How is this different from general community participation?

General participation support helps you take part in community activities. This service considers a more tailored approach where your particular circumstances create additional support needs that usual options do not address.

Does innovative mean a new or creative activity?

Not by itself. The focus is the individual support needed to participate. A creative activity is not automatically an innovative community participation support under the NDIS.

How do we choose an approach?

We start with your circumstances, participation goal and the barriers you have experienced. From there, we discuss the assistance, setting and practical steps that could be suitable.

Do I need to have a complete plan for the activity?

No. You can explain what you would like to do and the barriers you have experienced. A suitability discussion can help clarify the next practical steps.

Can someone who knows my needs join the discussion?

Yes, if you would like them involved. With your consent, a trusted person or existing support professional can help explain the barriers you face and approaches that have helped before.

Innovative community participation

Sometimes a standard activity or usual support arrangement does not address the barriers you face. Innovative community participation begins with understanding your individual situation and discussing a tailored way to take part. We welcome enquiries across Greater Melbourne, Melbourne’s western suburbs, Wyndham and Geelong.

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Support for your everyday life

Find a way to participate that works for your circumstances. Explore a tailored approach when your circumstances make usual community participation options difficult.

Understanding participation barriers
Discussing the situations that prevent you from joining in and what has or has not worked before.
Choosing a personal goal
Identifying an activity, interest or community connection that matters to you.
Exploring a tailored approach
Considering the preparation, pace, setting and assistance needed for your individual circumstances.
Planning the practical support
Agreeing on suitable steps and, with your consent, the people who need to be involved.
Learning from the experience
Discussing what helped, what remained difficult and whether the approach needs to change.

We agree on the activities, suitability and scope with you before support begins.

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A personal approach to your support

AN ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE

You might want to reconnect with a community interest but find the usual format difficult because of your circumstances. The starting point would be to understand those barriers and discuss a suitable approach, rather than book you into an existing activity that may not fit.

Support shaped around you

The right support begins with understanding your goals, the things that matter to you and how you prefer to be supported.

Usual options are not meeting your needs

Your personal circumstances create additional barriers that make established community activities difficult to access.

A more individual approach

You want to discuss the particular assistance, environment or preparation that could make participation possible.

A meaningful participation goal

You have an interest or connection you want to pursue, even if the best way to begin is not yet clear.

An individual suitability discussion

We first understand the support needs and barriers involved before confirming whether this service is appropriate.

A clear, agreed approach

The goal, proposed support, people involved and practical requirements are discussed with you before arrangements are made.

Review as you go

Your feedback helps us discuss whether the agreed approach is working and what needs to be adjusted.

Making support work for you

We discuss the details together, so you know what to expect before you decide.

Funding and costs

The NDIS describes innovative community participation as tailored support for people whose personal or situational circumstances create extraordinary support needs. The proposed assistance must meet the relevant requirements and fit your plan.

We discuss suitability, your plan and the proposed costs before agreeing to support. Any ordinary activity expenses and the assistance being provided need to be understood separately.

Before you decide, we explain your service agreement, how to request changes and how to give feedback.

We support people across Greater Melbourne, including Melbourne’s western suburbs, Wyndham, Point Cook, Werribee, Tarneit and Truganina, as well as Geelong. Tell us your suburb so we can confirm local availability.

YOUR NEXT STEP

How do I get started?

Tell us what you need
Share your goals, suburb and preferred way to contact you. You can involve someone you trust.
Agree on the details
Together, we confirm suitable support, available times, funding and costs. We explain the service agreement before you decide.
Start with a clear plan
Once you agree, we arrange the first visit and explain how to ask questions, give feedback or change your support.

You can contact us yourself, or ask a family member, carer or support coordinator to help. An enquiry does not book a service.

Frequently asked questions

Let’s talk about the support you need

We’re here to listen, answer your questions and help you understand your options.

Tell us a little about yourself and what you’re looking for. You can enquire for yourself or someone you support.

LET’S GET STARTED

How can we help?

A few details will help us understand the support you need.

Step 1 of 4

Innovative community participation

Support for your everyday life

Understanding participation barriers

Choosing a personal goal

Exploring a tailored approach

Planning the practical support

Learning from the experience