How can I use the NDIS funding for Sport programs?
Sport and recreational activities provide many physical and mental health benefits. Participating in sports promotes inclusion, optimises physical health and develops new skills. In addition, sport offers many opportunities to engage in the community and connect with others. Community sport is a social event. It is an opportunity to socialise with your peers, other players and their friends and family. The social sports programs provide an opportunity to make friends and do things together in the local community before or after training, like have lunch or coffee.
Set your goals
To use your NDIS funding for sport, it is very important that you consider your goals and aspirations. The ability to fund sport will depend on the goals that you set. If your goals include participating more in the community, making new friendships, improving your health or learning a new skill, then joining a sports team may help you achieve these goals.
Below are some examples of words you could use when preparing your plans
You can say, for example:
- I want to engage recreationally in sport
- I want to engage socially with my peers and community
- I want to build my capacity for my interaction with peers
- I want to build my skills
- I want to increase my independence
- I want to continue to develop my social and communication skills
- I want to continue to participate in social and sporting activities
Remember – the NDIS will only fund goods and services which will assist sport activities if you have identified social and community participation in your NDIS planned goals, so it is important to be prepared for your NDIS Plan meeting.
Sports activities fall under Capacity Building for Increased Social and Community Participation. Your participation in sporting activities needs to help you to build your skills and independence. These supports need to clearly link back to the goals you have listed in your NDIS plan.
| NDIS Support Category | My Goal | The outcome of my goal is to: | What will my goal achieve? | What may help me to achieve this goal? | Is my goal reasonable and necessary? (NDIS Value Proposition) |
| Social, community participation | I want to take part in community, social and recreational activities so that I can meet new people, make friends and learn new skills | Improved social skills, communication, mental health and confidence | It will help me to meet new people and friends. I will also be able to contribute to the community and participate in different activities to develop new skills. Connect with other people in a shared activity. | Attending a weekly group sports program. Connecting with people with similar challenges and sharing stories on how to overcome them. | Yes. |
I have heard that NDIS does not cover sport?
Participating in sport provides many benefits for community and social participation. If social and community participation is your goal, it may be possible for the NDIS to fund these activities.
We encourage you to speak to your Local Area Co-ordinator or Plan Manager to understand how you can use your funds for sports coaching and participation. The relevant support item will be Community Participation Activities (09_011_ 0125_63) under Capacity Building. This support item is designed for community participation activities, sports coaching and similar activities that can build a participant’s skills and independence.
We can help
If participating in sports is one of your goals, Sporting Wheelies can help you. Contact Sporting Wheelies to find out more at (07) 3253 3333, or email sport@sportingwheelies.org.au.
