NDIS Price Guide 2026-27 Explained for Melbourne Participants
Every year on 1 July, the National Disability Insurance Agency updates the prices providers can charge for supports. The 2026-27 update was one of the more significant in recent years, with a higher support worker rate, a completely restructured approach to Short Term Accommodation, and changes to some therapy prices. This guide explains what changed, in plain language, and what it means for your budget as a Melbourne participant.
Sky Care Solutions is a registered NDIS provider in Melbourne. We charge within these published limits for every service and explain the exact rate before you sign anything. You can also see our dedicated NDIS Price Guide page for the current figures.
Quick answer: what is the NDIS Price Guide 2026-27?
The NDIS Price Guide, now published as the NDIS Pricing Schedule and Support Catalogue, sets the maximum prices registered providers can charge for each support. For 2026-27, effective 1 July 2026, the standard weekday support worker rate rose about 3.95% to roughly $70.23 per hour, Short Term Accommodation was unbundled into separate support and accommodation charges, and most therapy rates stayed the same with a few going up or down. These are price limits, not what you pay. If a support is funded in your plan, you generally pay nothing out of pocket.
How the NDIS Price Guide works
Your NDIS plan gives you funding across budget categories: Core Supports, Capacity Building and Capital Supports. The Price Guide tells providers the most they can charge for each specific support item, known as a line item, within those budgets. Because there is a ceiling on each item, the more each hour costs, the fewer hours a fixed budget buys, which is why the annual update matters even when your total plan value does not change.
For 2026-27 the NDIA also changed how it publishes this information. Rather than one combined document, there are now three: the Annual Pricing Review, the NDIS Pricing Schedule, and the NDIS Support Catalogue. The official documents are on the NDIS pricing arrangements page.
Support worker rates in 2026-27
The headline change is the support worker rate. The standard Level 1 weekday daytime rate increased by around 3.95% to approximately $70.23 per hour. This reflects the Fair Work Commission’s 2026 annual wage decision, the rise in the Superannuation Guarantee from 11.5% to 12%, and the increase to the SCHADS Award that covers disability support workers.
| Support type | Typical 2026-27 price limit (metro) |
|---|---|
| Standard support worker, weekday daytime | ~$70.23 per hour |
| Weekday evening support | Loaded above base rate |
| Saturday support | Higher loaded rate |
| Sunday support | Higher loaded rate |
| Public holiday support | Highest loaded rate |
| Support coordination (Level 2) | ~$100.14 per hour |
Melbourne and Victoria fall within the national standard geographic area, so these standard limits apply everywhere from the inner city to the outer growth corridors and the Yarra Valley. There is no remote or very remote loading in metropolitan Melbourne.
The Short Term Accommodation (STA) change
The biggest structural change for 2026-27 is to Short Term Accommodation, often called respite. Previously STA was billed as a single bundled item with staffing ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4). Those ratio items have been removed. STA is now split into two separate charges:
- Support hours are billed under standard support worker line items at the normal hourly rate.
- Accommodation, covering the bed, meals and utilities, is billed separately as a flat national day rate of $162.85 per day.
This does not reduce your respite. It makes the cost more transparent by separating the care from the accommodation. If you use respite care, your statements will look different from previous years, so ask your provider or plan manager to explain the new format.
Therapy and allied health prices
Most allied health prices held steady for 2026-27. The main movements were: psychology and specialist behaviour support rates increased, while dietetics, exercise physiology and some other professional rates were reduced. If you receive allied health or behaviour support, check whether your specific line items changed and how that affects the number of sessions your plan funds.
Travel and provider costs
Providers can claim for reasonable travel to deliver your supports, within NDIS rules. This is one reason a locally based provider can be better value: shorter travel means less of your Core budget is spent getting a worker to your door. A Melbourne-based team servicing your suburb is generally more budget-efficient than one travelling long distances. We explain any travel costs upfront before you sign a service agreement.
What the 2026-27 prices mean for your budget
Because the total value of your plan is set at your planning meeting and does not automatically rise with prices, a higher hourly rate means a fixed Core budget buys slightly fewer hours than last year. To stay in control:
- Ask your plan manager or support coordinator to review your utilisation against the new rates.
- Plan your highest-value supports first so essential hours are protected.
- Raise any shortfall at your next plan review with evidence of your needs.
- Consider whether some supports can be delivered more efficiently, for example grouping community activities.
How to read your own plan against the Price Guide
Your plan lists your funded budgets. To work out roughly how many support hours you have, divide your relevant Core budget by the current hourly rate, remembering that evenings and weekends cost more. A registered provider can do this with you for free. The point is not to become an expert in line items, but to know your plan covers the support you actually rely on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 2026-27 price increase reduce my NDIS funding?
No. The price increase raises the maximum providers can charge per hour. It does not cut your plan. However, because your total budget is fixed, a higher hourly rate means the same budget funds slightly fewer hours, so it is worth reviewing your utilisation.
How much does a support worker cost under the NDIS in 2026?
The standard weekday daytime rate is about $70.23 per hour in metropolitan Melbourne under the 2026-27 Pricing Schedule. Evening, weekend and public holiday support is charged at higher loaded rates.
Why does my respite bill look different this year?
Short Term Accommodation was unbundled from 1 July 2026. Support hours are now billed at the standard hourly rate and accommodation is billed separately at a flat $162.85 per day. The old bundled ratio items were removed. Your total respite has not been cut, it is just itemised differently.
Do I pay anything out of pocket?
Generally no. If a support is funded in your plan and delivered within the NDIS price limits, you pay nothing out of pocket. A good provider will always confirm the exact line item and rate before you agree to a service.
Are prices higher in outer Melbourne or regional Victoria?
No. Melbourne and its surrounds sit in the NDIS national standard geographic area, so the same price limits apply across metropolitan Melbourne. Only genuinely remote and very remote areas carry loadings, which does not include Melbourne suburbs or towns like Healesville and Warburton.
Where can I see the current NDIS prices?
The official documents are on the NDIS pricing arrangements page at ndis.gov.au. Sky Care Solutions also maintains a plain-English summary on our NDIS Price Guide page, and we will quote the exact rate for any service before you sign.
Talk to a Melbourne NDIS provider about your budget
Understanding the Price Guide should not be your job alone. Sky Care Solutions is a registered NDIS provider serving all of Melbourne and regional Victoria. We will review your plan against the current 2026-27 rates, show you how many hours you realistically have, and deliver every service within the published limits with no hidden fees.
Call 03 7047 9499 or book a free consultation. Registered NDIS provider 4050172644, serving Melbourne and Victoria.
Last updated July 2026. Prices are indicative and set by the NDIA; always confirm current figures at ndis.gov.au. General information only, not personal advice.
