NDIA Signals Rate Increases for Behaviour Support, Flat for Core Services
Early drafts of the 2026-27 Price Guide circulating among provider groups show a split decision: behaviour support rates rising significantly, while core support (personal care, household help) rates staying flat.
The Split Strategy
Behaviour Support Sector: Facing acute staffing crisis and burnout, the NDIA is signalling 8-12% rate increases. This is acknowledgment that behaviour support is unsustainable at current rates. Workers are leaving for aged care and early childhood education where pay is better.
Core Support: Direct support worker rates expected to increase by indexation only (~3.8%), not above. This suggests the NDIA views core support as adequately resourced.
What Industry Is Saying
Provider groups are pushing back on the flat core support rates, arguing that worker turnover in core support is also climbing. The NDIS Workers Union is calling for across-the-board increases aligned with broader wage growth.
Behaviour support providers are cautiously welcoming the increase, though some say 8-12% doesn't go far enough given the crisis state of the sector.
What's Driving This
The NDIA appears to be prioritizing crisis sectors (behaviour support) while holding the line on other rates to control spending. This is a risky strategy if core support providers start exiting en masse.
The official price guide will be released in June.