How NDIS Day Programs in Victoria Work Alongside Your NDIS Plan

NDIS day programs in Victoria work alongside your NDIS plan by supporting your individual goals through existing funding categories such as Core Supports and Capacity Building.

Wondering if Day Programs are part of NDIS Core Supports? It can be confusing because these programs don’t sit as a single, standalone item.

Take a look at how Day Programs work, how they make a difference and how funding is applied:

How NDIS Day Programs in Victoria align with individual goals

Every NDIS plan is built around your goals, whether those relate to independence, social connection, skills development or community participation. Day programs are one of the practical ways those goals can be supported week to week.

During planning or review meetings, goals are often written broadly, such as:

• building social confidence
• increasing independence in daily living
• developing skills for community participation
• maintaining routines and wellbeing

NDIS day programs align with these goals by offering structured activities that support learning, connection and routine in real-world settings. This is why day programs are usually funded through existing support categories rather than listed as a separate service.

Supporting capacity building, community participation and daily living

Most NDIS day programs in Victoria are funded through Core Supports, particularly the Assistance with Social and Community Participation budget. In some cases, elements may also link to Capacity Building support, depending on your goals and how the service is delivered.

Here’s how it typically works in practice:

Core Supports
Day programs often use Core funding to support participation in group activities, outings, skill-building sessions and social connection. This funding is flexible and designed to support everyday life.

Capacity Building
If a day program has a strong focus on learning specific skills such as communication, confidence or independence, it may also align with Capacity Building goals in your plan.

Daily living support
Some participants also use day programs to build routines, practise life skills, and maintain structure during the week, especially if they are not working or studying full time.

The key point is that funding use must align with your goals and be considered reasonable and necessary under NDIS guidelines.

How day programs work in practice

Once funding is in place, the process is usually straightforward.

1. Discuss your goals and interests
   Participants, carers and families talk with a provider like C2A about what the participant enjoys, what they would like to work on and what kind of support that suits them best.
2. Service agreement
   A service agreement sets out what support will be provided, frequency of attendance and how funding will be used.
3. Scheduling
   Book into regular sessions or days that suit routine. Programs may run weekly, multiple days a week or at different times depending on participant needs.
4. Claiming and payment
   How services are paid depends on how your plan is managed:

• NDIA-managed: claims are made directly through the NDIS portal
• Plan-managed: invoices are sent to your plan manager
• Self-managed: you pay and claim back from your plan

Your provider can help you understand what applies to your situation.

If you’re unsure how to access funded support in Victoria, C2A’s guide on how to access NDIS services in Victoria is a helpful starting point.