Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds care equipment and homes, making life easier for Australians. But the NDIS's biggest win is in how it includes everybody.
People needing care don't get to enjoy the same freedoms that others do. They follow routines tailored to improving their quality of life, but most of those routines barely have time for fun. It's about medication, rest, meals, therapy and so on.
That's why the NDIS Social Activities are important, and the scheme's biggest win. These activities turn lonely weeks filled with routines into lively days of fun and learning to create a balanced life for those needing care.
As part of these activities, people needing care go on group outings, take art classes, and even form sports teams. They build their confidence and feel normal. It's a very important part of the scheme that needs more celebration.
Why NDIS Social Activities Matter
From the introduction, you already have an understanding of why NDIS Social Activities matter. So, here's more context to help you deepen that understanding.
You see, loneliness is the biggest killer of people suffering from any illness or disability. It affects the brain, destroying the will to live and the will to be whole. Loneliness isn't just sadness. Also, loneliness doesn't just affect people living with illnesses or disabilities. It's a silent killer of the human race. And it has only one cure: Community Participation.
The Mental Health Arm of the Australian Department of Health warns that one-third of Australian adults risk being depressed if they don't find a community. The NDIS, knowing this, first defined community participation as "going where others go, doing what others do, with other people”. Their next line of action was to set up programmes that make this possible, giving people a community.
Common Types of NDIS Social Activities
The NDIS has many activities for people subscribed to its plans to choose from. There's something for everyone! Activities under the NDIS Social Activities umbrella include things like:
- Arts & Hobbies: Painting, drama workshops, craft classes and so on.
- Sports & Recreation: Swimming, adaptive walking groups, dance classes, video gaming, soccer team, and so on.
- Volunteering: Support staff at cafés, community gardening groups, peer group volunteers, and so on.
- Social Clubs: Book clubs, movie clubs, hiking groups and so on.
- Cultural & Travel Clubs: Museum and history clubs, tour guide volunteering, local festival volunteering and planning and so on.
All of the activities are designed to help people make friends through active participation. Most importantly, they are designed to encourage community connection.
Now, let us see some real stories of people who have been helped by community participation through NDIS Social Activities.
Story #1: Emma's Art Class Adventure
Emma is a 27-year-old. She lives in Canberra. She has a condition that makes her feel too anxious to leave her home. Her interactions are mostly limited to her plan manager, doctors, and family. Her family didn't want her to keep living this way, and so, they spoke to her plan manager. Her plan manager helped fund a pottery class, which gave her something to do on Friday evenings. In six months of doing this activity, she had made new friends and gained enough confidence to make and sell pottery mugs at a community market, where she interacted with even more people.
Story #2: James' Adaptive Sports Breakthrough
James fractured his spine when he was playing basketball. He was around 12 years old when it happened. He struggled with his confidence for many months after. He even became depressed because he couldn't play basketball, the sport he loved. His family went to their NDIS plan manager, who suggested that James sign up for NDIS Social Activities tailored to sports. He got placed on an adaptive basketball team and found himself again. James now serves as a junior coach on the team and is more motivated because he “found his people”, as his mum says.
Story #3: Sophia's Volunteering Victory
Stories like Sophia's make people at the NDIS proud because they show the far-reaching impacts of the NDIS Social Activities. Sophia had an NDIS plan, probably for her family or for her aged care when the time came. At the time she signed up as a volunteer for NDIS outreaches, she didn't need it. But that signup and volunteering gave the 45-year-old lady a new lease of life. She volunteered for a kitchen run by the NDIS, learned catering skills, managed orders and interfaced with customers. Her confidence soared, and she gained a new experience for her CV.
How to Access & Enjoy NDIS Social Activities
Sophia's story shows that these activities are for everyone. As long as you have a plan, you can participate. To gain access to these activities, follow these simple steps:
- Ask Your Plan Manager
At your NDIS planning meeting, ask for “social and community participation” support. They will make provisions for it in your funding once you make the request. They can even go a step further by talking with you to find out your interests and recommend a few that suit you. You can then make a choice and look forward to meeting your new community!
- Find Providers
Typically, you go on to find your community after requesting the support funds to be added to your plan. If your plan manager doesn't go that extra mile, you can search the NDIS portal or local directories for providers that offer NDIS social activities.
- Book a Trial
When you find a NDIS provider that offers the kinds of activities you like, reach out to them to ask if you can stop by. Many of them appreciate people coming to try out for the activity. Do this until you find the one that fits just right
- Track Your Budget
The NDIS funds are not unlimited! Every activity costs money! Never forget this fact, and make sure to track your spending! Experts advise that you allocate your social activity funds under the heading “Core – Assistance with Social & Community Participation” in your budget tracker or with your planner for easy tracking.
Conclusion
Yours can be a success story too! Take full advantage of your NDIS plans and sign up for the social activities, so you can live a balanced life, just like the three people whose stories are shared in this blog.
Don't forget to start small and watch how you go from being alone and isolated, to a happy, well-rounded person who feels included in a community.
