Short answer: yes, usually—but there are rules about when, how much, and how it’s shared between participants. This guide explains the basics in plain English so you can spot fair, accurate invoices.
The quick rules
- Travel must relate to support you actually receive and should be agreed up front in your service agreement. In practice, some providers do bill travel even when an agreement isn’t signed yet—this can lead to disputes, so it’s worth getting it in writing.
- Time caps are per trip (per leg): up to 30 minutes in metro/inner–outer regional areas (MMM1–3) and 60 minutes in remote/very remote (MMM4–5). A separate “back to base” leg (return to the provider’s usual place of business) can also be claimed within the same cap when the worker is paid for that time. “Base” means the workplace/HQ, not a worker’s private home; home-to-first-client isn’t claimable provider travel.
- Between clients is okay: if a worker travels between multiple participants in an area, the provider can apportion that travel time between those participants—with everyone’s agreement in advance. No double-charging the same minutes.
- Therapy and therapy assistants: from 1 July 2025, therapy providers (including therapy assistants under supervision) can only claim 50% of the hourly price limit for travel time. Therapy providers may claim both directions (to and from) up to the usual caps.
- Kilometres and other costs: providers may charge agreed per-km amounts and actual tolls/parking/public transport on top of travel time, but only when travel time itself is allowed and as a separate line on the invoice.
What this means for you: travel time is allowed, but it must be reasonable, agreed in advance, within the per-leg caps, and not billed twice.
What counts as “between clients”?
If a worker finishes with Taylor at 10:00 and drives 20 minutes to you for an 11:00 support, that 20 minutes is travel to your appointment. The provider can either charge that time to you or split itbetween you and Taylor—but only if apportionment was agreed in your service agreements.
What this means for you: ask your provider which participant will be charged for travel between bookings, and whether they apportion travel when workers see multiple clients nearby.
Therapy assistants vs support workers
- Support workers (Core): travel time is usually billed at the same hourly rate as the support (or less, if you agree), within the per-leg 30/60-minute caps. A return-to-base leg can be claimed when the employer pays for that time.
- Therapy providers/assistants (Capacity Building): travel time is billable at 50% of the therapy price limit from 1 July 2025, and therapy providers can claim both directions up to the usual caps.
What this means for you: therapy travel will look cheaper per minute than therapy treatment time; support worker travel will usually be at the standard hourly rate you agreed.
Kilometres, parking and tolls
Two parts can appear on an invoice:
- Travel time (labour) — minutes spent driving to you/between clients, billed under the same item as the support, with the provider travel field used.
- Non-labour costs — per-km amount you agreed, plus actual parking, tolls or public transport. These must be itemised separately and can only be billed when travel time is allowed.
What this means for you: check that invoices separate time and kilometres/fees, and that the per-km rate was agreed in your service agreement.
Why you might see week-to-week differences
Workers aren’t always coming from the same place. One week your usual worker may have a client around the corner just before you; next week, a different worker from the same provider might be coming from further away. Apportionment between clients can also change as schedules move. If you notice variations, it’s okay to ask for a short explanation of the travel minutes and any apportionment used.
Simple checklist before you approve invoices
- Is the support delivered to you and was travel agreed in your service agreement?
- Is each leg of travel within 30/60 minutes (plus a valid “return to base” leg when applicable)?
- If your worker saw other clients nearby, did the provider apportion the travel fairly (and not bill the same minutes twice)?
- For therapy/therapy assistants, is travel time billed at 50% of the therapy price limit from 1 July 2025, and up to the usual time caps in both directions?
- Are kilometres and parking listed separately and only when travel time is allowed?
One useful official link:
👉 NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (Price Guide)