NDIS Social and Community Participation Budget Cuts: What Changes

From October 2026, budgets for social, civic and community participation supports are being progressively reset, with allocations reducing by an average of 50 per cent to bring spending back in line with 2023 levels. If this funding is part of your plan, it's worth understanding exactly what's changing and what your options are before the changes take effect. You can read the NDIS' latest information on the changes for the full details.

What's actually changing

The government has said these supports are being reset because spending has grown to levels far higher than any comparable support program, and because — in its assessment — the supports haven't consistently improved community participation, inclusion or capacity for every participant funded to use them. Capacity-building daily activity budgets are also being reduced, by 10 per cent.

The changes are part of the broader reforms outlined in the NDIS' plan to secure the scheme for future generations.

Who's most affected

People with the largest social participation budgets tend to be those with the highest support needs — including people in supported living arrangements, people with intellectual disability, psychosocial disability, Down syndrome, or lower functional capacity. If you fall into one of these groups, it's worth reviewing this part of your plan closely before the changes are introduced.

What's being done to offset it

The government has committed $200 million to an Inclusive Communities Fund, intended to rebuild capability among community organisations to host genuine participation activities, rather than funding go through individual budgets.

This shifts some of the model from individual choice toward organisation-led activities — worth knowing if you've valued the flexibility of directing your own funding.

What you can do

• Review your current plan to see exactly how much of your budget sits in this category before the reset takes effect.
• Talk to your Support Coordinator or Plan Manager about how a reduced budget will affect the specific activities you currently use it for.
• Ask about Inclusive Communities Fund activities becoming available in your area as an alternative or supplement.
• If your circumstances mean this change has a significant impact, raise it directly with the NDIA — individual circumstances are taken into account in some cases.

MySolas Plan Navigator can help you understand exactly where this funding sits in your plan and what your options look like once the reset takes effect.