NDIS Innovative Community Participation

Your Community Is Waiting for You

Being part of your community should feel easy and exciting. Whether you want to try new activities, build social confidence, or take steps toward greater independence, the team at Serene Life will help you get there at a pace that feels right for you.

More Than Just Getting Out of the House

Innovative Community Participation (NDIS Support Category 0116) is a Capacity Building support. This funding aims to build the confidence and abilities required for greater long-term independence in community participation, differentiating it from Core Supports. Serene Life designs this support around your actual goals—not a generic template.

Activities That Actually Match Your Interests

Community means something different to every person. Maybe you are into sport, love local events, enjoy volunteering, or want to try something creative. Serene Life support workers take the time to understand what genuinely interests you and help you find activities that feel worth showing up for.

A Support Worker Who Grows With You

Serene Life matches you with a consistent support worker so trust builds naturally over time. They get to know your goals, your comfort zone, and the kind of encouragement that works for you. That relationship is what makes trying new things feel less daunting and more doable.

Clinical Backing When You Need It

For participants with health needs, Serene Life has Registered Nurses (RNs) and Enrolled Nurses (ENs) available to support you during community activities. Whether you are transitioning from hospital care or managing a health condition, you can get out and about knowing the right expertise is close by.

What Your Support Can Look Like

Because this support is designed to be individual, what it looks like varies from person to person. Here are some of the ways Serene Life participants use their 0116 funding:

Trying New Things for the First Time

Some people have never had the chance to explore activities outside the home. Serene Life support workers help you discover what is out there, try different settings, and find what genuinely interests you. There is no pressure and no rush.

Building Confidence in Social Situations

If social situations feel difficult due to anxiety, autism, acquired brain injury, or other conditions, the Serene Life team works with you in real community settings to build your confidence step by step. The goal is to develop a skill, not simply attend an activity.

Learning to Use Local Resources on Your Own

This might mean learning how to use a local library, join a community club, access a gym, or navigate a shopping centre independently. Serene Life practitioners help you practice these skills until you can manage them with less help or no help at all.

Volunteering and Giving Back

Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose, routine, and real community connection. Serene Life can support you to find the right opportunity, get started, and build confidence in that role over time. For those working toward employment, it can also serve as a meaningful stepping stone.

Making Friends With Shared Interests

Social isolation is one of the most common challenges faced by people with disability. Serene Life helps you find and join groups, clubs, or community organisations where you can meet people who share your interests and build friendships that go beyond the support itself.

Creative and Recreational Pursuits

Photography, community choir, a local sports team, cultural events, cooking classes—whatever you are drawn to, Serene Life supports you to get involved in recreational activities that are personally meaningful and enjoyable.

Moving Toward Independence from Group Programs

If you have used group programs for a while and feel ready to try more independent community participation, the Serene Life team can bridge that transition. You get individual support while building the skills and confidence to engage more on your own terms over time.

Transport That Gets You There

Transport should never be the reason you miss out. Serene Life Supported Independent Living (SIL) homes include access to a car and driver so you can get to community events, appointments, and activities without any of the stress of organising it yourself.

Who Is This Support For?

People with Specific Independence Goals in Their Plan
If your NDIS plan includes a goal around becoming more independent in the community, Serene Life uses 0116 funding to help you work toward that goal in a structured and meaningful way.

People Who Feel Socially Isolated
If you spend most of your time at home and want to change that, the Serene Life team provides a structured and supportive way to start building real community connections without feeling overwhelmed.

Young Adults Stepping Into Independent Life
Young people moving out of school, leaving home for the first time, or transitioning to adult life often have big goals around community involvement. Serene Life practitioners help you build the skills you need for the next chapter.

People Ready to Do More on Their Own
If you have relied on group programs or one-on-one support for a while and feel ready to take steps toward greater independence, 0116 is the capacity-building bridge that Serene Life uses to get you there.

How Does 0116 Differ from 0125 and 0136?

Support Category 0125 funds ongoing one-on-one community access. Support Category 0136 funds group- and centre-based activities. Support Category 0116 is a Capacity Building support funded separately, designed to build your skills so you can participate more independently over time. Many people use all three together. Serene Life can help you understand how each fits your plan.

How This Works With Your NDIS Plan

Because 0116 sits under Capacity Building rather than Core Supports, it works a little differently from standard community access support. Here is what to expect when you work with Serene Life:

Step 1: Check Whether 0116 Is in Your Plan
Look at your Capacity Building budget in your NDIS plan. Innovative Community Participation (0116) will appear there if it has been funded. If it is not in your current plan, speak to your support coordinator or LAC about requesting it at your next plan review.

Step 2: Tell the Serene Life Team What You Want to Achieve
Serene Life starts every conversation by understanding what you actually want from your community life—not what the NDIS says, and not what anyone else thinks. That becomes the foundation of your support plan.

Step 3: Serene Life Designs a Plan Around Your Goals
Serene Life practitioners work with you and your support coordinator to design a support plan specific to your goals, interests, and starting point. Because this is a Capacity Building support, the plan has a clear direction and measurable outcomes.

Step 4: Support Happens in Real Community Settings
Your Serene Life support worker meets you out in the community. Sessions happen in real settings: local cafés, sports centres, clubs, libraries, volunteering sites, or wherever your goals take you. The support is practical and active.

Step 5: Progress Is Tracked and Support Adjusts
The Serene Life team checks in regularly on how you are going. Are you building confidence? Are the activities the right fit? Is the goal still relevant? The support plan is adjusted as you grow. As you become more capable, the level of support decreases. That is the whole point.

Step 6: You Move Into the Community on Your Own Terms
The end goal of 0116 is that you need less support, not more. Serene Life plans for that transition from the very first session. When you are ready, the team helps you move into community activities with minimal or no support, confident in the skills and connections you have built.

Why Choose Serene Life for This Support?

0116 requires more than just showing up. It takes skill to design support that actually builds real independence. The Serene Life team selects support workers for their ability to work in a goal-directed way. They are not just friendly companions—they are skilled practitioners who help you stretch your comfort zone and build genuine capability in the community.

Serene Life designs every plan around your actual goals, not a standard service template
Experienced support workers skilled in capacity building, not just care
Registered Nurses and Enrolled Nurses available for participants with clinical needs
Serene Life tracks progress and reports outcomes clearly
Clear communication with your support coordinator throughout the process
Serene Life plans for your independence from the very first session

Frequently Asked Questions

What is community participation and why does it matter?

Community participation helps you connect with others, engage in activities you enjoy, and feel a sense of belonging. It builds confidence, fosters relationships, and supports growing independence. For many people, it is one of the most meaningful parts of their NDIS plan.

Can I use 0116 at the same time as 0125 or 0136?

Yes, and this combination is common. You might use 0136 for regular group social programs, 0125 for ongoing one-on-one community access, and 0116 for a specific skills-building program. Each comes from a different budget, so they do not eat into each other. Serene Life and your support coordinator can help you use all three effectively.

Why is it called Innovative Community Participation?

The word innovative signals that this support is designed to be creative and individual. It is not a standard service delivered the same way for everyone. Serene Life tailors it to your specific goals, interests, and situation. Every 0116 plan looks different because every person is different.

Is 0116 automatically included in NDIS plans?

No. It needs to be specifically funded in your Capacity Building budget. This usually happens when you have a clear community participation goal that standard Core Supports are not fully addressing. If you want 0116 in your plan, speak to your support coordinator or LAC about your next plan review.

How long does this support last?

0116 is designed to be goal-focused rather than ongoing. How long it runs depends on your goals, your available funding, and your progress. Some people use it for a few months to work on a specific goal. Others use it over a longer period as part of a bigger journey toward independence. Serene Life reviews progress regularly and adjusts the plan as you grow.

Can this support help with employment-related goals?

It can overlap in some cases—for example, using volunteering to build work skills and community connections. However, if employment is your primary goal, your plan will likely include specific employment supports (0102), which are better suited. Speak to your support coordinator about how the two can work alongside each other if both apply to you.

I am a support coordinator. How do I request 0116 for someone?

To have 0116 included in a plan, you need to demonstrate a clear link between the support and the person’s community participation goals. Evidence of what has and has not worked with existing Core Supports is helpful. The Serene Life team can assist with goal documentation and support plans that make the case for 0116 funding clearly. Get in touch and Serene Life will work through the referral and documentation with you.

Talk to the Serene Life team today.

Let’s Create Something Amazing Together.