NDIS Support Workers: What They Do, What They Cost and How to Hire One
Support workers deliver most of the hands-on help the NDIS funds. This guide explains the tasks they can do, the 2026 price limits including weekend loadings, the difference between agencies and platforms, and how to find and keep a good one.
What a support worker does
Support workers deliver the "core" supports in an NDIS plan - the day-to-day assistance that lets you live in your home, get around and take part in the community. Depending on what your plan funds, that can include:
- Personal care - showering, dressing, grooming, toileting, help with eating and medication prompts
- Daily living - meal preparation, household tasks made harder by your disability, shopping
- Community access - support to attend appointments, work, study, sport, social activities and errands, including transport in the worker's vehicle
- Skill building - practising cooking, budgeting, public transport, communication or social skills toward a plan goal
- Supervision and safety - overnight support, or active support for people who cannot safely be alone
- Supported independent living - rostered support in shared or individual housing
Since the October 2024 reforms, funds can only be spent on items on the NDIS supports list. Support workers doing ordinary housework, gardening or shopping that is not related to your disability, or providing "companionship" that is not tied to a plan goal, are the kind of spending the list was written to stop. Our NDIS changes in 2026 guide has examples.
What they cost
Support worker prices are set by the NDIS Pricing Arrangements using the Disability Support Worker Cost Model. The limit depends on when the support is delivered and how intensive it is.
| Assistance with self-care (standard) | Price limit per hour (2026-27) | Versus weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday daytime | $73.58 | Base rate |
| Weekday evening | $81.07 | +10% |
| Weekday night | $82.57 | +12% |
| Saturday | $103.54 | +41% |
| Sunday | $133.50 | +81% |
| Public holiday | $163.46 | +122% |
| Night-time sleepover | $311.79 per shift | Plus any active hours |
High intensity supports - for participants who need workers with extra training in things like complex bowel care, enteral feeding, ventilation or severe dysphagia - have their own, higher limits. High intensity weekday daytime is $79.60 and Sunday $144.42 in 2026-27.
Why the loadings matter: a participant who needs 10 hours a week of personal care spread evenly across seven days pays materially more than one who can concentrate it on weekdays. If your plan is tight, ask your support coordinator whether your roster can shift toward weekday daytime hours.
Agencies, platforms and independent workers
| Registered agency | Platform (e.g. marketplace apps) | Independent worker | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can use | All participants | Plan- and self-managed | Plan- and self-managed |
| Typical price | At or near the limit | Below the limit (worker sets rate, platform adds a fee) | Negotiated, often below the limit |
| Continuity | Roster may change; backup workers available | You choose the worker; backups are your problem | Same person every time; no backup |
| Screening and insurance | Handled by the agency | Platform verifies screening; insurance varies | You must check |
| Admin | None | Some (approving shifts, invoices) | You are effectively the employer or contractor manager |
There is no right answer. Agencies suit people who need reliability and cover for absences. Platforms and independents suit people who value choosing the individual and stretching the budget, and who have someone (themselves, a family member or a support coordinator) to manage the arrangement.
Checks every worker should have
- NDIS Worker Screening Check - mandatory for workers in risk-assessed roles with registered providers, and the minimum you should ask of any independent worker.
- Working With Children Check - if supporting a child.
- NDIS Worker Orientation Module certificate - the free online induction on rights and safety.
- First aid and CPR, and any training specific to your needs (manual handling, medication, high intensity supports).
- Insurance - public liability and, for independents, their own personal accident cover; agencies carry this for their staff.
- Driver's licence and vehicle insurance covering transporting clients, if they will drive you.
Hiring a good one
The best predictor of a good match is a trial shift, not an interview. Before that, be specific about what the role actually involves - hours, tasks, physical demands, communication needs, whether you want conversation or quiet - and ask candidates about their experience with similar needs. Agree in writing what happens with cancellations (the NDIS allows 100% charge for less than seven days' notice, but a provider can agree to less), travel and public holidays. Then review after a month.
Finding support workers near you
The AusCareGuide NDIS directory lists every registered provider in Australia, including agencies delivering assistance with daily life, searchable by state and suburb. If you have a support coordinator, ask them for a shortlist; if you are plan-managed and want to go independent, your plan manager can confirm what the worker can be paid.
Price limits on this page are from the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits published by the NDIA and are current as at August 2026. Limits are usually updated each 1 July, and the NDIA can change them mid-year. Always check the current document on ndis.gov.au before relying on a figure. This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
- What does an NDIS support worker do?
- Support workers help with daily living tasks the NDIS funds: personal care such as showering and dressing, meal preparation, household tasks related to your disability, getting to appointments and community activities, skill building, and supervision or companionship where your plan funds it. They are not therapists, nurses or cleaners, although they can support you to do those tasks yourself.
- How much does an NDIS support worker cost per hour?
- The weekday daytime price limit for standard assistance with self-care is $73.58 per hour in the 2026-27 Pricing Arrangements, with $103.54 on Saturdays, $133.50 on Sundays and $163.46 on public holidays. Independent workers on platforms often charge less than the limit; agencies usually charge at or near it.
- Can I hire my own NDIS support worker?
- Yes, if you are self-managed or plan-managed. You can engage independent workers directly or through platforms, or use an agency. Agency-managed participants must use NDIS registered providers. Independent workers should hold an NDIS Worker Screening Check and their own insurance.
- Can a family member be paid as my NDIS support worker?
- Generally no. The NDIA only funds family members to provide support in exceptional circumstances, such as remote locations or specific cultural or religious needs, and it must be approved in advance. Paying a family member without approval is a common cause of plan reviews and repayment demands.
Find NDIS Providers near you
Browse our directory of registered ndis providers across Australia, sourced from official government registers.
Search NDIS Providers →
