About the NDIS Price Guide 2026/2027

The long-awaited NDIS Price Guide 2026 has been released, alongside recommendations from the latest NDIS Annual Pricing Review (APR). While many providers were hoping for significant funding increases across the board, the review delivers a mixed outcome, with some support categories receiving increases, others remaining frozen, and several facing rate reductions.

For NDIS providers, support coordinators, plan managers, therapists, and participants, understanding the changes in the NDIS Price Guide 2026 will be essential for planning budgets, managing service delivery, and maintaining business sustainability over the coming year.

Standard Support Worker Rates Increase

One of the most significant changes in the new NDIS Price Guide 2026 is the recommended increase to standard disability support worker pricing.

The APR has recommended passing through the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review increase of approximately 4.75%.

As a result, the standard support worker rate is expected to increase to approximately $73.58 per hour.

For many providers, this adjustment will help offset rising labour costs, which continue to be the largest operating expense across the disability services sector. However, some industry commentators have noted that the increase may still not fully reflect the impact of additional employment obligations, including portable long service leave schemes that operate in several Australian states.

While the increase is welcome, providers will still need to carefully review margins and workforce costs to ensure ongoing financial viability.

Review of the Disability Support Worker Cost Model

The Annual Pricing Review also highlighted concerns with the current Disability Support Worker (DSW) Cost Model.

The original model was built around an assumed profit margin of approximately 2%. Since its introduction, providers have faced a range of additional business costs including:

• Increased insurance premiums
• Higher compliance costs
• Technology and cybersecurity requirements
• Rising recruitment and training expenses
• Inflationary pressures across operational costs

The APR has acknowledged that the model may no longer accurately reflect the realities of running an NDIS business in 2026 and beyond.

A review of the underlying assumptions could potentially lead to future pricing changes if the NDIA determines that provider sustainability is being negatively impacted.

Support Coordination and Plan Management Rates Remain Frozen

One of the most controversial outcomes from the NDIS Price Guide 2026 is the decision to leave Level 2 Support Coordination and Plan Management pricing unchanged.

Support coordination rates have remained largely unchanged for approximately seven years.

Many providers argue that while the headline rate has stayed above $100 per hour, inflation has significantly eroded its real value. When adjusted for CPI increases over the same period, the purchasing power of those rates has declined substantially.

For support coordinators, this ongoing pricing freeze creates several challenges:

• Difficulty attracting experienced staff
• Increased pressure on margins
• Reduced capacity to provide complex participant support
• Greater operational risk for smaller providers

The sector is likely to continue advocating for future pricing reviews to address these concerns.

Major Changes to Short Term Accommodation (STA)

Another notable change in the NDIS Price Guide 2026 involves Short Term Accommodation (STA).

The review recommends that STA pricing be unbundled into separate components, creating distinct line items for:

• Accommodation costs
• Support costs

Accommodation is expected to be priced separately at approximately $162.85 per day.

The aim of this change is to improve pricing transparency and help participants better understand how funding is being allocated.

For providers offering respite and short-term accommodation services, this may require updates to:

• Service agreements
• Invoicing systems
• Budget forecasting
• Internal pricing structures

Participants may also need support to understand how the new funding arrangements affect their plans and service bookings.

Unregistered Providers Face Lower Pricing

Perhaps the most significant structural change in the NDIS Price Guide 2026 is the recommendation that unregistered providers delivering Social, Community and Civic Participation supports receive approximately 10% less funding than registered providers from January 2027.

This proposal is expected to generate considerable debate across the disability sector.

The NDIS has traditionally supported participant choice and control by allowing participants to engage both registered and unregistered providers.

However, the new pricing differential appears designed to encourage greater use of registered providers and potentially increase quality and safeguarding standards.

Questions remain regarding how this policy will be implemented and monitored, including:

• How compliance will be enforced
• Whether participants will face reduced choice
• The impact on independent support workers
• Potential increases in administrative complexity

Many smaller providers and sole traders will be watching closely as further implementation details emerge.

Therapy and Allied Health Pricing Changes

The NDIS Price Guide 2026 also introduces a range of adjustments across therapy and allied health supports.

Psychology and Behaviour Support

Psychology and behaviour support services are expected to receive pricing increases.

This reflects growing demand for mental health and behavioural intervention services across the NDIS and acknowledges workforce shortages in these professions.

Providers operating in these areas may welcome the changes as a step toward improving recruitment and retention.

Dietitian Rates Reduced

Dietitian services are expected to experience a pricing reduction of approximately $10 per hour.

Providers will need to assess the impact on service delivery models and profitability, particularly where margins are already tight.

Exercise Physiology Rates Reduced

Exercise Physiologists are also expected to see a reduction of around $5 per hour.

While the reduction may appear modest, it adds to ongoing concerns about the sustainability of some allied health services within the NDIS framework.

Art Therapy, Music Therapy and Counselling

Several therapy categories are expected to move toward a new pricing level of approximately $156.16 per hour, including:

• Art Therapy
• Music Therapy
• Counselling
• Other related therapeutic supports

Providers in these disciplines may need to review their pricing structures and business models to adapt to the new funding environment.

No Change for Several Allied Health Professions

Some major allied health disciplines are expected to remain unchanged under the NDIS Price Guide 2026, including:

• Occupational Therapy
• Speech Pathology
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry
• Social Work

For these professions, the focus will remain on managing workforce shortages, service demand and operational efficiency rather than responding to pricing changes.

What the NDIS Price Guide 2026 Means for Providers

The release of the NDIS Price Guide 2026 signals a year of adjustment rather than wholesale reform.

While support worker pricing increases provide some relief for providers facing rising wage costs, ongoing freezes in support coordination and plan management continue to create challenges. At the same time, significant structural changes around STA funding and the treatment of unregistered providers could reshape parts of the sector over the next 12 to 18 months.

Providers should take the opportunity to:

• Review service pricing and profitability
• Update budgets and financial forecasts
• Assess workforce impacts
• Review service agreements and invoicing processes
• Communicate changes to participants and families

As further implementation details emerge from the NDIA, providers should continue monitoring updates to ensure they remain compliant and financially sustainable.

The NDIS Price Guide 2026 represents another important step in the evolution of the NDIS pricing framework, and understanding these changes early will help providers position themselves for success in the year ahead.