Community Participation

Participation in community,

social and civic activities

Astara Wellness provides support for participants to take part in community, social and civic activities that matter to them.

Get Support

Helping you explore, connect & participate

Community participation support is about more than just getting out of the house. It is about building genuine connections, contributing to community life, pursuing interests and hobbies, and experiencing the richness of social life alongside others.

At Astara Wellness, we start by understanding what community means to you - what activities excite you, what connections you want to build, what experiences you want to have. Then we provide the right support to make it happen, whether that means accompanying you to an activity, helping you build the confidence to go alone or supporting you to try something completely new.

We strongly believe that community participation should be participant-led. Our role is to enable, not to dictate. If you want to join a sporting team, attend a cultural event, volunteer, take a class or simply visit your local café more regularly, we are here to support exactly that.

What this support can include

Senior woman participating in a group fitness exercise class for balance and strength training

Astara Wellness can support participants to:

Attend social outings and recreational activities
Visit family, friends or community groups
Attend cultural, religious or civic events
Participate in hobbies, sport or leisure activities
Access libraries, community centres or local programs
Attend appointments connected to community participation
Go shopping or complete community-based errands
Build social confidence and communication skills
Develop routines for regular social participation
Explore new activities based on interests and goals

How Astara Wellness helps

We work with each participant to understand what community participation means to them. Support may be one-on-one, occasional, regular, short-term or ongoing depending on the participant’s needs and plan.

Our approach includes:

Supporting participant choice and preferences
Helping participants access activities safely
Encouraging independence and confidence
Building social and community participation skills
Supporting positive community experiences
Reducing isolation and improving connection

Suitable for participants who need

This support may suit participants who:

Need assistance accessing the community
Want to build social connection
Require support to attend activities or events
Experience barriers to participation because of disability-related needs
Need help building confidence outside the home
Want to explore hobbies, interests or community involvement

WHO THIS IS FOR

Is this support right for you?

Social connectors

Building friendships and community belonging
Hobbyists

Pursuing interests, sports and creative activities
Cultural participants

Engaging with cultural and faith communities
Advocates

Volunteering and civic participation

WHAT WE DELIVER

Support that covers what matters

What we provide

Social & recreational activities - clubs, sports, hobbies, outings and events.
Cultural & religious participation - cultural events, festivals and faith communities.
Volunteering - giving back through meaningful volunteering roles.
Education & learning - classes, workshops and community education programs.
Civic participation - community groups, local government and advocacy.
Building friendships - meeting new people and developing genuine social connections.

Community on your terms

Participant-led - your interests and goals guide everything.

Gradual and sustainable - we build participation at a pace that works for you.

Community connections - we help identify activities and groups in your area.

Confidence-building - we support you to step out, try new things and grow.

Flexible - support can be hands-on or light-touch depending on your needs.

Consistent workers - familiar faces who know you and your community goals.

Our outcome focus

Astara Wellness helps participants participate in the community in ways that are meaningful, safe and aligned with their goals. The focus is on inclusion, connection and quality of life.

Frequently asked questions

Absolutely - community participation support is entirely participant-led. We work with you to identify the activities that matter most to you and support you to access them. Your interests, goals and preferences guide everything.
Yes, and this is one of the most important outcomes of community participation support. Regular activities, social connections and community belonging are powerful ways to reduce isolation and improve overall mental health and wellbeing.
This depends on your goals and needs. Some participants need a support worker to accompany them; others need transport to get there but prefer to participate independently. We tailor our approach to what works best for you.
Yes. We actively encourage participants to explore a range of activities before settling on regular commitments. Trying new things is an important part of discovering what truly matters to you.