Recreation and NDIS: What you need to know about NDIS funding for social and recreational activities
Wondering how your NDIS funding can help you get involved in recreational activities?
Joining a fitness class? Have you found a great social group? The new NDIS rules offer clarity on what support services are covered—but also highlight some areas where you might need to pay extra. Understanding these rules will help you make the most of your funding without any unexpected expenses.
A Quick Overview of NDIS and Social Participation
Think of your NDIS plan as a roadmap that guides you toward more independence and a connected lifestyle. While the NDIS doesn’t fund recreational activities themselves, it covers the cost of the supports required for you to participate. In other words, if you need assistance or supervision while attending activities—such as a support worker accompanying you—that part can be funded through your NDIS plan.
However, if you have additional costs directly related to the activity—like entry fees, tickets, or equipment hire—those will need to be covered out of your own pocket. Let’s dive deeper into what’s funded, what’s not, and how you can plan ahead. New NDIS Rules for Social and Community Participation can be tricky to navigate so lets explore them together.
1. Group and Centre-Based Programs: What’s Included?
You are joining a recreational or social program through a group or centre-based setting. The support you receive during the activity is covered by your NDIS funds, provided it aligns with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements. You can check to see if the activities are covered by the provider or if they are in addition to the service!
Example: If your group outing involves a visit to a bowling alley, NDIS will cover the cost of the support worker assisting you at the venue. You will need to pay the lane fees yourself if the provider has not included them in the hourly rate.
Pro tip: Ask your provider upfront whether their hourly rate covers everything, or if additional fees apply.
2. How to Tell if an Activity Is Covered: Jack and Sally’s Soccer Example
Let’s say Jack and Sally, both in high school, want to join a local soccer team. Sally is neurotypical and doesn’t need any disability-related supports, while Jack has Autism and is an NDIS participant.
Sally’s mum signs her up, buys her uniform, boots, and pays the registration fees. They also buy a soccer ball for practice at home. These are general costs that everyone on Jacks team must pay. They aren’t covered by his NDIS plan, since they aren’t related to his disability needs.
Jack’s family will need to pay for the same items—registration fees, uniform, and equipment—since these costs aren’t disability-specific. However, Jack also requires a support worker to help him at practice and transport to and from training sessions. The NDIS can cover the support worker’s assistance and transport costs, as these relate directly to Jack’s disability.
This example shows how NDIS focuses on funding supports related to Jacks disability, while non-disability-specific costs must be covered by Jack and his family, just like for any other player on his team.
3. What If My Activity Is Run Specifically for People with Disabilities?
Some activities are designed specifically for people with disabilities, such as Sense Rugby or art classes tailored for those with unique needs. You can claim these under your NDIS funding if they meet certain criteria:
Therapy-Focused Programs by Allied Health Professionals
When you engage in therapies run by your allied health therapist, you can claim these. For instance, your Occupational Therapist might run a dance group to target gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. Similarly, a Speech Pathologist might lead an arts and crafts group with goals around improving social skills, teamwork, and communication.
These programs are eligible because the activity serves as a tool for therapy, not the primary objective. For coverage, the cost must fall within the therapist’s hourly rate, ensuring alignment with NDIS pricing guidelines.
Group and Centre-Based Activities
When you join a group that is not therapy-based but rather, run within group settings, this can also be covered. Check that the activity costs are included in the hourly rate charged. These don’t require a therapist but still need to follow the NDIS price guide to qualify for funding.
Important: You must pay for additional activity costs that are not included in the hourly rate. You can make a plan with the provider for how to pay these costs.
4. What Can You Use Your NDIS Funding For?
NDIS funding focuses on the supports and supervision required to help you engage in recreational and social activities. This includes:
- Assistance with daily tasks to help you prepare for and participate in the activity
- Support workers accompanying you to events or classes
- Transportation if you cannot travel independently
- Adaptive equipment to enable participation, such as modified sports gear
These supports empower you to get involved, build new skills, and maintain social connections. However, NDIS doesn’t cover the actual recreational costs, like entry tickets, memberships, or uniforms. The new NDIS rules for social and community participation make it easier to understand what you can and can not use funding for.
5. Planning for Out-of-Pocket Expenses
You can plan ahead to determine what costs you need to cover yourself. For example:
- Your gym or club memberships must be paid by you, NDIS might cover your support worker who helps you attend.
- Tickets to events or activities (such as a theatre show) aren’t covered, though the transport to get there might be.
Make sure to budget for these extras if you plan to engage in regular recreational activities.
6. Using Companion Cards to Reduce Costs
Participants who need a support person to accompany them to activities can benefit from a Companion Card. This card allows the support worker to attend many events and activities free of charge. You can use this across many theatres, cinemas, sporting venues, and public recreational facilities.
When you use your companion card, you only need to pay for your own ticket or entry fee. This helps make outings more affordable and encourages greater community involvement for individuals requiring extra support.
Pro Tip: Check with the venue or provider in advance to confirm they accept Companion Cards. You can avoid unexpected costs this way!
7. Transportation: Covered or Not?
Getting to and from activities can be a challenge for some participants. The good news is that transport support is available under the NDIS if you cannot use public transport independently. Your provider may include transport, so it’s worth checking if travel costs are bundled in the program.
If not, you may need to cover transport costs yourself. Your support worker can assist you with transport to a supported activity or event using “Activity Based Transport”. Keep in mind that this will be funded out of the same pool of funds as your supports . This will mean you may get less support hours over the life of the plan.
Conclusion: Participate with Confidence and Enjoy New Experiences
The updated NDIS rules make it possible to access the support you need to participate in social and recreational activities. While the NDIS won’t cover every cost, it ensures that you have the help required to take part. When you understand how funding works, you can make the most of your NDIS plan.
These new NDIS Rules for social and community participation aren’t exactly new though. They have just been made clear with the new legislation. See this extract from the guide published by NDIS in 2022:
“You will need to pay for the costs of the activity that everyone would pay for such as membership or entrance costs. We may then be able to fund the support you need to take part in the activity because of your disability.”
Social & Recreational Support Guideline 28th October 2022
So, whether you’re picking up a new hobby, joining a group class, or attending a community event, don’t let funding questions hold you back. Go get out there, try new things!
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