Understanding Provider Travel Costs Under Your NDIS Plan
If you receive NDIS supports at home or in the community, you may notice travel charges on your provider's invoices. These charges can sometimes be confusing, especially if you're not sure what they relate to or why they're being charged.
The important thing to know is that travel costs should be discussed with you before services begin and should be included in your Service Agreement.
This article explains what travel costs are, when they can be charged, and what you may see on your invoices.
What Are Travel Costs?
Some providers need to travel to deliver face-to-face supports to you. In certain situations, the NDIS allows providers to charge reasonable travel-related costs to be claimed from your plan. These costs should be agreed to in advance as part of your Service Agreement.
Provider travel is generally made up of two categories:
Labour costs (travel time)
Non-labour costs (travel expenses)
Any travel costs should be separate from the support itself. If the support has travel costs built in, provider travel cannot be claimed.
What Are Labour Costs (Travel Time)?
Travel time is the time a worker spends travelling to or from your home or the location where your support is being provided.
Depending on the type of support and your location, your provider may be able to claim some of this travel time from your NDIS funding. The NDIS uses the Modified Monash Model (MMM) to classify locations, and different travel rules can apply depending on your MMM area.
For example, if a support worker travels 20 minutes to your home to provide a service, that travel time may be claimable.
Travel time should appear as a separate line item on your invoice rather than being included in the support charge
Can a Provider Divide Travel Costs Between Participants?
Sometimes a provider may support several participants in the same area on the same day. In these situations, they may be able to divide some travel costs between participants.
However, this can only be possible if:
The arrangement has been agreed to in advance
It is included in the Service Agreement
The travel time is within the NDIS allowable limit
If you are unsure whether travel costs are being shared, you can ask your provider to explain how the charges have been calculated.
What Are Non-Labour Costs (Travel Expenses)?
In addition to travel time, providers may sometimes charge certain travel expenses, or the costs incurred when travelling to deliver your support.
Examples of non-labour travel costs include:
Up to $0.99 per kilometre for a provider- or worker-owned vehicle
Road tolls
Parking fees
Public transport costs
These costs should also be agreed to beforehand and included in your Service Agreement. It should be listed separately on your invoice.
Not all travel-related expenses can be charged to your NDIS funding. Costs that are not directly related to delivering your support, such as traffic fines, parking infringements, rideshare tips, or cleaning fees, should not be passed on to you.
Why Are Travel Costs Itemised Separately?
Travel costs are itemised separately because the NDIS treats the support delivered, travel time, and travel expenses as different claimable items.
One of the most common issues we see is travel costs being bundled into the support charge. When this happens, invoices need to be reviewed and clarified before they can be processed, which can sometimes delay payments to providers.
To avoid this, your provider should clearly separate these in the invoice:
The primary support provided
Provider travel time (labour costs)
Provider travel expenses (non-labour costs)
This makes it easier to see how your funding is being used and what you're being charged for. It also helps prevent confusion and reduces the need for invoice reviews or corrections.
Provider Travel vs Activity-Based Transport: What’s the Difference?
These terms sound similar, but they mean different things.
Provider travel is when a worker travels to you to deliver a support.
Activity-Based Transport is when a worker travels with you in the vehicle as part of providing a support, such as attending a community activity, appointment, social outing, or other recreational activities.
Final Thoughts
Travel costs are an important part of providing NDIS supports, particularly when services are delivered at home or in the community. Understanding what travel charges are and why they appear on invoices can help better understand how your funding is being used.
If you're ever unsure about travel charges on an invoice, it’s okay to ask questions. Having a clear understanding of your supports and associated costs can help you use your NDIS funding wisely and feel more confident managing your plan.
For detailed guidance, you can refer to the official NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2025-26 and the NDIA’s official release on Travel claiming rules, gap fees and other costs.
