Community access involves supporting people with disabilities to take part in everyday life in ways that are meaningful and valued. Exactly how this looks depends on the different needs and interests of each person you work with. It could mean providing support to go to work or school, take part in sport, pursue a hobby, or see a movie.

To do this well, you need to really listen to find out what types of connection are most important to the person and how they want you to support them to achieve it. You will also need to learn to see and point out opportunities for the people you support to participate and be included in what interests them, in ways that matter to them. Evidence shows that, like all of us, having opportunities to participate and contribute is a significant factor in improving the quality of life for people with disability.  

• This type of work means getting to know about opportunities for being part of social, community, education, and economic life. It will often mean providing support to people outside the home, in community or work settings.
• This work offers opportunities for workers with talents and interests in just about any activity – art, music, exercise, dance – to name just a few. Your role could involve sharing your skills or encouraging and supporting a person to attend mainstream activities to further their interests.
• Building capacity and confidence is great work for people with lived experience, who can share their own struggles and achievements to motivate and encourage others.
• Workers who share a cultural heritage or personal identity, such as LGBTIQA+ with the person they support, bring valuable experience to this type of support.
• Support should always be tailored to the needs of the individual participant. It often involves 1:1 work but may also involve supporting group activities.
• This type of work can be a good starting point to explore related work in more specialised support roles or for progressing to further study and related professional roles. This includes roles in allied health, such as physiotherapy, as well as further study in fields of interest such as music, dance or art therapy, exercise, and fitness coaching.
• You can find out more about this work by checking out the Framework capabilities that support the objectives for ‘Our relationship’, ‘Your impact’ and ‘Support me’. These capabilities provide a good understanding of attitudes and behavioural indicators that support people with disability in ways that promote connection and participation.

• NDIS | Community participation
• NDS | Community inclusion initiative
• NDS | Community participation in action