"Group vs One-to-One Community Activities: Which Suits You?"

Two good ways to get out and join in

When people think about social and community participation, they often picture one of two things: a group heading out together, or a single support worker accompanying one person on an outing. Both are wonderful. Both help people connect, build confidence and enjoy life beyond the front door. The trick is working out which one — or which mix — suits you best right now.

There is no single right answer. The best choice depends on your personality, your goals, your comfort around other people, and how your NDIS plan and funding is set up. Let's walk through both so the decision feels clear rather than confusing.

What a group activity looks like

Group activities bring a few participants together with one or more support workers. Think of a craft morning, a cooking class, a bushwalk, a swimming group or a games afternoon at a community centre across Western Sydney.

The appeal of groups is connection. You are not just being supported — you are among peers, sharing the experience, having a laugh, building friendships that can last well beyond the activity itself.

Groups tend to suit people who:

• Enjoy being around others and feed off a bit of social energy
• Want to make friends and widen their circle
• Like having a regular activity to look forward to each week
• Feel more relaxed knowing they are "one of the group" rather than the sole focus

Because the support worker's time is shared across the group, group activities are generally a more economical use of your budget — which can mean more hours of getting out for the same funding. That value is part of why so many people build a group session into their week.

What one-to-one support looks like

One-to-one support is exactly that: you and a support worker, on an outing built entirely around you. A coffee in Five Dock, a trip to the shops, a visit to a gallery, a walk by the water — whatever you choose, at your pace.

One-to-one tends to suit people who:

• Prefer quieter, calmer settings
• Have specific personal goals, like learning a route or practising a skill
• Need a higher level of personal support to take part safely and comfortably
• Are building confidence and aren't quite ready for a group yet
• Simply enjoy the focused, unhurried company

This is **companionship, not supervision** at its most personal. The day is yours. The support worker is there to make it possible and to share it with you, nothing more. For many people, one-to-one is the gentle first step that later leads to trying a group.

How NDIS funding ratios come into it

You may see your supports described with a ratio — 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and so on. That simply tells you how many participants one support worker is helping at once.

• 1:1 means one worker supporting just you — the most personal, and charged at the full hourly rate
• 1:2, 1:3 or higher means the worker's time (and cost) is shared across the group, so the hourly cost to your plan is lower

Group supports usually use a higher ratio, which is why they stretch your funding further. One-to-one uses a 1:1 ratio, which costs more per hour but gives you undivided support. Neither is "better" — they are simply different tools for different goals.

A little planning helps you blend them. Many people fund a weekly group activity *and* an occasional one-to-one outing, getting the social connection of a group and the personal focus of solo support. Thinking this through is part of making the most of your NDIS plan, and we are always happy to talk it over.

How to choose what's right for you

There is no need to decide everything at once. A few gentle questions usually point the way:

• How do you feel in a crowd? Energised, or worn out? Be honest with yourself here.
• What's your goal? Making friends points toward a group; mastering a specific skill or route points toward one-to-one.
• What does your day need? A calm, low-stimulation outing or a busy, social one?
• What does your budget allow? Groups stretch funding further; one-to-one gives focused time.

It is also fine to change your mind. Plenty of people start with one-to-one support to build confidence, then graduate to a group once the world feels less daunting. Others love their group but add the occasional solo outing for the things only they want to do. Your community participation support should flex around you, not the other way round.

You don't have to pick just one

The happiest arrangements we see are usually a mix. A regular group keeps the social calendar full and the friendships ticking along. The occasional one-to-one outing covers the personal goals and the quieter days. Together they give you the best of both — connection *and* focus, value *and* personal attention.

The most important thing is that you are getting out, joining in and enjoying yourself. Whether that happens in a group of six or a party of two matters far less than the fact that it's happening at all.

Let's find your fit

If you are weighing up group activities against one-to-one support, we would love to help you think it through. We can start wherever feels comfortable — a quiet solo outing, a friendly group, or a blend of both — and adjust as your confidence grows.

Have a look at our services to see how we support people to get out and about across Five Dock, the Inner West and Western Sydney, or talk to us about support any time. The right mix is the one that feels good to you.