NDIA Accountability Project

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Understand transport supports

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FOI 25/26-2868

DOCUMENT 1

Understand transport supports

SGP KP Authoring

Exported on 2026-04-29 01:05:40

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FOI 25/26-2868

SGP KP Authoring – Understand transport supports

Table of Contents

  1. Recent updates …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
  2. Before you start …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
  3. Decide the level of transport supports …………………………………………………………………… 6
  4. Find the right support category ……………………………………………………………………………… 7
  5. What to consider if transport support is part of community participation ……………….. 8
  6. Next steps …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

Table of Contents – 2

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SGP KP Authoring – Understand transport supports

This article provides guidance for a planner delegate, planner (non-partnered area) or review officer to:

  • decide the level of transport supports
  • find the right support category
  • understand what to consider if transport supports are part of community participation.

Recent updates – 3

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SGP KP Authoring – Understand transport supports

1 Recent updates

16 June 2025 Guidance updated to reflect changes in mandatory Technical Advice and Practice Improvement Branch (TAPIB) advice for transport supports.

19 May 2025 Guidance updated to include:

  • additional PACE user roles, planner (non-partnered area) and review officer
  • additional participant budget update article, Action a budget update with funding periods
  • application of funding periods to core and recurring transport funding.

Recent updates – 4

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SGP KP Authoring – Understand transport supports

2 Before you start

You have read and understood:

Before you start – 5

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3 Decide the level of transport supports

To help you decide how much funding to include in the participant’s plan, use the levels of transport assistance below:

  • Level 1 - $1,784 per year for participants who are not working, studying or attending day programs but are seeking to enhance their community access.
  • Level 2 - $2,676 per year for participants who are currently working or studying part-time (up to 15 hours a week), participating in day programs and for other social, recreational or leisure activities.
  • Level 3 - $3,456 per year for participants who are currently working, looking for work, or studying at least 15 hours a week, and are unable to use public transport because of their disability.

Note: you must use the exact value for each transport funding level outlined in the Operational Guideline - Including specific types of supports in plans – transport (external).

Technical Advice and Practice Improvement Branch (TAPIB) advice is no longer mandatory for any transport level. If you receive a request for transport funding that’s significantly above Transport Assistance Level 3, or isn’t related to activity based transport, talk with your team leader or practice lead to see if they can help. You may decide a non-mandatory advice request is needed. To learn more, go to TAPIB’s Mandatory and Non-Mandatory Advice Requests page on Confluence.

Decide the level of transport supports – 6

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SGP KP Authoring – Understand transport supports

4 Find the right support category

Transport can be funded in the Core or Recurring support budget under the Transport or Recurring Transport support categories.

When transport is funded in the core supports budget for plans approved after 9 October 2024:

  • funding periods will be applied at the funding component level
  • support categories will be grouped into funding components
  • core flexible support categories will be grouped into funding components based on fund management type
  • all core flexible support categories must have the same funding period length
  • the funding period length for core transport supports will default to 3 months.

When transport is funded in the recurring support budget for plans approved after 9 October 2024:

  • funding periods of 12 months will be applied
  • funds will be paid in regular instalments during the funding period
  • you aren’t required to add a funding period
  • you won’t be able to edit the funding period for recurring transport.

Note: you must check the person account reflects the correct bank details for recurring payments. Go to article View bank account details.

Use article Support Categories to choose the correct support category.

Find the right support category – 7

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SGP KP Authoring – Understand transport supports

5 What to consider if transport support is part of community participation

A participant might request transport support as part of community participation. Participants can use their transport budget funding for a support worker to:

  • help them participate in community activities
  • help with transport from their home to the community.

Providers claim these labour costs at the relevant community participation hourly rate. For example, at individual or group rates.

You must also consider non-labour costs when you decide how much funding to include. Providers can claim non-labour transport costs to help the participant:

  • access community participation supports
  • access or maintain employment
  • access or maintain higher education.

Non-labour costs associated with participant transport can include:

  • public transport fares
  • road tolls
  • parking fees
  • reasonable vehicle running costs
  • taxi or ride-share fares.

To learn more about provider travel – labour and non-labour costs, go to the NDIS Pricing Arrangement and Price Limits (external).

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SGP KP Authoring – Understand transport supports

6 Next steps

  1. Use the plan conversation support tool (PCST) to calculate transport supports. Go to article Understand and update the plan conversation support tool. It’s optional to use the PCST when completing a budget update. However, you must use the PCST for all new plans and plan reassessments.
  2. To add transport supports to the participant’s plan as part of a:
    • Plan Approval case, go to article Change the draft budget
    • Plan Change or Participant Budget Update case where the plan was approved before 9 October 2024, go to article Action a budget update
    • Plan Change or Participant Budget Update case where the plan was approved on or after 9 October 2024, go to article Action a budget update with funding periods.

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