NDIS Support Worker Hourly Rates 2026–27: How Your Plan Funding Is Used

An NDIS support worker costs up to $73.58 per hour on weekday daytime shifts in 2026–27. That is the maximum NDIS support worker hourly rate a provider can charge your plan for standard personal care and community access. The limit rises to $81.07 in the evening, $82.57 overnight, $103.54 on Saturdays, $133.50 on Sundays and $163.46 on public holidays. The figures come from the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026–27.

This guide is written for NDIS participants, families and carers. It explains how these NDIS support worker rates and price limits are charged against your funding, so you can read your service agreement and invoices with confidence.

Key Takeaways

• Standard weekday daytime support is charged at up to $73.58 per hour from your Core Supports budget.

• Limits rise for evenings (81.07),nights(82.57), Saturdays (103.54),Sundays(133.50) and public holidays ($163.46).

• A sleepover is charged as a flat amount per night, up to $311.79. If you need more overnight support than your service agreement includes, the extra time is charged in addition.

• Active night support, where your worker stays awake all night, is charged by the hour at $82.57.

• High intensity support for complex needs starts at $79.60 per hour on weekdays.

• Travel costs, such as car travel to activities, are charged separately and must be agreed in your service agreement.

Understanding NDIS Support Worker Hourly Rates

Funding rules can look confusing when you first read an NDIS plan. We explain these figures daily to participants and families across Greater Sydney.

The price limits are the maximum amount a provider can charge your plan for each hour of support. They are not a worker's pay. They are what your funding is charged for the support you receive.

The NDIA publishes these limits in the NDIS Pricing Schedule. For 2026–27, the Minister for the NDIS set the maximum prices in a pricing determination, and the schedule took effect on 24 September 2026. For NDIA-managed and plan-managed participants, providers can't charge more than the maximum price, and you can agree a lower price with your provider. You can read more on the NDIS page about how the pricing arrangements work for participants. You can also see how these hours work in practice through our daily living and personal support services.

NDIS Price Limits 2026-27: What Does A Support Worker Cost Per Hour?

Most everyday home assistance falls under personal care and community access supports. These come out of your Core Supports budget. The NDIS price limits 2026-27 for standard supports are:

• Weekday Daytime (6:00 am to 8:00 pm): $73.58 per hour

• Weekday Evening (8:00 pm to midnight): $81.07 per hour

• Weekday Night (midnight to 6:00 am): $82.57 per hour

• Saturday (all day): $103.54 per hour

• Sunday (all day): $133.50 per hour

• Public Holiday: $163.46 per hour

• Night-Time Sleepover: up to $311.79 for the night

• House Cleaning and Other Household Activities: $60.10 per hour

• Personal Domestic Activities (such as help with meal preparation): $61.16 per hour

These are national prices. Higher limits apply in remote and very remote areas.

Shift Loadings And Overnight Support

Your support needs don't stop when the working day ends, so the limits change across the day and week. The higher evening, night and weekend limits reflect the extra pay workers receive for these shifts under the SCHADS Award.

Overnight support comes in two forms, and they are charged differently.

Sleepover Shifts

A sleepover means your support worker stays overnight in a private room at your home, in case you need help, and is expected to sleep. It is charged as a flat amount per night, up to $311.79, not by the hour.

If you need help during the night, the sleepover price can cover some active support. If you need more than that, the extra time is charged in addition, so the total for the night can be higher. Your service agreement should state how much active support the sleepover includes and how any extra time is charged.

Active Night Support

For active night support, your worker stays awake for the whole shift to provide continuous care or monitoring. It is charged by the hour at the night rate of $82.57.

Your service agreement and invoices should state this clearly as active night support, so you can see you are being billed for the right kind of support. As an example, an eight-hour active night shift is charged at $660.56, roughly double the cost of a sleepover night.

High Intensity Support Rates

When you have complex health needs, standard support is not enough. High intensity pricing applies when care needs specific skills, clinical training or direct nursing delegation. These are the maximum prices:

• Weekday Daytime: $79.60 per hour

• Weekday Evening: $87.70 per hour

• Weekday Night: $89.32 per hour

• Saturday: $112.01 per hour

• Sunday: $144.42 per hour

• Public Holiday: $176.84 per hour

The higher figures reflect the extra skills needed to manage clinical risks safely.

Our care management team, led by Registered Nurses Radhika and Usha, oversees these complex supports. We check worker training before staff handle enteral feeding, tracheostomy care, catheter management or complex bowel support. This clinical supervision keeps your care safe.

How Plan Management Affects Your Rates

How your NDIS plan is managed decides which providers you can use and how invoices are paid.

NDIA-Managed (Agency-Managed): You must use NDIS-registered providers. The provider claims payment directly from the NDIA, so you handle no paperwork. Providers must not charge above the NDIA's maximum prices.

Plan-Managed: You can choose registered and non-registered providers. Your Plan Manager checks each invoice and pays the provider for you. Providers must charge at or below the maximum prices.

Self-Managed: You have full choice of your support team, including independent workers and unregistered agencies. You can agree rates directly with providers. You are responsible for paying invoices, keeping receipts and meeting NDIS audit requirements.

Extra Fees: Travel And Cancellations

Your service agreement should list any charges beyond direct support hours. Reading it carefully helps you avoid surprises on your statements.

Providers should discuss any change to prices or fees with you, and you must agree to it, before it applies. Common extra charges include:

• Activity-related transport: When a worker uses their own car to take you to appointments or community activities, the provider can charge for vehicle costs, up to a per-kilometre maximum set by the NDIA. Check the rate in your service agreement.

• Provider travel: In some cases a provider may charge for travel to reach you, but only if this is agreed in your service agreement. Ask what applies before you sign.

• Short-notice cancellations: If you cancel at short notice, a provider may charge up to the full fee for the shift, but only if they can't find other work for the worker. Your service agreement should state the notice period that applies.

If a charge on your invoice doesn't look right, raise it with your provider first. You can also contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Why Is The Hourly Rate Higher Than A Worker's Wage?

You may wonder why your plan is charged up to $73.58 per hour when a worker's wage is lower. The difference covers the costs providers must meet to employ staff legally and deliver safe support:

• Award wages set under the SCHADS Award

• The 12% compulsory superannuation

• Workers' compensation and public liability insurance

• NDIS Worker Screening checks and ongoing training

• Registered nurse supervision and clinical care plans

• Rostering, quality audits and office support

Smart Ways To Protect Your Core Budget

Planning your weekly roster helps your funding last the whole plan period. Small changes can make a real difference.

• Schedule routines on weekdays: Book regular household tasks and personal care in weekday daytime hours (73.58perhour)ratherthanatweekends(103.54 to $133.50 per hour) where you can.

• Match overnight support to your needs: A sleepover (311.79pernight)suitsyouifyouwantsomeoneonsiteforsafetyandrarelyneedhelpovernight.Activenightsupport(82.57 per hour) suits you if you need continuous care. If you often need help during a sleepover, ask your provider whether active night support would be a better fit.

• Check your itemised invoices: Make sure the shift hours, dates and kilometres match the care you received.

• Group your outings: Combine medical appointments and community activities into single trips to keep travel charges down.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an NDIS provider charge more than the hourly rate limit?

For agency-managed and plan-managed participants, providers must not charge above the NDIA's maximum prices. Self-managed participants can agree different rates with providers, but paying above the limits means your funding may not last as long.

Do I pay the support worker directly from my own bank account?

No, not for approved supports. They are funded from your NDIS budget. Your provider sends invoices to the NDIA or your Plan Manager. Self-managed participants pay providers first and then claim the money back through the NDIS portal.

What happens if I need help during a sleepover?

The sleepover is a flat amount per night and can include some active support. If you need more than the agreed amount, the extra time is charged in addition. Ask your provider to explain in your service agreement how this works.

What is the difference between standard and high intensity support?

Standard support covers everyday tasks such as showering, dressing, light cleaning and social outings. High intensity support covers complex health needs, including PEG feeding, respiratory support, catheter care and wound management. These supports need trained workers supervised by registered nurses.

Rates in this article are from the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026–27, which took effect on 24 September 2026. The NDIA has said it will update the schedule later in 2026 to reflect award changes from 1 December 2026, so check the NDIS website for the latest figures. Always check your own plan and service agreement.

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