The ndis provider price increase for 2025–26 affects how much providers can charge, how far a plan budget goes, and what participants should check on invoices. The latest NDIS pricing arrangements took effect on July 1, 2025, after the annual pricing review, with the latest NDIS price guide published on June 16, 2025.
This guide explains the key changes, why they happened, and how ndis participants, families, plan managers and providers can use the rules to protect funding effectively.
Quick summary: key NDIS provider price increases for 2025–26
The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2025–26 took effect on 1 July 2025. The NDIS price guide is updated annually, typically on July 1, and the NDIS price guide is updated annually on July 1st to reflect changes in wages, inflation and market conditions.
Key changes include:
- Support worker rates increased by 3.95% for 2025-26.
- The standard weekday rate for support workers is $70.23 per hour.
- Nursing supports increased by roughly 3.2–4%.
- Psychosocial recovery coaching rates and Level 1 support coordination received modest indexation.
- New national therapy rates replace previous state-based pricing.
- Travel billing for therapists is capped at 50% of the hourly rate.
- Participant plans are automatically adjusted from mid-July 2025 to accommodate price increases.
- Plan funding will adjust automatically to reflect new price limits.
Providers cannot charge above the NDIS price limit for managed plans. Self managed participants can negotiate prices with providers and may choose to pay above the caps, but ndis funding will usually only reimburse up to the official price limits.
What are NDIS Pricing Arrangements, Price Limits and the Support Catalogue?
The ndis pricing arrangements are the official document from the national disability insurance agency that replaced the old ndis price guide. The full ndis pricing arrangements and price limits document sets maximum prices for most funded supports under the national disability insurance scheme.
In plain English, price limits are caps. Registered ndis providers and registered providers delivering ndis services to NDIA-managed or plan managed participants cannot charge above NDIS price limits. For self managed participants, the current price limits are a benchmark, not always a hard billing cap.
The ndis support catalogue is the detailed spreadsheet that lists support line items, support items, the support category, item codes, descriptions, unit type and maximum prices. Check the NDIS Support Catalogue for price limits before approving unfamiliar invoices.
These pricing arrangements and price limits are updated at least annually, with addendums sometimes released mid-year. You can find the official document, support catalogue and price limits document on the official NDIS website.
Why NDIS provider prices increase: the Annual Pricing Review
The annual pricing review is the NDIA’s yearly process for checking whether ndis pricing is fair, sustainable and aligned with real costs. The NDIS pricing guidelines ensure fair pricing for services while also trying to protect the long-term sustainability of the ndis system.
The review considers wage decisions, SCHADS Award changes, superannuation, inflation, insurance, rent, transport, workforce shortages and market data. Cost-of-living pressures increase pricing pressure on service providers, and provider rate increases are linked to operational costs such as admin, supervision, compliance and training.
The NDIA adjusts pricing to help maintain sustainability of services. However, commentary is mixed:
- Some providers say the review still has not kept up with the cost of delivering supports in regional therapy, support coordination and remote areas.
- Some economists and policy groups warn that repeated increases may place pressure on future ndis funding.
- Participant groups often argue that value for money under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 must include both affordability and access.
Key NDIS provider price increases for 2025–26
The 2025-26 pricing arrangements take effect on July 1, 2025, after being released in mid-June. These are the key changes most participants will notice.
| Support type | 2025–26 change |
|---|---|
| Disability support worker weekday daytime | $70.23 hourly rate |
| Support worker rates | 3.95% increase |
| Saturday standard support | About $98.83/hr |
| Sunday standard support | About $127.43/hr |
| Public holiday standard support | About $156.03/hr |
| Psychology | $232.99/hr nationally |
| OT, speech pathology, physiotherapy | $193.99/hr nationally |
| Art and music therapy | Reduced to $156.16/hr from 24 November 2025 |
| Support worker rates increased by 3.95% for 2025-26, including high-intensity and standard personal care supports. Increased price limits allow providers to raise their fees, reducing participants’ purchasing power if plan budgets are not adjusted correctly. | |
| Therapy supports changed beyond normal indexation. New national therapy rates replace previous state-based pricing, meaning state based pricing differences were removed for many allied health professionals. The updates reduced maximum hourly rates for some therapy services, especially where earlier state caps were higher. |
Therapists can now bill travel time at 50% of their hourly rate. For example, an occupational therapist at $193.99/hr travelling 30 minutes in a metro area can claim about $48.50 for travel time, not the full therapy hourly rate.
How NDIS provider price increases affect different plan management types
The effect of an ndis provider price increase depends on how the ndis plan is managed, so understanding NDIS plan management and budgeting options is essential.
NDIA-Managed Plans
For NDIA-managed participants, registered providers must charge at or below ndis price limits. Claims above the maximum price limits are rejected through the provider portal.
Plan Managed Participants
For plan managed participants, plan managers check invoices against the official ndis price guide, official ndis price limits and support catalogue. Utilizing a Plan Manager allows participants to work with both registered and unregistered providers, but plan managers still need to demonstrate value for money.
Self-Managed Participants
For self managed participants, there is more flexibility. Self-managed participants can negotiate prices with providers, including higher or lower fees, especially when working with NDIS supports focused on independence and community participation. Participants can negotiate lower rates with providers to stretch their funding.
A service agreement matters. New service agreements must be signed before providers can charge increased rates where the agreed fee is changing. Ask for earlier notice, the relevant support line items, and confirmation that any new charges follow official ndis pricing.
Support worker rates and the disability support worker cost model
Support workers are the largest workforce group delivering supports under the NDIS, so even small changes in worker rates can affect a plan budget.
A disability support worker may be billed to the plan at $70.23 per hour for standard weekday daytime support, but support workers are paid between $31.18 and $43.66 per hour depending on classification, experience and shift. The gap does not automatically mean provider profit.
The NDIA’s disability support worker cost model includes:
- wages
- superannuation
- leave loading
- training
- supervision
- insurance
- administration
- rostering
- non-billable time
For example, if a provider charges $70.23 and the worker’s wage is around $36, the remaining amount helps cover the real cost of delivering supports safely and consistently. Providers still cannot lawfully charge above ndis price limits for NDIA-managed or plan managed funding.
Therapy supports, new guideline and national price standardisation
Therapy supports, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychology and speech pathology, usually sit in Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living. These capacity building supports can use a large share of funding because therapy services often have high ndis hourly rates, particularly where participants use tailored therapeutic recovery and healing supports.
National Therapy Rates
The 2025–26 changes introduced national standardised therapy rates. These replaced higher price limits that previously applied in some areas such as Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
The NDIA has noted that some NDIS physiotherapy hourly rates were significantly higher than comparable Medicare and private health insurance rates. The aim of national price limits is a fairer benchmark across Australia.
Operational Guideline for Therapy Supports
A new Operational Guideline for Therapy Supports gives more detail about what the NDIS may fund, expected outcomes and how therapy should be claimed under the updated pricing arrangements.
Some professional associations have warned that lower caps in certain regions may reduce access or encourage therapists to prioritise private clients. Others welcome simpler pricing and clearer rules for allied health professionals.
Changes to early childhood supports and support line items
Early childhood supports also changed in 2025–26. The early childhood approach now extends to children up to 9 years old, instead of 7, giving families a longer window for early intervention and to access specialist NDIS supports for children on the autism spectrum.
New and revised support line items were added to the ndis support catalogue for therapists, educators, key workers and other early childhood professionals. These support items align with the updated age range and national therapy rates.
For example, a family using occupational therapy under early childhood intervention may see the provider bill at the national OT rate of $193.99/hr. Automatic indexation helps protect the plan from being eroded by the ndis provider price increase, but families should still check item codes and invoices, especially when using specialised supports such as NDIS-funded nutritional support services.
Understanding NDIS support categories and funding when prices rise
Ndis support categories sit under three broad support purposes: core supports, capacity building and capital supports. These ndis support categories link directly to price limits in the guide.
Core supports are usually more flexible and may include daily living, transport, community participation, innovative community participation, social and community participation, and personal care. Capacity building may include support coordination, therapy supports and psychosocial recovery coaching. Capital supports can include assistive technology, home modifications and specialist disability accommodation, while NDIS Core Supports for daily living and participation usually offer more flexibility.
When maximum prices increase, the NDIA generally indexes participant budgets in the same support category. Price increases can reduce a participant’s available service hours without plan funding adjustments, but participant plans are automatically adjusted from mid-July 2025 to accommodate price increases.
Simple example:
- Before: $20,000 core budget at $67.56/hr buys about 296 hours.
- After: $20,800 indexed budget at $70.23/hr buys about 296 hours.
Still, participants should check myplace, speak with their plan manager or ask a support coordinator to confirm funding matches actual support worker rates.
Provider travel, group supports and other billing rules after price increases
Recent updates have changed how price controls work for supports and services, including travel, group supports and high-intensity supports.
Provider Travel
Therapy travel is now claimable at 50% of the relevant hourly rate, subject to time caps. This can reduce the impact of travel on ndis funding, especially where therapy providers travel regularly.
Group Supports
Group supports are billed per participant, usually based on group size and the support being delivered. A one-to-one activity may cost more per hour than a well-run group activity, but the invoice should still match the correct support line items.
Other Billing Rules
Price limits vary based on service delivery location. Price limits vary based on service delivery location and intensity, including higher price limits in remote areas and very remote areas under the Modified Monash Model. Always compare invoices with the most recent ndis support catalogue.
How to check if your provider is charging correctly after a price rise
Even after an ndis provider price increase, registered providers cannot charge above NDIS price limits for NDIA-managed and plan-managed funding.
Checklist for Verifying Provider Charges
- Confirm the support line item code on the invoice.
- Look up the code in the latest support catalogue.
- Compare the provider hourly rate with the current maximum price limits.
- Check whether travel, cancellations or non-face-to-face work are listed separately.
- Ask your plan manager, support coordinator or recovery coach to review unclear invoices.
Participants can verify charges by checking line item codes. If a provider will not explain charges, or you suspect overcharging, you can contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
FAQ:
- Must providers give written notice? Check your service agreement, but transparent providers should give earlier notice before changing fees.
- Can you reject a higher rate? Yes. You can negotiate, change providers, or ask whether a lower rate is available.
- Can unregistered providers charge more? Unregistered providers may offer different rates, but plan managed and NDIA-managed funding must still follow relevant limits.
What people are saying about recent NDIS provider price increases
Reactions across Australia have been mixed.
- Many providers and disability support workers welcome the 3.95% rise, saying it helps keep wages competitive and maintain quality, and organisations recruiting NDIS disability support workers who prioritise dignity and independence see it as important for workforce stability.
- Some participant advocates worry that higher prices can reduce practical access if funding does not keep pace with usage.
- Some rural and regional organisations say pricing changes create challenges in accessing services in rural and regional areas, particularly where travel and workforce shortages are significant, and specialist homelessness and housing services such as Re.connect support for people experiencing homelessness also face cost pressures.
- Some policy groups want more outcome-based pricing trials and stronger transparency around provider costs.
- Therapy providers in regions affected by lower caps say the removal of state based pricing differences may reduce service availability.
This is commentary from different parts of the sector, not a single agreed view.
Staying on top of future NDIS pricing changes
NDIS pricing will keep changing each year, usually from 1 July, and sometimes through mid-year updates such as the 24 November 2025 therapy changes.
To stay prepared:
- Check the official NDIS pricing arrangements and support catalogue at least once a year.
- Subscribe to NDIA updates through the ndis website.
- Ask plan managers or support coordinators who help you maximise funding about likely increases before July.
- Review your plan budget in July or August.
- Providers should update service agreements, quoting templates and internal billing rules after each annual pricing review.
Understanding the official ndis rules helps participants protect funding, compare ndis services and keep essential supports in place.
Re.Connect Support Services Pricing
Re.Connect Support Services focuses on consistency and transparency when charging participants. That means pricing should be clearly linked to the relevant ndis pricing arrangements, support line items and official price limits before services begin.
Participants should expect Re.Connect Support Services to explain:
- which support category is being used
- the hourly rate for each service
- whether travel or non-face-to-face time applies
- how cancellations are handled
- when prices may change after an annual pricing review
- whether a new service agreement is required before increased rates apply
This approach gives participants clearer control over their ndis plan and makes it easier to use funding effectively. If you are unsure about a charge, ask Re.Connect Support Services to show the matching line item in the ndis support catalogue and explain how the fee complies with the official ndis price limits.
