Community Participation

People with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to social isolation. HCCS value the importance of everyone having equal opportunities to socialise and actively participate in the community as others do. The benefits of community participation are vast and can include:

Building self-awareness, confidence, and independence.
Decreasing social isolation and improved social interaction.
Increasing awareness of social norms and acceptable behaviour outside in different environments.
Improved mental health.
Developing new skills.
Relationship and connection building.

How Does HCCS Deliver This Service?

Based on your individual preferences, interests and needs, we facilitate participants with the opportunities to engage in activities they enjoy. Furthermore, we provide opportunity to make connection and form meaningful relationships. HCCS conduct 1:1 meeting with you to discuss your interests and identify your needs. We encourage individuals to share their likes and interests. If there is a consent, we will also speak to your family members, and any stakeholders who are involved in your care such as: Doctor, NDIS Coordinator, Physio etc. Once we establish a comprehensive plan, we arrange the matching Support Worker as bonding between SW and participant is crucial to execute the plan appropriately. Some of the activities that your SW will assist you with during the provision of Community Participation support includes, but is not limited to the following.

Assist you to go on outings, like visiting your favourite local café and park.
Assist in attending social activities, such as seeing a movie or going to a concert.
Joining a sporting club or an activity of interest, like jewellery making.
Going for a walk along the esplanade.
Getting work experience.
Meeting your friends at the shops.
Attending community or social events.
Learning a new skill, like fishing.
Building your capacity to access transport.

In addition, HCCS facilitates regular social group outings in the local areas. These include social gatherings, BBQ and Picnics. All participants and their family members are welcome to join. The idea is to facilitate socialisation and build relationships. HCCS provides transport if needed, however participants or their carers need to provide a day of prior notice to HCCS management team if they need assistance with transport.

Which funding from my NDIS plan I can use for Community Participation?

Community participation usually comes under core funding. If you have a Support Coordinator, they can help you to understand about the allocation of your fund from NDIS plan. Alternatively, you can contact your LAC.

When we first started with HCCS, we understood that Agaru would be engaging with a whole new set of carers all over again! However, we came to realise that beyond our expectations, the HCCS administration and carer staff worked with so much diligence and professionalism, that Agaru was able to engage with more activities – personal, medical / physio and social - in just three weeks, than what he had in four months with the previous carer organisation. It was a valuable and significant decision to change to HCCS. Since starting, we discovered the recommendations to move came from our NDIS Plan co-ordinator, plus a family relative who had also completed a NDIS Plan co-ordinator course. Agaru is now undergoing planned hydrotherapy activities, with a specialist and the attending HCCS carer staff member, as well as continuing scheduled ongoing speech pathology therapy and other physical exercise activities. It is such a milestone to achieve......!!

Agaru Anderson

Hello, my name is Tula Maya Magar. I was born in Bhutan. Over 30 years ago I fled my home country and went to Nepal, following the mass exodus of fellow southern Bhutanese, who are mainly Nepali speakers. While living in a refugee camp in Nepal, I lost my vision and subsequently, I came to Australia as a visually impaired person. I have had a huge shift in life, moving from a refugee camp to the beautiful country of Australia. After relocation, things became relaxed to some extent. But my visual impairment could not be reversed. I always had to rely on my husband for community access and attending important appointments. My sons and daughters must work and thus cannot be with me. My husband, who is also my carer, is unable to speak English, not being able to drive, I had a limited movement because I had to mostly rely on him. He would hold my hand and take me to places that were within walking distance. But the circumstances have changed now since I started availing support through NDIS. I have my support worker. My support worker takes me to places, takes me to attend medical appointments. With the help of my support worker, the community and shopping centres have become accessible to me. Not only that, but my support worker also translates important information for me. Every second Tuesday, when I get to meet other community members, I enjoy speaking to them and singing songs. I became a rejuvenated person. I feel as if my vision has come back. I may never see things again, but I feel my inner eye, like a divine eye, has become open through which I can see things not only just that are around but those that are subtle, too.

Tula Magar

I was hospitalised for about three months. My Support Coordinator tried her best to find a matching Support Worker for me who can understand me, my disability, my culture and foster a positive care and support. I was lacking consistent support due to the incompetency of my SW’s. I was introduced to HCCS care in June 2022. Within a very short period of time HCCS and their SW become a crucial part of my support network. My Support Workers are friendly and understand my unique needs. I like their flexibility, they become available even with short notice regardless of any day or time. Sometimes I am not sure how my funding works and like to understand more about NDIS. The way they treat and answer me is very professional. Their empathy and effective communication skills have made a significant difference in my life.

Timena Blanket