NDIS DSW and Short Term Accommodation Pricing Changes for 2026-27

TL;DR: The 2026-27 Annual Pricing Review recommends adjusting prices for supports determined by the Disability Support Worker (DSW) Cost Model to reflect the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review determination of 2 June 2026, and recommends a comprehensive review of the DSW Cost Model itself during 2026-27. The most significant structural change is the recommended unbundling of Short Term Accommodation (STA), separating its single daily price into an accommodation component (aligned to Medium Term Accommodation at $158.66) and new support items based on the day and time of support. See our complete guide to the 2026-27 pricing arrangements.

Disability Support Worker (DSW) supports are the largest category of NDIS spending. From 1 July to 31 December 2025, more than 325,000 participants — 43% of all active participants — claimed DSW-related supports, delivered by more than 144,750 providers. The 2026-27 Annual Pricing Review (APR) makes several recommendations affecting these supports and a major change to how Short Term Accommodation is priced.

How are Disability Support Worker prices changing for 2026-27?

The DSW Cost Model links NDIS prices to wage rates under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (SCHADS Award) and is adjusted annually to reflect minimum wage decisions.

The APR's first recommendation is that prices for supports determined by the DSW Cost Model should be adjusted to reflect changes in the minimum wage specified in the SCHADS Award, as determined by the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review determination on 2 June 2026. This keeps DSW pricing consistent with the model's established methodology.

Why is the DSW Cost Model being reviewed?

The APR notes the DSW Cost Model has not been comprehensively reviewed since its benchmarking data was established using 2020-21 market conditions. The market has changed materially since then, with significant growth in provider numbers, changes in market structure, and developments in the industrial relations environment — including the Fair Work Commission's Gender-based undervaluation priority awards review (which includes the SCHADS Award).

As a result, the APR recommends the NDIA undertake a review of the DSW Cost Model, including whether the model's structure and the way workforce and wage-setting inputs are incorporated continue to appropriately reflect contemporary employment and labour market conditions. This review is scheduled for 2026-27.

What is the major change to Short Term Accommodation (STA)?

The most significant structural change in this area is the recommended unbundling of Short Term Accommodation. The APR explains that the current bundled daily price for STA combines accommodation, food, utilities and DSW costs into a single daily claim, without distinguishing between disability-related supports and non-disability living costs such as food and utilities. The APR states this is not consistent with Section 10 of the NDIS Act, which limits NDIS funding to disability-related supports.

The recommendation is to unbundle the current daily STA price so that:

• The accommodation component reflects only the capital cost of a temporary stay away from a participant's usual place of residence, aligned with the existing price for Medium Term Accommodation ($158.66).
• New 'Short Term Accommodation – Assistance with self care or community access activities' support items apply. These would be structured by day of the week and time of day and aligned with the DSW Cost Model, allowing claims to reflect the actual hours of support delivered, the times supports are delivered, and the intensity of support.
• Providers supporting participants funded for High Intensity Supports and/or behaviours of concern would be able to claim these loadings when appropriate.

This brings STA pricing into closer alignment with comparable supports such as Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Medium Term Accommodation (MTA), and enables claims to reflect actual service delivery.

What does this mean for participants and providers?

For providers delivering STA, unbundling means moving away from a single daily rate toward claiming separate accommodation and support components based on what is actually delivered. For participants, the change is intended to ensure NDIS funding is directed at disability-related supports. As with all pricing changes, providers must discuss any proposed changes to existing service agreements with participants, and participants must agree before changes are made. For official prices and support item numbers, always refer to the NDIS Pricing Schedule at NDIS.gov.au.

Official source

For the full, official details, read the NDIA's NDIS pricing updates page, where you can download the Annual Pricing Review for 2026-27 and the NDIS Pricing Schedule.

Key Takeaways

• DSW Cost Model prices are recommended to be adjusted in line with the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review determination of 2 June 2026.
• A comprehensive review of the DSW Cost Model is scheduled for 2026-27 to reflect contemporary labour market and industrial relations conditions.
• Short Term Accommodation is recommended to be unbundled into a separate accommodation component (aligned to MTA at $158.66) and new time-and-day-based support items linked to the DSW Cost Model.
• High Intensity Supports and behaviours of concern loadings would be claimable on STA support items where appropriate.