Each year, the NDIS Quarterly Pricing Arrangements and Limits are reviewed, and 2026 has brought some of the more noticeable changes we’ve seen in a few years. Here’s what’s actually changed, and what it means if you’re a participant here in Townsville.
The headline change is a modest increase to hourly rates for Core Supports, reflecting rising wage costs across the sector. For most participants, this means your existing plan funding will stretch slightly further per hour of support — though it’s worth checking your plan’s remaining balance against the new rates rather than assuming nothing’s changed.
There’s also a shift in how travel time is claimed for support workers travelling between participants in regional areas like ours. The new arrangements are more generous for providers covering larger distances, which should mean more reliable service availability across Townsville and the wider North Queensland region rather than providers concentrating only in the CBD.
If any of this affects an upcoming plan review, our team is always happy to talk through what it means for your specific circumstances — reach out any time.