your plan.
Key Takeaways
- NDIS community participation funding helps cover the support you need to take part in activities outside the home, including community activities, social events, group programmes and skill building.
- Funding changes are planned from 1 October 2026, with community participation budgets progressively reset as plans come up for reassessment.
- Planning ahead can help you understand how the changes may affect your supports and budget. If you need help planning your community participation supports, contact Unisson Disability.
What is included in community participation funding?
Community participation funding sits in the Core budget of an NDIS plan, usually under the category called assistance with social, economic and community participation. It pays for the support a person needs to take part in life outside the home, rather than the activities themselves. In practice, that includes:
- A support worker accompanying you to community activities, appointments, sport, classes or social events
- Group programs and centre based activities run by a provider, where the cost of support is shared between participants
- Support to build the skills involved in getting out and about, like using public transport or handling money in shops
The funding generally covers the support worker’s time, charged at the hourly rates in the NDIS Pricing Schedule. What it doesn’t cover is the cost of the activity itself. Entry tickets, meals, memberships and transport fares are usually personal expenses, the same as they would be for anyone else.
How group support is charged
When support is delivered in a group, the hourly cost is split across the participants in that group. A one to three ratio means one worker supporting three people, so each person’s plan is charged a third of the hourly rate. This is why group programs stretch a community participation budget considerably further than one to one support.
What’s changing from 1 October 2026?
As part of the reform package announced in April 2026, the government will progressively reset social and community participation budgets from 1 October 2026. The key facts as they stand:
- The changes apply progressively as plans come up for reassessment, phased in over roughly twelve months, rather than cutting every plan at once.
- Reported figures suggest average spending in this category will return to around 2023 levels, falling from about $31,000 to about $26,000 per participant over two years.
- The government has stated that supports for critical care and daily living needs are protected and are not part of this reset.
- A proposed Inclusive Communities Fund has been flagged to support group based community participation activities, though its details are still being consulted on.
If your plan reassessment falls before October, your current funding carries through. If it falls after, your community participation allocation may be set under the new approach, and the NDIA will communicate directly with affected participants.
Does this affect my other supports?
No. This reset applies to the social and community participation category, with a smaller adjustment flagged for capacity building daily activities. Funding for daily living support, Supported Independent Living and personal care sits in different categories and is not part of the announced changes.
A second change: provider registration will affect prices
From 1 January 2027, a separate change kicks in. Under the 2026-27 NDIS pricing updates, unregistered providers of social and community participation supports will have their price limit cut by 10%, while registered providers keep the full rate with annual indexation. For families, the practical takeaway is that the gap between registered and unregistered community support providers is about to become visible on invoices, not just in paperwork.
What families can do now
None of this requires panic, but it does reward preparation. Check when your plan reassessment is due, so you know when the changes could reach you. Keep evidence of what community participation achieves for the person you support, such as skills gained, routines maintained and connections built, because outcomes evidence carries weight at reassessment. And talk to your support coordinator about how your current funding is tracking, since underused budgets are harder to defend than well used ones.
Community connection is what we do at Unisson
The reason these changes matter is simple: regular time in the community is where friendships, skills and confidence are built, and that doesn’t stop being true because a budget category is being reset. Unisson Disability runs Community Access Hubs across Northern Sydney, the Hills, Lane Cove and the Hunter, offering group programs designed around what each person enjoys and wants to work towards. If you’d like to understand how your community participation funding can work harder, or you’re planning ahead for the October changes, contact our team and we’ll talk it through with you.
Frequently asked questions
Will my community participation funding be cut in October 2026?
Not automatically. The changes apply progressively as plans are reassessed from 1 October 2026 onwards, so your current plan keeps its funding until your next reassessment.
Can I pay for tickets or meals out of community participation funding?
Generally no. The funding covers the support worker’s time and the shared cost of group programs, while everyday costs like entry fees, food and transport fares are personal expenses.
Is community participation the same as a day program?
They overlap but aren’t identical. A day program or community hub is one way to use community participation funding, alongside one to one support in the community and skill building supports, so the funding gives you a choice of formats rather than locking you into one.