How much does an NDIS support worker cost?
Reviewed by the My Care Link Australia Editorial Team · Last reviewed
Short answer: for most people, nothing out of pocket. Support worker hours are paid from the Core Supports budget in your NDIS plan, and the most a registered provider can charge is capped by the NDIS price limits. What changes the cost is when the support happens, not who you pick.
How support worker pricing actually works
The NDIA publishes a maximum hourly price for each type of support. A provider can charge less than the limit, never more (if they are registered, or if your service agreement says price limits apply). The current figures live in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which is updated at least once a year — always check that page rather than a figure quoted on any website, including this one.
The support worker line item most people use is "assistance with self-care activities" or "access community, social and recreational activities". Both are hourly, and both sit inside Core Supports.
- Weekday daytime is the base rate — the cheapest hour you can book
- Weekday evening and weekday night are higher
- Saturday is higher again, Sunday higher than Saturday
- Public holidays are the highest rate of all
- Two-worker supports are billed as two separate hours
This is why two people with identical funding can get very different amounts of support: a plan spent on Sunday and public holiday hours buys far fewer hours than the same plan spent on weekday mornings.
The costs people do not expect
Three things regularly surprise people when the first invoice arrives. None of them are hidden fees — they are all in the price guide — but they are rarely explained up front.
- Provider travel. A provider can claim time spent travelling to you, up to a limit, and sometimes a per-kilometre amount. This matters most in regional areas.
- Short-notice cancellations. If you cancel inside the notice period, the provider can usually claim the full amount. Ask what the notice period is before you sign.
- Non-face-to-face time. Some supports allow claims for work done for you but not with you, such as writing a report. It must be agreed in advance.
Ask for these three to be spelled out in the service agreement in plain words. A provider who will not put them in writing is telling you something useful.
How to get more hours out of the same funding
- Move regular supports to weekday daytime where the routine allows it
- Group errands and appointments into one longer visit instead of several short ones
- Check whether a shorter, more frequent visit does the job better than a long one
- Use a local provider where travel time is short
- Review spending every month or two, not at the end of the plan year
If a category is running down faster than the plan year, raise it with your plan manager or support coordinator early — options narrow the longer you wait.
Will I pay anything myself?
If the support is in your plan and the provider bills it correctly, you should not pay anything out of pocket. Where people do pay is for things the NDIS does not fund — ordinary living costs such as your own meal at a café, entry tickets, groceries, or the worker's entry fee if your service agreement says you cover it.
If you are not an NDIS participant and paying privately, ask for the hourly rate in writing before the first shift, including weekends, travel and cancellations.
Finding a support worker near you
Cost is capped, so the real question is fit and availability — a worker who turns up reliably, gets on with you, and can do the hours you actually need. That is what we help with.
Tell us your suburb and what the week needs to look like, and we come back with providers who have capacity. It is free for participants, families and support coordinators.
About this guide. Written and reviewed by the My Care Link Australia team as general information for NDIS and aged care participants, families and support coordinators. Read our editorial guidelines and provider review process.
This guide is general educational information only. It is not medical, legal or financial advice. For decisions about your individual situation, please speak with the appropriate qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an NDIS support worker cost per hour?
It depends on the day and time. The NDIA sets a maximum hourly price for each support type, with higher limits for evenings, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Check the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits for the exact figures — they change at least yearly.
Does the support worker cost come out of my plan?
Yes. Support worker hours are usually paid from your Core Supports budget, so there is normally nothing to pay yourself.
Can a provider charge more than the NDIS price limit?
Registered providers cannot charge above the published price limit for price-controlled supports. Unregistered providers should still follow your service agreement — read it before signing.
Do I pay for the worker's travel?
Provider travel can be claimed from your plan within set limits, and it is not paid by you personally. Ask how travel will be charged before you start, especially in regional areas.
What happens if I cancel a shift?
If you cancel inside the notice period in your service agreement, the provider can usually claim the full amount from your plan. Ask for the notice period in writing.
Related services
NDIS Support Workers
Trained support workers for daily living, social activities and personal care.
NDIS Personal Care
Help with showering, dressing, grooming, toileting and daily personal hygiene.
NDIS Social and Community Participation
Support to engage in social, recreational and community activities.
NDIS Help at Home
Cleaning, gardening, meals, laundry and household tasks under your NDIS plan.
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Sources and further reading
Rules, funding amounts and wait times change. We check these primary sources when we update this page, and you should confirm current details directly with them.
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)(opens in a new tab) — National Disability Insurance Agency. Official scheme information, eligibility and current processes.
- NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits(opens in a new tab) — National Disability Insurance Agency. The current price limits that govern what providers can charge.
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission(opens in a new tab) — NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Provider registration, practice standards and complaints.
- NDIS Commission provider register(opens in a new tab) — NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Check whether a provider is registered.