NDIS Group Support vs 1:1: How to Make Your Budget Go Further
Updated: 4 days ago
Should your NDIS funding go on group support or 1:1 support? It is one of the most common questions families on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast ask us, and in 2026 it matters more than ever. With community access budgets being reduced at reassessment, the way you split funding between groups and 1:1 can decide whether your supports last the whole plan or run out early.
This guide explains how each option works, what each does best, how NDIS group support is billed, and how mixing the two can make a smaller budget go further.
How the 2026 changes affect community access budgets
From 1 October 2026, social and community participation budgets (what most people call community access) can be reduced when a plan is reassessed. Many families are finding they have fewer funded hours than before. Our post on the 1 October NDIS changes explains what is changing, and our guide to keeping friendships going with less funded time has practical ideas beyond paid support.
The good news is that how you use the budget makes a real difference. That is where the choice between group and 1:1 support comes in.
How NDIS group support is billed
With 1:1 support, your plan pays for all of a support worker's time. In a group, one support worker supports more than one person, so each participant is billed for their share of that worker's time. A group run at a 1:2 ratio, for example, means each person pays roughly half of what the same hour of 1:1 would cost. Some groups also include a small centre cost to cover the venue.
The result is that an hour of NDIS group support usually uses noticeably less of your budget than an hour of 1:1. Our guide to NDIS support ratios explains 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 in more detail.
What 1:1 support does best
One-on-one support is often the right starting point. It suits people who are new to services, find groups overwhelming, need closer support, or are working on a very specific goal. It offers:
A support worker's full attention, at the participant's own pace
Flexibility to choose the activity, the place and the time
Focused work on individual skills, like catching public transport, shopping or cooking
A consistent worker who gets to know the person well
Read more about our 1:1 NDIS support on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
What NDIS group support does best
Groups do things 1:1 support can't. They suit people who want friendships, enjoy being around others, or are ready to practise social skills in a real setting. They offer:
Regular contact with peers, and friendships that often carry on outside the group
Real-world practice at conversation, turn taking and teamwork
Structure and a weekly routine, which many people miss after school or work
Community outings that are more fun with a group
More hours of support from the same budget
Mixing group and 1:1 support to make a budget last
You don't have to choose one or the other. For most people, a mix works best, and it is the most effective way to stretch a reduced budget.
Here is a simple example. Say a budget covers 4 hours of 1:1 support a week. If 2 of those hours stay as 1:1, the funding for the other 2 hours can cover roughly 4 hours in a 1:2 group (before any centre costs). The person goes from 4 hours of support a week to about 6, and gets both individual skill building and time with friends.
Common mixes we see include:
A weekly group plus a shorter 1:1 session for individual goals
1:1 support to build confidence first, then moving into a group
A group during the week, with 1:1 support for one-off outings or appointments
Check your plan for Capacity Building funding
Some group programs focus on building skills rather than just getting out and about. Where that is the case, they may be claimable from Capacity Building, Increased Social and Community Participation, which is a separate budget from the community access funding in Core. Our spotlight on Increased Social and Community Participation explains the difference between the two budgets and why it matters now. See also our Increased Social and Community Participation support.
Choosing the right mix
The right balance depends on the person's goals, how comfortable they are in groups, and what is in their plan. Some people start in a group straight away. Others need 1:1 support first and join a group later. Many move between the two as their confidence grows. What matters most is consistent, good quality support that fits where the person is right now.
If your young person is finishing school this year, our guide to finishing school on the NDIS covers how to plan supports for the year ahead.
NDIS group support on the Gold Coast
Our Gold Coast groups run from our Hub in Nerang, for participants across the Gold Coast including Southport, Helensvale, Robina and Coomera:
Skill Space, our day program for building life skills and confidence
Girl Squad, for neurodiverse teen girls aged 14 to 19
Social & Skills, for neurodiverse boys and young men
Cook. Learn. Thrive., a 12-week cooking program
NDIS group support on the Sunshine Coast
Our Sunshine Coast groups run from our studio in Moffat Beach, for participants across the coast including Caloundra, Kawana and Maroochydore:
ThunderBolts, a fortnightly social group for young adults
Fun Friday, a weekly community access and adventure group
Craft Group, a relaxed art and craft group
Ladies Lunch, a social group for women aged 40 and over
Men’s Group, a social group for men aged 40 and over
See all our NDIS group programs on the Sunshine Coast.
Not sure what mix is right?
We are happy to look at what is in a plan and talk through a mix of group and 1:1 support that makes it last, with no obligation.
Gold Coast: call Carli on 0437 903 866. Sunshine Coast: call Angela on 0437 170 386. Or get in touch online.
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