New Update: NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits - July 2026
A note on naming: From 2026-27, the NDIA has renamed the pricing document. It is now called the NDIS Pricing Schedule. You may have seen it referred to as the Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL) or the NDIS Price Guide. These are all the same document. We use the new name throughout this article.
Every year the NDIS sets price limits. These are the maximum amounts providers can charge for disability supports. The new Pricing Schedule for 2026-27 was released in June 2026 and takes effect from 1 July 2026.
This article explains what has changed, what is new, and what it means for you. It is written for participants, families and providers. You do not need to know anything about the NDIS to follow along.
1. Key Changes at a Glance
Here is a quick summary of what is changing. Each item is explained in plain English further below.
Confirmed prices vs recommendations: Some prices in the new Pricing Schedule are confirmed and take effect on 1 July 2026. Others are NDIA recommendations that are not yet legally binding for all providers. A Bill currently before Parliament may change this. We have clearly labelled which is which throughout this article.
Confirmed Pricing from 1 July 2026
The following prices appear in the official NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27 and are effective from 1 July 2026.
- Psychologist: price going up from $232.99 to $252.99 per hour
- Dietitian: price going down from $188.99 to $178.99 per hour
- Exercise Physiologist: price going down from $166.99 to $161.99 per hour
- Other Professionals: price going down to $156.16 per hour (does not apply to Early Childhood supports)
- Support worker rates: increased in line with the annual wage review and superannuation rising to 12%
- Support Coordination Level 1: price going up from $78.12 to $80.06 per hour
- New allied health item numbers: claim types replaced by suffix item numbers for each service type
- New Orientation and Mobility Specialist line items: $156.16 per hour for OMAA-registered providers
- Short Term Accommodation: separate item numbers for support hours and accommodation now in the Pricing Schedule
Confirmed from 1 January 2027
- Community access (SCCP) unregistered providers: price reduced by 10%, indexation ceases
Not changing
- Plan Management monthly fee: stays at $104.45 per month
- Support Coordination Level 2 and Level 3: prices unchanged
- Occupational Therapist, Speech Pathologist, Physiotherapist, Podiatrist, Audiologist: prices unchanged
New: how allied health services are claimed from 1 July 2026
The new Pricing Schedule removes the old claim type system for allied health. Each additional service now has its own item number, formed by adding a suffix to the main service item number:
- _CA Cancellation
- _NF Non-face-to-face (report writing, preparation, documentation)
- _PT Provider travel
- _RR NDIA requested report
- _TH Telehealth
For example, an occupational therapist's telehealth session is now claimed under a separate item number ending in _TH. Providers must update their billing systems before 1 July 2026.
2. Support Line Item Price Changes
Support Worker Rates
Support workers help people with everyday tasks like personal care, getting into the community, and help around the home. Their hourly rate is set using a formula that is updated each year when the minimum wage changes.
The new rates are confirmed in the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27, effective from 1 July 2026. They reflect the Fair Work Commission's 2026 wage decision and the increase in superannuation from 11.5% to 12%. Some of the confirmed rates from the Pricing Schedule are shown below.
Confirmed support worker rates from 1 July 2026 (Level 1, standard)
- Weekday daytime: $73.58 per hour
- Weekday evening: $81.07 per hour
- Weekday night: $82.57 per hour
- Saturday: $103.54 per hour
- Sunday: $133.50 per hour
- Public holiday: $163.46 per hour
- Night-time sleepover: $311.79 per shift
Remote area loadings apply. Full rates are available in the official NDIS Pricing Schedule at ndis.gov.au.
What this means for participants
- Agency Managed or Plan Managed: your provider will update their rates from 1 July 2026. They must speak to you before changing your service agreement.
- Self Managed: you can choose to pay more than the guide rate, but your funding will not stretch as far.
What this means for providers
- Update service agreements, billing systems and payroll from 1 July 2026.
- A review of the formula used to calculate support worker prices is planned for 2026-27. This may lead to further changes from 2027-28.
Therapy Prices
Therapy supports include occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, physiotherapy and dietetics. These are usually funded under the Capacity Building part of your NDIS plan.
The NDIA compared NDIS prices against Medicare and private health insurance data from over 16 million therapy claims. The following prices are confirmed in the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27 and are effective from 1 July 2026.
Prices going up
Psychologist Confirmed increase
Was: $232.99 per hour
Now: $252.99 per hour
NDIS psychology rates were below what Medicare and private health funds pay. This increase is designed to make it easier for participants to access psychologists. Confirmed in the Pricing Schedule.
Prices going down
Dietitian Confirmed decrease
Was: $188.99 per hour
Now: $178.99 per hour
NDIS dietitian rates were higher than Medicare and private health fund comparisons. Confirmed in the Pricing Schedule.
Exercise Physiologist Confirmed decrease
Was: $166.99 per hour
Now: $161.99 per hour
NDIS exercise physiology rates were above Medicare comparisons. Confirmed in the Pricing Schedule.
Other Professionals Confirmed decrease
Was: Varied
Now: $156.16 per hour
This category covers practitioners not listed as a specific profession in the NDIS. The rate is now aligned with counselling and creative therapy rates. This does not apply to Early Childhood supports, which stay at $193.99 per hour. Confirmed in the Pricing Schedule.
Prices not changing
The following therapy prices are confirmed unchanged in the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27. Benchmarking showed these rates are broadly in line with market rates.
- Occupational Therapist: $193.99 per hour
- Speech Pathologist: $193.99 per hour
- Physiotherapist: $183.99 per hour
- Podiatrist: $188.99 per hour
- Audiologist: $193.99 per hour
Can't find the right therapist for your NDIS plan? Our friendly Connections Team can connect you with verified therapists who have availability right now.
Support Coordination Prices
A Support Coordinator helps you understand and use your NDIS plan. They can help you find providers, set up services, and make sure your funding is working for you. There are three levels:
- Level 1: Support Connection: short-term help to get your supports set up
- Level 2: Coordination of Supports: ongoing help to manage your plan and services
- Level 3: Specialist Support Coordination: for people with complex needs who require specialist help
Confirmed price change from 1 July 2026
Level 1: Support Connection Confirmed increase
Was: $78.12 per hour
Now: $80.06 per hour
Confirmed in the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27.
Prices not changing
- Level 2: Coordination of Supports: $100.14 per hour (no change)
- Level 3: Specialist Support Coordination: $190.54 per hour (no change)
The NDIA is aware that many providers feel Level 2 and Level 3 rates have not kept up with real costs. A formal review is planned, using data from a current pilot program with registered support coordination providers. Results are expected to feed into the 2027-28 pricing review. This is a recommendation, not yet a confirmed price change.
Psychosocial Recovery Coaches support people with mental health conditions. Their rates have been increased from 1 July 2026 in line with the support worker wage review and are confirmed in the Pricing Schedule. Weekday daytime rate: $110.44 per hour.
Looking for a Support Coordinator? Our friendly Connections Team can connect you with experienced, verified Support Coordinators in your area.
Community Access Support Prices
Community access supports fund a support worker to help you get out and about. This might be going to activities, events, groups or community programs. This is one of the biggest changes in this year's Pricing Schedule.
For the first time, providers who are registered with the NDIS and those who are not will be paid different rates.
Why is this changing?
Registered providers must meet strict government standards. They pay for audits, training, supervision and compliance. Unregistered providers, for example sole traders working independently, do not have these same costs. The NDIA decided it is no longer fair to pay both the same rate.
Confirmed from 1 January 2027
- Registered providers: price stays the same and will continue to increase each year
- Unregistered providers: price will be reduced by 10% and will no longer increase each year
What this means for participants
- If your community access support worker is registered, nothing changes for you.
- If your support worker is not registered, their rate will reduce by 10% from 1 January 2027. Your provider must speak to you before making any changes to your service agreement.
- You do not have to agree to anything you are uncomfortable with.
Key date: 1 January 2027. This change does not start on 1 July 2026. You have time to prepare and talk to your provider.
Plan Management Fee
A Plan Manager handles the financial side of your NDIS plan. They pay your providers and keep track of your spending.
The monthly plan management fee is confirmed unchanged in the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27 at $104.45 per month (item number 14_034_0127_8_3).
As a recommendation for future years, the NDIA has proposed a review of whether the flat monthly fee still makes sense as the industry changes. This is not a price change. Results would be published in a future pricing review.
3. New Support Line Items
The new Pricing Schedule introduces new support categories from 1 July 2026. These help providers claim more accurately and help participants see clearly what they are being billed for.
New: Orientation and Mobility Specialist line items Confirmed new
Orientation and Mobility Specialists help people who are blind or have low vision to travel safely and independently. This is a registered profession under the Orientation and Mobility Association of Australasia (OMAA). Providers must hold current OMAA registration to claim under these items.
These services were previously claimed under the Other Professionals category. The new dedicated item number is 15_626_0128_1_3 with a national rate of $156.16 per hour. Suffix item numbers apply for travel, telehealth, cancellation and NDIA reports. Remote area loadings also apply.
New: Individual item numbers for each allied health service type Confirmed new
The old system of selecting a claim type when submitting a therapy claim has been removed. Each additional service now has its own dedicated item number, created by adding a suffix to the main service item number. This applies to all allied health professions in the Pricing Schedule.
The five suffixes and what they mean:
- _CA Cancellation: charged at the same rate as a direct service
- _NF Non-face-to-face: report writing, preparation, documentation
- _PT Provider travel: charged at 50% of the direct service rate
- _RR NDIA requested report: charged at the direct service rate
- _TH Telehealth: charged at the same rate as a direct service
For participants: your plan statements will show each type of charge as a separate line. You will be able to see travel time, report writing and session time listed individually.
For providers: update your billing systems and invoicing templates before 1 July 2026 to use the new item numbers.
New: Short Term Accommodation separate item numbers for support and accommodation Confirmed new
Short Term Accommodation (also called respite) is when a person with disability stays somewhere other than their usual home for a short period. Until now, STA has been charged as a single daily rate covering accommodation, meals and support all in one.
The new Pricing Schedule now has separate item numbers for:
- Participant accommodation (item 01_250_0115_1_1): $162.85 per day nationally
- Support Worker accommodation (item 01_251_0115_1_1): $162.85 per day nationally
- Support hours: claimed by the hour using the same support worker rates, structured by time of day and day of the week
- High-intensity support item numbers also available for participants with complex needs
Note: the accommodation rate of $162.85 per day reflects the current Medium Term Accommodation rate, which is slightly higher than the $158.66 figure previously referenced in the Annual Pricing Review consultation. The Pricing Schedule is the confirmed figure.
4. Important Recommendations to Watch
The NDIA also makes recommendations about future changes. These are not yet in the Pricing Schedule. They may become confirmed price changes in a future year.
Support worker cost model review Recommendation
The formula used to set support worker prices has not been fully updated since 2020-21. A review is planned for 2026-27 looking at whether supervision, training and safeguarding costs are properly reflected. Any changes from this review are expected to take effect from 2027-28 at the earliest.
Community access pricing may change further Recommendation
The 10% reduction for unregistered community access providers is described as a starting point. The NDIA has indicated that similar registered versus unregistered pricing splits may be extended to other support categories in future years. Providers should monitor the 2027-28 pricing review.
Support coordination pricing review coming Recommendation
The NDIA is running a pilot program to collect real data on what support coordination actually costs to deliver. This is the first time such data has been collected. Results are expected to inform potential changes to Level 2 and Level 3 pricing in the 2027-28 review.
Plan management fee structure under review Recommendation
A review of whether the flat monthly fee still reflects how plan management is delivered has been recommended. Alternatives such as tiered fees may be considered. No price change has been confirmed for 2026-27.
Therapy pricing review scheduled for 2026-27 Recommendation
A broader review of how therapy supports are structured and claimed is planned for 2026-27. This will look at the new suffix item number system for travel and non-contact time. Outcomes are expected to feed into the 2027-28 Pricing Schedule.
New laws may make prices legally binding for all providers Pending legislation
A Bill introduced to Parliament on 14 May 2026 would give the NDIS Minister the power to make prices legally enforceable for all providers. Currently registered providers are already required to follow NDIS price limits. If this Bill passes, unregistered providers would also be bound by them.
5. When Do Changes Take Effect?
- 1 Jul 2026 All Pricing Schedule changes take effect: updated support worker rates, therapy price changes (Psychologist up to $252.99, Dietitian down to $178.99, Exercise Physiologist down to $161.99, Other Professionals down to $156.16), Support Coordination Level 1 up to $80.06, Psychosocial Recovery Coach rates updated, new allied health suffix item numbers, new Orientation and Mobility Specialist items, new STA separate item numbers for support and accommodation
- 1 Jan 2027 Community access (SCCP) unregistered providers: 10% price reduction, annual indexation ceases
- 2026-27 Reviews underway (recommendations only, not yet confirmed): support worker cost model, plan management fee structure, therapy pricing
- 2027-28 Support coordination pricing review outcomes expected. Possible further changes to registered vs unregistered pricing in other support categories
For services from 1 July 2026: providers must update their rates and item numbers using the official NDIS Pricing Schedule at ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-arrangements.
Your provider must speak to you before changing your service agreement. If they change your rates without telling you first, contact your plan manager, support coordinator, or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110.
What Should You Do Now?
For participants and families
- Ask your providers how they will update their rates from 1 July 2026.
- If you use psychology supports, check your plan has enough therapy funding for the new rate.
- If you use community access with an unregistered provider, no price change applies until 1 January 2027.
- Not sure what any of this means for your plan? Email our friendly Connections Team or find support online.
For providers
- Download the new NDIS Pricing Schedule from ndis.gov.au and update your rates from 1 July 2026.
- Update service agreements, invoices and billing systems to use the new suffix item numbers.
- If you deliver community access as an unregistered provider, prepare for the 10% reduction from 1 January 2027.
- If you deliver Short Term Accommodation, update your claiming to use the new separate item numbers for accommodation and support hours.
- Questions about the changes? Email our friendly Provider Team.
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Sources: NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27 (effective 1 July 2026). NDIA Annual Pricing Review for 2026-27 Prices (June 2026). NDIS Pricing Updates: ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-and-payments/pricing/pricing-updates.
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