Social isolation is one of the most common — and least talked about — experiences of living with a disability. It is completely OK to want more connection, and there are real, practical ways to build it. This guide walks through how, in plain English.
Written by Tegrity Services — NDIS registered provider, Sydney.
Living with a disability can make socialising genuinely harder — not because of who you are, but because of barriers: transport, access, energy, anxiety, or simply not knowing where to start. Research consistently shows that people with disability experience higher rates of loneliness than the general population. Acknowledging that doesn’t mean accepting it.
The good news: with the right support and the right setting, real friendships and community connections are absolutely possible. The key is finding activities that suit you and showing up regularly — friendships form through repeated contact more than through any single event.
Transport, access, anxiety, fatigue and not knowing where to start all make socialising harder with a disability. These are real barriers, not excuses — and they can be worked around.
Friendships form through seeing the same people regularly, not one-off occasions. A weekly group, a regular outing or a shared hobby builds connection faster than a special event ever will.
Most NDIS participants can use their Core Supports to fund social outings, group programs and community participation — meaning your plan can actively support your social life.
These are practical starting points — you don’t have to try them all at once. Pick the one that feels most manageable and go from there.
The single most effective way to make friends is to show up to the same group of people week after week. A well-run NDIS social group or rec group means the social work is already done — everyone is there to meet people. Tegrity’s Wednesday rec group runs every week across Sydney’s inner west, city and eastern suburbs, with beach walks, bowling, pickleball, barbecues and community outings chosen by the group. New faces are always welcome. Programs like Gig Buddies NSW also match people with disability with volunteer social buddies for one-on-one outings — worth exploring if a one-on-one connection appeals to you more than a group.
A support worker can accompany you to cafés, social events, clubs, markets, the beach or any activity that interests you. The worker is there to support you, not to replace social connection — over time, 1:1 community outings are a stepping stone to meeting people and building your own circle. Activities like shared coffee catch-ups in Newtown or Surry Hills, a walk along the Coogee coastal path, or attending a local club in Glebe or Leichhardt are all things a support worker can help make happen.
People make friends fastest when they’re doing something they actually enjoy alongside others who enjoy the same thing. Sydney has a huge range of clubs, classes and community groups across the inner west, city and eastern suburbs — art classes, book clubs, photography groups, cooking classes, board games, trivia nights and more. Platforms like Meetup list regular group activities by suburb; community centres and local councils also run low-cost community programs that are often accessible. The activity matters less than the regularity.
Sport and physical activity are some of the best contexts for making friends because there’s always something to talk about and the shared experience does the social heavy lifting. Pickleball has become particularly popular in the disability community — it’s accessible, low-impact and genuinely fun for a wide range of abilities. Bocce, swimming, yoga, walking groups and park runs are other inclusive options. Sydney’s inner west parks and eastern beaches provide great natural settings for this. Disability sport organisations can point you to inclusive programs in your area.
Volunteering puts you alongside people who share values rather than just geography, which is a strong foundation for friendship. Many organisations in Sydney welcome volunteers with disability. Community gardens, libraries, op shops, animal shelters and community events all have opportunities. Even a few hours a month in a consistent role puts you in regular contact with the same people — and that’s where friendships grow.
If groups feel overwhelming, start smaller. A regular coffee with one person from a group, a quick hello to a neighbour, or a low-stakes chat after a class. Friendship often begins with small repeated interactions rather than grand gestures. If anxiety or low confidence is a factor, a support worker can help you practice social situations and build confidence at your own pace.
Making friends takes repetition — and our Wednesday rec group is built around exactly that. The same group of people, every week, going somewhere together. Not an activity sheet. Not a one-off event. Just a genuine weekly outing where you see the same faces and connections actually form.
Your NDIS plan isn’t just for clinical or personal care supports — it can actively fund your social life. Here’s how.
Most NDIS participants have access to Core Supports — Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation (line items starting with 04_). This category is specifically designed to fund support that helps you get out, socialise and build community connections.
It can cover:
If you have Capacity Building — Increased Social and Community Participation in your plan, that budget can fund goal-focused work around building your social confidence and independence over time.
Not sure what’s in your plan? Your support coordinator or plan manager can check. If you don’t have a coordinator, call us and we’ll help you understand your options.
Tegrity provides community participation support and 1:1 social outings across Sydney — with a focus on the Inner West (Newtown, Marrickville, Leichhardt, Glebe), City of Sydney (Surry Hills, Redfern, Darlinghurst, CBD) and Eastern Suburbs (Bondi, Coogee, Randwick, Maroubra). We’re also a proudly Aboriginal-owned, culturally safe team — and everyone is welcome.
There are a few practical ways to build social connection in Sydney with a disability. Joining a regular social or recreation group — like Tegrity’s Wednesday rec group — is one of the most effective, because you see the same people week after week and friendships build naturally. Using a support worker for community outings (cafés, sport, markets, shared hobbies) helps you get out and meet people in low-pressure settings. Community organisations, local clubs, Meetup groups and interest-based activities (sport, arts, cooking) are also great starting points. The key is consistency — showing up to the same thing regularly is how friendships form, not one-off events.
Yes. Most NDIS participants can use their Core Supports budget — specifically the ‘Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation’ category (line items starting with 04_) — to fund support that helps them get out, socialise and build community connections. This can cover a support worker joining you for outings, attending a social group or recreation program, or community access more broadly. If you’re not sure whether your plan includes this funding, your support coordinator or plan manager can check.
An NDIS social group is a group program funded under community participation supports where NDIS participants do activities together — outings, sport, hobby sessions, social catch-ups and more. A good social group runs regularly (weekly is ideal) so that participants build real relationships over time, not just attend a one-off event. Tegrity’s Wednesday rec group is an example: it runs every week across Sydney’s inner west, city and eastern suburbs, with beach walks, bowling, pickleball, barbecues and other outings chosen by the group.
Yes — this is exactly what 1:1 community participation support is for. A support worker can accompany you to cafés, social events, sporting clubs, community groups, markets, the beach or anywhere else that helps you connect with people and do the things you enjoy. The worker is there to support you, not to be your only social interaction. Over time, 1:1 community support is often a stepping stone to greater independence and a wider social circle.
Tegrity’s Wednesday rec group heads out across Sydney each week — we regularly visit the Inner West (Newtown, Marrickville, Leichhardt, Glebe), City of Sydney (CBD, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Darling Harbour) and Eastern Suburbs (Bondi, Coogee, Randwick), among other spots. The destination each week is chosen based on what the group wants to do — past outings have included pickleball, beach walks, bowling, museum visits, barbecues and ferry trips. Call us on (02) 7265 1558 or visit our rec group page to find out where we’re headed this Wednesday.
Come along to a Wednesday outing first — no commitment needed, just a good day out with a friendly group. Or start a referral if you’d like 1:1 support for social outings.
Start a referralOr call (02) 7265 1558