NDIS information for families and coordinators
FriendWorX and NDIS Funding
Building social confidence, communication and connections through shared interests.
FriendWorX provides facilitated online gaming sessions designed to help children and young people develop social confidence, communication skills and opportunities for friendship.
Our sessions bring together up to four age-matched participants, supported by an adult Guide who encourages cooperation, communication and positive social interaction.
For families accessing the NDIS, FriendWorX provides structured opportunities that can complement individual goals relating to social participation, communication, independence and building relationships.
Register Your Child's Interest
Individual goals
How FriendWorX Supports NDIS Goals
FriendWorX creates structured opportunities for young people to participate, communicate and connect through cooperative shared activities.
| Goal area | How FriendWorX supports participation |
|---|---|
| Social participation | Opportunities to participate in small, age-matched groups with shared interests. |
| Communication | Encouragement to share ideas, listen to others and communicate during cooperative activities. |
| Friendships and relationships | Opportunities to become familiar with peers and build connections through regular shared experiences. |
| Social confidence | A structured environment where children can participate with appropriate Guide support. |
| Cooperation and teamwork | Working together towards shared objectives and navigating group decisions. |
| Problem-solving | Opportunities to approach challenges, consider alternatives and collaborate. |
| Independence | Encouragement to contribute, make decisions and take initiative at an appropriate level. |
| Emotional regulation | Opportunities to practise responding to changes, setbacks and disagreements with Guide support. |
Goals are individual, and participation experiences and outcomes vary from one young person to another.
Relevant funding areas
Understanding NDIS Funding for FriendWorX
FriendWorX's facilitated social participation model may be relevant to the following NDIS funding areas, depending on the participant's plan and support needs.
Core Supports — Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation
This funding area relates to disability-related assistance with participating in social and community activities.
Capacity Building — Increased Social and Community Participation
This funding area relates to eligible supports that develop skills and independence for social and community participation.
FriendWorX provides Guide-facilitated support within structured sessions. This is different from ordinary recreational gaming without a disability-related support component.
Gaming subscriptions, standard participation fees, devices and ordinary recreational expenses are not automatically funded by the NDIS. Families can review the NDIA guidance on social and recreation support and discuss their circumstances with their support coordinator or plan manager.
Designed for connection
What Makes FriendWorX Different?
- Small groupsUp to four participants create space for everyone to contribute.
- Age-matched participationYoung people meet peers at a similar stage of development.
- Shared interestsCooperative gaming gives participants a natural focus for interaction.
- Adult GuidesGuides encourage communication, cooperation and positive group interaction.
- Individual directionPersonal goals and participation milestones provide context for support.
- Ongoing opportunitiesStructured sessions allow participants to become familiar through shared experiences.
- SafeguardingSessions use appropriate online communication arrangements and connected safeguards.
Participation and observations
Understanding Your Child's Progress
FriendWorX records participation, individual goals, Guide observations, milestones and achievements.
Authorised parents and guardians can request a progress report at any time. Reports are provided exclusively to authorised parents or guardians.
Parents decide whether to share reports with NDIS support coordinators, psychologists, schools or other professionals. FriendWorX does not distribute participant progress reports directly to third parties.
Reports document participation and observations. They are not clinical assessments.
Purposeful information handling
Your Child's Privacy Matters
The registration process has two stages. Initial registration collects basic information. Detailed registration gathers information needed to understand the child's interests, communication preferences and participation needs.
Detailed registration information is deleted after the welcome meeting. The ongoing participant portal does not retain diagnosis information, medical histories or clinical records.
The portal maintains operational information relevant to sessions, participation, goals, milestones and achievements.
FriendWorX stores participant information in Australia and manages personal information in accordance with applicable Australian privacy legislation, including the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles.
Part of a broader approach
Friendship Doesn't Always Begin With Conversation
FriendWorX can run in parallel with other activities focused on helping children with their social development. Additional ideas will be explored in our planned Knowledge Hub article, Activities That Help Children Develop Their Social Engagement.
For support coordinators
Information for NDIS Support Coordinators
FriendWorX offers a structured, non-clinical social participation program.
Coordinators may assist families by considering how the program aligns with a participant's goals, disability-related support needs and broader support arrangements.
- Intended for young people aged 8–17
- Small, age-matched groups
- Guide-facilitated online gaming
- Individual participation goals
- Session observations and milestones
- Parent-controlled progress reports
- Safeguarding and participant matching
The registration pathway
Getting Started
- Register your child's interest.
- Provide additional informationHelp us understand their interests and participation needs.
- Attend a welcome meeting.
- Explore suitable group opportunities.
- Begin participatingParticipation can begin when an appropriate group is available.
An appropriate group may not be immediately available, and registration does not guarantee placement.
A supported path to participation
Using NDIS Funding for FriendWorX
FriendWorX provides facilitated social participation activities designed to support children and young people working towards individual social and community participation goals.
NDIS funding arrangements depend on the supports included in each participant's plan and the applicable NDIS funding requirements.
If you would like clarification about using your child's NDIS funding for FriendWorX, we recommend discussing the program with your NDIS support coordinator or plan manager.
Register Your Child's Interest