Innovative Community Participation NDIS: 5 Fresh Ideas

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Bowling gets old fast.

So does the same film every Friday afternoon, or another trip to the shopping centre food court with a support worker who’d rather be checking their phone. If you’ve been stuck in this loop, you’re not alone. Many NDIS participants discover that standard “day programs” feel more like warehousing than genuine community participation. However, the beauty of innovative community participation NDIS funding is that it doesn’t have to be this way.

Your NDIS plan isn’t a prescription for boredom—it’s a budget for building the life you actually want.

What Does “Innovative” Actually Mean Here?

Before we dive into specific ideas, let’s clarify something important.

“Innovative” doesn’t mean flashy or expensive.

Rather, it means personalised, purposeful, and aligned with your genuine interests and goals.

Community participation funding (Category 9 in your NDIS plan) exists to help you:

∙ Develop practical skills

∙ Build genuine social connections

∙ Participate in your community in meaningful ways

Consequently, if you’re spending hours each week doing activities that leave you feeling empty or patronised, you’re not getting the value you deserve.

The NDIS framework emphasises choice and control.

Therefore, you have every right to ask your support coordinator or plan manager: “Can we do something different?”

Idea 1: Turn Your Hobby Into a Micro-Enterprise

Consider this: what if your community participation funding helped you learn to sell your art, crafts, or skills?

Many participants have passions that could become small income streams with the right support.

For instance, you might love:

∙ Painting or drawing

∙ Making jewellery or pottery

∙ Baking sourdough or decorating cakes

∙ Building miniature models or woodwork

∙ Photography or graphic design

Instead of simply doing these activities in isolation, innovative community participation could involve a support worker helping you set up an Etsy shop, attend local markets, or run workshops teaching others your craft.

This approach accomplishes several goals simultaneously.

First, it builds practical business skills like pricing, customer service, and time management.

Second, it creates genuine social connections with customers and fellow makers.

Third, it provides a sense of purpose and contribution that generic day programs rarely deliver.

Moreover, the NDIS explicitly supports capacity building that leads towards economic participation.

You’re not breaking any rules—you’re using your funding intelligently.

Idea 2: Volunteering and Giving Back

Here’s something transformative: using your support hours to help others.

Volunteering flips the usual script.

Instead of being the person who “receives support,” you become the person who contributes.

Furthermore, research consistently shows that giving back improves mental health, builds social networks, and creates meaning in ways that passive recreation cannot match.

Your support worker can facilitate volunteering at numerous organisations:

• Animal shelters (walking dogs or socialising cats)
• Community gardens (planting and harvesting)
• Food banks (sorting and packing assistance)
• Local environmental groups (tree-planting days)
• Church programs (event assistance or outreach)
• Literacy programs (reading buddies for children or adults)
• Op shops (sorting goods and dealing with customers)

The SALT Foundation particularly values this approach because it aligns with our mission of helping people recognise their inherent worth and capacity to contribute.

Additionally, volunteering often leads to friendships with fellow volunteers—connections based on shared purpose rather than shared disability, which many participants find refreshing.

Importantly, your support worker’s role is to provide the assistance you need to participate fully.

Whether that’s transport, communication support, or help managing the physical or sensory aspects of the environment.

Idea 3: Skill-Based Learning That Actually Interests You

Generic “social groups” aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.

If you’re tired of activities designed for the lowest common denominator, skill-based learning offers an alternative.

Specifically, this means joining or creating groups focused on developing specific capabilities rather than just “socialising.”

Consider these options:

∙ Photography clubs teach composition, lighting, and editing

∙ Coding classes open doors to web design or app development

∙ Cooking workshops build culinary skills and independence

∙ Woodworking courses create tangible products while teaching tool use

∙ Book clubs develop critical thinking and communication skills

∙ Theatre groups build confidence and emotional expression

∙ Music lessons develop discipline and creative expression

The key difference is focus and progression.

Unlike activities designed merely to fill time, skill-based learning has clear milestones and achievements.

Consequently, participants report higher satisfaction and self-esteem because they can see their improvement over time.

Your support worker can help you find existing groups in your area or, alternatively, facilitate one-on-one instruction with qualified teachers.

Many community colleges, neighbourhood houses, and online platforms offer courses that are NDIS-friendly when paired with appropriate support.

Idea 4: Peer Mentoring and Lived Experience

Sometimes the best support comes from someone who’s been there.

Peer mentoring involves connecting with other NDIS participants who have successfully navigated challenges similar to yours.

For example, if you’re working towards employment, speaking with someone who’s made that transition provides insights that professionals simply cannot offer.

Likewise, if you’re learning to live independently, a peer mentor can share practical strategies that actually work in real life.

This approach transforms community participation from consumption to exchange.

Both participants benefit:

∙ The mentee receives relevant guidance

∙ The mentor develops leadership skills and reinforces their own knowledge through teaching

Several organisations facilitate formal peer mentoring programs, though informal arrangements often work equally well.

Your support coordinator can help connect you with peer networks related to your specific goals.

Additionally, many online communities provide opportunities for connection that transcend geographic limitations.

The SALT Foundation recognises that people with lived experience possess expertise that no qualification can replicate.

Therefore, we actively facilitate peer connections as part of holistic support.

Idea 5: Create Something That Doesn’t Exist Yet

Here’s the most innovative approach: if what you want doesn’t exist, build it.

Your NDIS funding can support you in creating new groups, programs, or activities that fill gaps in your community.

Perhaps you’ve noticed that your local area lacks:

∙ An accessible bushwalking group

∙ A space for neurodivergent adults to discuss philosophy or faith

∙ An opportunity for wheelchair users to try adaptive water sports

∙ A creative writing circle focused on publishing

∙ A Christian fellowship group for people with disability

Starting something new sounds daunting.

However, with proper support, it’s entirely achievable.

Your support worker can help with planning, promotion, venue booking, and facilitation.

Many local councils offer grants for community-led initiatives.

Furthermore, once established, your project might serve dozens of others facing the same gap you identified.

This approach delivers profound benefits beyond the activity itself.

Leadership experience, problem-solving skills, stakeholder engagement, and project management all develop naturally through the process.

Moreover, creating something lasting provides a sense of legacy and contribution that’s difficult to find elsewhere.

Your Right to Ask for Something Different

Let’s be absolutely clear about this: you’re not being difficult by wanting more.

The NDIS exists to support you in living your best life, not to funnel you into cookie-cutter programs that someone else decided were “appropriate.”

Consequently, if your current supports aren’t working, speak up.

Talk to your support coordinator.

Contact your plan manager.

Reach out to providers who demonstrate genuine innovation.

Furthermore, remember that “innovative community participation NDIS” isn’t jargon—it’s your entitlement.

Your plan should reflect your goals, interests, and the specific outcomes you’re working towards.

Generic activities might be easier for providers to organise, but ease of administration isn’t your problem.

You deserve support that recognises your individuality, challenges you appropriately, and opens doors rather than maintaining comfortable routines.

Taking the Next Step

Innovation starts with one conversation.

If anything in this article resonated with you, it’s time to explore what’s possible.

The SALT Foundation specialises in person-centred support that puts your goals—not our convenience—at the centre of everything we do.

Our support workers don’t just supervise activities; they actively facilitate your participation in whatever pursuits give your life meaning and purpose.

Want to try something new? Contact The SALT Foundation to discuss how our support workers can facilitate your unique community goals.

Whether you’re interested in starting a micro-enterprise, volunteering, skill development, peer mentoring, or creating something entirely new, we’ll work with you to make it happen.

Your NDIS plan is a powerful tool.

Let’s use it to build something extraordinary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Daniel G. Taylor

Daniel G. Taylor has been writing about the NDIS for three years. His focus has been on mental health and psychosocial disabilities as he lives with bipolar disorder I. He’s been a freelance writer for 30 years and lives across the road from the beach in Adelaide. He’s the author of How to Master Bipolar Disorder for Life and a contributor to Mastering Bipolar Disorder (Allen & Unwin) and he’s a mental health speaker.