Each year, the National Disability Insurance Agency reviews the prices it considers fair and reasonable for NDIS supports. For 2026-27, that process has produced a new document called the NDIS Pricing Schedule. It was published in late June 2026 and came into effect on 1 July 2026.
The changes this year look different depending on the type of support you use. Support worker rates have gone up in line with a wage review decision from the Fair Work Commission. Therapy rates have moved in different directions, with some going up, some staying the same, and a small number coming down. Plan management and support coordination fees remain unchanged.
Below, we walk through what has actually changed, what it means for participants and their families, and what support coordinators need to know.
What has changed this year?
The 2026-27 updates reflect the outcomes of the NDIA’s Annual Pricing Review, which considers market data, Fair Work Commission decisions, changes to the superannuation guarantee, and feedback from participants and providers across the country. Here is a quick summary of the main changes:
- Disability support worker rates have increased in line with the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review (approximately 4.75%) and the rise in compulsory superannuation from 11.5% to 12%.
- Psychology rates have increased from $232.99 to $252.99 per hour nationally, reflecting higher demand and alignment with the broader health sector.
- Some therapy rates have decreased, including dietetics and exercise physiology, where the NDIA found previous rates sat above comparable market levels.
- Occupational therapy, speech pathology and physiotherapy rates remain unchanged.
- Support coordination and plan management fees are unchanged.
- New support item numbers have been introduced across therapy disciplines to allow more precise claiming.
- Short-Term Accommodation has been restructured to include separate line items for participant accommodation and support worker accommodation.
Why there is no PAPL this year?
If you have worked with NDIS pricing before, you might notice something different about the documents the NDIA has published this year. In previous years, the key pricing document was called the Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, or PAPL. This year, there is no new PAPL.
Instead, the NDIA has published a document called the Pricing Schedule. The reason comes down to legislation. In May 2026, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 was introduced into Parliament. If passed, this Bill would give the Minister for the NDIS formal power to set pricing determinations. While that process is still underway, the NDIA has published the Pricing Schedule as its authoritative guidance on what it considers appropriate and reasonable maximum prices.
The practical effect for participants, families and support coordinators is the same as in previous years. The Pricing Schedule is the document providers are billing against from 1 July 2026. The Bill does not need to pass for the new prices to apply.
Support worker rates from 1 July 2026
The most widely felt change in the new Pricing Schedule is the increase to disability support worker rates. These increases reflect the Fair Work Commission’s 2026 Annual Wage Review decision and the rise in the superannuation guarantee. Rates vary by time of day, day of the week, and whether you live in a regional, remote or very remote area.
The table below shows selected national maximum prices for standard Disability Support Worker supports (Level 1), effective 1 July 2026.
| Support type | National ($/hr) | Remote ($/hr) | Very remote ($/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday daytime | $73.58 | $103.01 | $110.37 |
| Weekday evening | $81.07 | $113.50 | $121.61 |
| Weekday night | $82.57 | $115.60 | $123.86 |
| Saturday | $103.54 | $144.96 | $155.31 |
| Sunday | $133.50 | $186.90 | $200.25 |
| Public holiday | $163.46 | $228.84 | $245.19 |
| Night-time sleepover | $311.79 | $436.51 | $467.69 |
These prices are the maximum a registered provider can charge, not necessarily what every provider will charge. Some providers may charge less. If you are plan-managed, your plan manager checks every invoice against the Pricing Schedule before making a payment, so you are protected against overcharging.
Received a provider rate increase notice?
A higher NDIS price limit does not automatically mean every increase is appropriate. If your provider has sent you a new rate notice, read our guide on what to check before agreeing to an NDIS provider rate increase.
Therapy support rates
Rather than applying a single uniform increase to all therapy supports, the NDIA this year benchmarked therapy prices against Medicare, private health insurance, and comparable allied health schemes. As a result, rates have moved differently across professions.
Psychology
Psychology rates have increased nationally from $232.99 to $252.99 per hour. The NDIA cited growing demand for psychology supports and the need to better align NDIS rates with what comparable services cost in the broader health sector. Remote and very remote loadings apply on top of the national rate.
Occupational therapy, speech pathology and physiotherapy
These three disciplines remain unchanged for 2026-27. Occupational therapy and speech pathology are both set at $193.99 per hour nationally. Physiotherapy is set at $183.99 per hour nationally. Provider travel for all three is charged at approximately half the standard hourly rate.
Occupational therapy has now been at the same rate for several years. While the NDIA has not increased the rate, it has signalled a Therapy Pricing Review as part of its three-year workplan, which may lead to changes in future years.
Dietetics and exercise physiology
Both of these rates have decreased for 2026-27. Dietetics moves to $178.99 per hour nationally (down from $188.99). Exercise physiology moves to $161.99 per hour nationally (down from $166.99). The NDIA’s Annual Pricing Review found that previous rates for these disciplines sat above comparable market levels.
If you or someone you support uses a dietitian or exercise physiologist, your plan manager can help you understand what this change means for your current service agreement and remaining budget.
New support item numbers for therapy
One of the more significant structural changes in the Pricing Schedule is the way therapy support items are now split out. Each therapy discipline now has six separate support item numbers:
- Direct service
- Cancellation
- Non-face-to-face (such as report writing, case coordination and preparation)
- Provider travel
- NDIA requested reports
- Telehealth
Previously, some of these activities were combined under a single item number. The separation means providers can now claim more precisely for the work they do, and participants can see more clearly on their budget reports exactly what they are being charged for. The hourly rates themselves are not affected by this change.
If you receive plan management through All Plan Management, we process all therapy invoices on your behalf and will handle the new item numbers. You do not need to do anything differently.
Support coordination and plan management fees
Both support coordination and plan management fees remain unchanged for 2026-27. The table below shows current rates.
| Support type | Rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Support Connection (Level 1) | $80.06 | per hour |
| Coordination of Supports (Level 2) | $100.14 | per hour |
| Specialist Support Coordination (Level 3) | $190.54 | per hour |
| Plan management monthly fee | $104.45 | per month |
The plan management fee is funded by a dedicated Capacity Building budget in your NDIS plan. It does not reduce your core support funding. The NDIA has noted in the Annual Pricing Review that a future review of the plan management fee model is possible, but no changes have been confirmed for the current financial year.
See how each management option supports your needs
New support items introduced this year
Orientation and mobility specialists
The 2026-27 Pricing Schedule introduces support item numbers for orientation and mobility specialists for the first time, adding another NDIS support category for participants who are blind or have low vision. These are allied health professionals who support people who are blind or have low vision to navigate their environment safely and travel independently. Providers must hold current registration with the Orientation and Mobility Association of Australasia (OMAA) to claim under these items. The national rate is $156.16 per hour.
Short Term Accommodation restructure
Short Term Accommodation (often called respite) has a structural change this year. What was previously a combined item has been separated into distinct line items: one for participant accommodation and one for support worker accommodation, each set at $162.85 per day nationally. Support worker rates during STA (for personal care) continue to be claimed at the standard disability support worker rate schedule.
What is coming later in the financial year?
Not everything in the Annual Pricing Review takes effect on 1 July. There are two further changes proposed to come into effect during the year that are worth knowing about now.
Community participation pricing for unregistered providers
From 1 January 2027, the NDIA has recommended reducing the rates for Social, Community and Civic Participation supports delivered by unregistered providers by 10%, with annual indexation ceasing for that group. Registered providers would continue at the current rate with ongoing indexation.
This is still a recommendation rather than a confirmed rule at the time of publishing, and it does not begin in July 2026. If your support worker is unregistered and delivers community access or social activities, it is worth talking to your support coordinator now about what your options might look like ahead of January 2027. Your plan manager can also help you understand the potential funding impact for your specific situation.
Therapy pricing review
The NDIA has a three-year pricing workplan, and a dedicated Therapy Pricing Review is scheduled for 2026-27. This may explore differentiated pricing for telehealth and non-face-to-face delivery, to better reflect the different costs of delivering those activities compared to in-person sessions. No confirmed changes from this review have been announced for the current financial year. We will update this article as more becomes clearer.
What this means for you?
Whether you are a participant, a family member managing a plan, or a support coordinator, here is what to keep in mind as the new financial year gets underway.
- Your provider must talk to you before changing rates. The Pricing Schedule makes clear that providers need to discuss any proposed changes to service agreements with participants, and participants need to agree before changes take effect. Not sure whether a provider’s notice is reasonable, or concerned that an increase has been applied without enough explanation? Our guide explains what to look for in the notice, what to compare against your service agreement, and when to ask further questions.
- Higher rates do not automatically mean fewer hours. Plan budgets are generally adjusted to reflect pricing changes. If you are close to your budget limit or have concerns about your support hours, your plan manager can check your current funding position.
- Plan managed participants have an extra layer of protection. When you are plan managed, your plan manager reviews every invoice against the Pricing Schedule before authorising payment. This means you are covered if a provider tries to charge above the allowable limit.
- The January 2027 community participation change is worth planning for now. If you use an unregistered provider for community access, a conversation with your support coordinator before the end of the year will give you time to explore your options without feeling rushed.
- Therapy invoices may look different. If your therapist has updated their invoice item numbers, that is a result of the new support item structure in the Pricing Schedule. If you are plan managed, we handle this on your behalf.
If you have questions about how the 2026-27 pricing changes affect your specific plan, our team is happy to help. You can reach us through the contact form on our website or speak with your plan manager directly.
Always look for an NDIS plan manager you can trust, with great communication.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NDIS Pricing Schedule and how is it different from the PAPL?
In previous years, the NDIA’s key pricing document was called the Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, or PAPL. For 2026-27, that document has been replaced by the Pricing Schedule. The change is connected to proposed legislation that would give the Minister for the NDIS formal power to set pricing rules. While that legislation has not yet passed, the Pricing Schedule is what providers and plan managers are claiming against from 1 July 2026. The practical experience for participants and support coordinators is the same as previous years.
Do providers have to charge the maximum price in the Pricing Schedule?
No. The Pricing Schedule sets the maximum a provider can charge, not a fixed or required price. Providers can charge less. If you are plan managed, your plan manager checks all invoices against the schedule before approving payment.
My provider wants to increase their rates from 1 July. Do I have to agree?
Providers cannot change what they charge without your agreement. They must discuss any proposed rate changes with you before they take effect, and you must consent to any updates to your service agreement. If a provider makes changes without speaking to you first, contact your plan manager or support coordinator.
We have a practical step-by-step guide, including what to do when a rate increase appears unusual or does not match what you expected for participants; read our guide here.
Will my plan funding increase to cover higher support worker rates?
In most cases, yes. The NDIA generally adjusts plan budgets to account for pricing changes so participants are not left short. The impact on your specific plan depends on how it was set up and how close you are to your budget. Speak with your plan manager if you are unsure.
What is the plan management fee for 2026-27?
The plan management monthly fee remains unchanged at $104.45 per month. This is funded from a dedicated Capacity Building budget in your NDIS plan, not from your core support funding.
My therapist has sent me an invoice with different item numbers. What has changed?
The new Pricing Schedule introduces separate item numbers within each therapy discipline for activities like telehealth, non-face-to-face work, and report writing. If your therapist’s invoice looks different, that is likely why. If you are plan managed with All Plan Management, we process all invoices on your behalf and will handle the new numbers correctly.
Where can I find the official NDIS Pricing Schedule?
The official Pricing Schedule for 2026-27 is available to download from the NDIA’s website at ndis.gov.au, under Providers > Pricing and payments > Pricing updates. If you would like help understanding what it means for your plan, speak with your plan manager or contact us via 1300 634 776.