How activity based transport works
Providers of supports in the assistance with social, economic and community participation category can, at your request, transport you to, from or as part of a community participation support. With your agreement, they can then claim two things:
- The worker's time while transporting and accompanying you, at the agreed hourly rate for the community participation item, from your Core budget
- The non labour costs of the trip, such as vehicle running costs per kilometre, road tolls, parking and public transport fares, against the activity based transport item
What providers can charge per kilometre
Activity based transport items are not subject to price limits. Instead the NDIS Pricing Arrangements set guide amounts for what a reasonable contribution looks like: one per kilometre amount for a vehicle not modified for accessibility, a higher amount for a modified vehicle or bus, and up to the full cost of tolls, parking and fares. Check the current Pricing Arrangements for the figures, and agree the rate in your service agreement before the first trip.
Because the item has no price limit, it is claimed against a notional unit price, so the claim matches the dollar amount of the costs you agreed.
An example
Your worker picks you up, drives 10 kilometres to the local pool, supports you for 40 minutes and drives you home. The provider claims the worker's time for the whole support, including the driving, against the community participation item at your agreed hourly rate. They also claim the parking fee and the agreed per kilometre amount for the 20 kilometre round trip against the activity based transport item.
Activity based transport vs provider travel
They are easy to mix up but cover different trips:
- Provider travel: the worker's travel to get to you before a support starts, or back afterwards, without you in the car. It has its own rules and time limits
- Activity based transport: travel with you, or on your behalf, as part of the support itself
- Transport funding in your plan: money you use for your own taxis, rideshare or public transport, separate from any provider
Capacity building supports
Some capacity building supports can also claim activity based transport with your agreement, such as supports to find and keep a job, psychosocial recovery coaching, life transition planning and skills development delivered out in the community. Ask your provider whether the item they use allows it, and what they will charge.
Activity based transport and the 2026 funding reset
Activity based transport for community participation is part of the social, economic and community participation category, which is reduced by 50% when your plan is created, reassessed or renewed from 1 October 2026. Transport costs come out of the same reduced budget as the support, so long drives use up funding quickly.
Consider activities closer to home, shared group transport, or travel training so you can use public transport. Supports in employment are protected from the reset.