Picture a Saturday morning at the local markets, browsing stalls with a support worker alongside you, not trailing behind. Or an afternoon at the beach, feet in the sand, no facility walls in sight. Or a regular Thursday fitness class, a movie at the local cinema, a coffee catch-up that’s become part of your week. That’s what community access actually looks like with LPS, real participation in real local life across Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, and Gin Gin.
What Is NDIS Community Access?
NDIS community access is one-on-one support that helps participants take part in community, social, and recreational activities of their choosing. A support worker accompanies the participant into the community itself, rather than delivering support from a facility, so participation happens in real, everyday settings.
What Community Access Support Looks Like in Regional Queensland
This isn’t a generic list of “activities.” It’s what’s genuinely available in these communities.
In Hervey Bay: the local markets, a walk along the Esplanade, time at the beach, whale-season activities during the season, a movie at the local cinema, or a regular fitness class, all with a support worker who knows the area and knows you.
In Bundaberg: local markets and community events, Bargara beach, regional shows, a coffee catch-up in town, or a fitness or hobby group that’s become a regular fixture in someone’s week.
In Gin Gin: smaller-scale, genuinely local activities suited to a small community, from a regular outing into town to shared activities coordinated with our Bundaberg team when a wider range of options is the right fit.
In every case, the activity is chosen by the participant, not assigned. Community access works because it’s built around what someone actually wants to do, not a fixed program everyone follows the same way.
How Community Access Is Funded Under the NDIS
Community access is typically funded under Core Supports, specifically the Assistance with Social and Community Participation category. This funding pays for a support worker to accompany you during activities, and it’s structured as hourly support within your plan’s flexible Core budget.
You can read more about how this category works on the official NDIS Core Supports page. Because Core Supports funding is flexible, community access sits alongside your other everyday supports in the same budget, rather than as a separate, capped allocation.
Individual vs Group Community Access — What’s the Difference
| Individual (One-on-One) | Group | |
|---|---|---|
| Support ratio | One support worker, one participant | One or more staff supporting several participants together |
| Flexibility | Activity and timing built entirely around you | Shared schedule, set activities for the group |
| Best suited to | Participants who want a personalised pace, or specific activities not shared by others | Participants who enjoy structured social settings and meeting other participants |
| Cost per hour | Generally higher, reflecting the one-to-one ratio | Generally lower, reflecting the shared staff ratio |
Neither option is inherently better. Some participants prefer the flexibility of one-on-one support, others enjoy the social dynamic of a group setting, and many use a mix of both depending on the activity.
This Week Could Look Different
You don’t have to wait for a “someday” to start doing more in your own community. It can start with one session.
Book a Community Access Session with LPS — 1300 221 492 →
Not sure where to start? Contact Us to Get Started.
How to Request Community Access Support Through LPS
- Confirm your funding. Check that your NDIS plan includes Core Supports funding for community and social participation. If you’re unsure, we can help you work it out.
- Tell us what you actually want to do. Markets, the beach, a fitness class, a regular coffee catch-up, whatever genuinely interests you.
- We match you with a support worker. Someone who knows the local area and suits your personality and pace, not just whoever’s rostered on.
- Book your first session. From there, sessions can be one-off, regular, or a mix, adjusted as your interests and needs change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What activities are covered under community access?
Almost any community, social, or recreational activity that’s reasonable and necessary for your disability-related needs, from markets and the beach to fitness classes, movies, and regular social catch-ups. It’s built around what you want to do, not a fixed list.
Is transport included?
Transport to and from activities can generally be included as part of community access support, depending on your individual plan. Let us know your transport needs when you get in touch so we can plan accordingly.
How do I choose which activities to do?
You choose. Community access is meant to reflect your genuine interests and goals, not a program assigned to you. The activity needs to be reasonable and necessary under the NDIS, which the official NDIS guidance on reasonable and necessary supports explains in detail, but within that, the choice is genuinely yours.
How often can I have community access sessions?
This depends on the funding available in your plan and your individual goals. Some participants have a single regular weekly session, others have several sessions across different activities. We can help you work out a schedule that fits your funding and your life.
