Funding 6 min read

Understanding the NDIS Price Guide

What the NDIS Price Guide is, how to use it, and why it matters for participants and providers — including price limits, support categories, and recent changes.

The NDIS Price Guide is the reference document that sets the maximum prices providers can charge for NDIS-funded supports. Whether you're a participant managing your budget or a provider setting your rates, understanding the Price Guide is essential. This guide explains how it works.

What is the NDIS Price Guide?

The Price Guide is a document published by the NDIA that lists the maximum prices that registered providers can charge for each support item. It's updated annually (usually on 1 July) and reflects the costs of delivering disability supports across Australia.

The Price Guide exists to:

  • Protect participants — ensuring providers can't overcharge
  • Guide providers — giving them a framework for pricing their services
  • Ensure consistency — so similar supports cost similar amounts across the country

How the Price Guide is structured

The Price Guide is organised by the three NDIS funding categories:

  1. Core Supports — daily living assistance, community participation, consumables, and transport
  2. Capacity Building — therapy, employment support, life skills, and plan management
  3. Capital Supports — assistive technology and home modifications

Each support item has a unique support item number (e.g., 01_011_0107_1_1 for standard self-care weekday) and a maximum price.

Understanding price limits

Time-based supports

Most Core Supports are charged by the hour. The Price Guide sets different rates for:

  • Weekday — Monday to Friday, daytime
  • Evening — Monday to Friday, after a certain hour
  • Saturday — higher than weekday
  • Sunday — higher than Saturday
  • Public holiday — the highest rate

For example, a support worker might cost:

  • Weekday: $62.17/hour
  • Saturday: $77.72/hour
  • Sunday: $93.27/hour
  • Public holiday: $139.91/hour

(These rates are examples — always check the current Price Guide for exact figures.)

Flat-rate supports

Some supports have a flat rate regardless of when they're delivered, such as:

  • Plan management fees (monthly flat rate)
  • Certain assessments and reports
  • Some group activities

Price variations

The Price Guide also includes variations for:

  • Provider travel — providers can charge for travel time in certain circumstances
  • Short notice cancellations — providers can charge a cancellation fee (usually 90% of the agreed price) if you cancel with less than a certain notice period
  • Group supports — different pricing for group vs. individual supports
  • Remote and very remote areas — higher prices to reflect higher delivery costs

How to use the Price Guide as a participant

Check what you're being charged

If you're self-managed or plan-managed, you can compare your provider's rates to the Price Guide maximums. Providers can charge up to the Price Guide rate — they can also charge less.

Understand your budget

Knowing the Price Guide rates helps you estimate how many hours of support your budget can buy. For example, if you have $20,000 in Assistance with Daily Life and the weekday rate is $62.17/hour, that's roughly 321 hours — or about 6 hours per week over a year.

Plan for rate changes

If you use support workers on weekends and public holidays, your budget will be consumed faster. Factor this in when planning your spending.

Know your cancellation rights

The Price Guide sets out cancellation rules. If you cancel a service with less than the required notice (usually 7 days for regular supports, or a shorter period for some services), the provider can charge a cancellation fee.

How to use the Price Guide as a provider

Set your rates

Registered providers must not charge above the Price Guide maximums. Many providers set their rates at or near the maximum, while some charge less to be competitive.

Understand what you can claim

The Price Guide details what providers can and can't claim for, including:

  • Travel time and costs
  • Cancellation fees
  • Report writing
  • Provider setup and ongoing costs

Stay compliant

Charging above the Price Guide maximums is a breach of NDIS registration conditions. Always check the current Price Guide before invoicing.

Recent changes to be aware of

The Price Guide is updated annually. Key areas that often change include:

  • Base hourly rates — usually adjusted for wage increases
  • Telehealth — pricing for supports delivered remotely
  • Provider travel — rules about what travel costs can be claimed
  • Cancellation policies — notice periods and fee percentages

Always download the latest Price Guide from the NDIS website to ensure you're using current rates.

Where to find the Price Guide

The NDIS Price Guide is available on the NDIS website as a downloadable PDF and an online searchable version. You can also use the NDIS Pricing Arrangements tool to look up specific support items.

Common questions

Can a provider charge more than the Price Guide? Registered providers cannot charge above the Price Guide maximum. If you're self-managed, you can choose to pay an unregistered provider more, but the NDIS will only reimburse up to the Price Guide rate.

Does the Price Guide apply to unregistered providers? If you're self-managed or plan-managed, you can use unregistered providers. They don't have to follow the Price Guide, but the NDIS will only reimburse up to the Price Guide rate.

How often does the Price Guide change? The Price Guide is updated annually, usually on 1 July. The NDIA may also publish updates or addendums during the year.

Need help understanding the Price Guide?

If you need help understanding NDIS pricing or checking what you're being charged, contact our team through the contact page — we can help you make sense of your plan and your provider agreements.

By NDIS Navigator Team

NDIS Navigator