NDIS group and centre based provider: pricing and funding basics (2026)

What is a group and centre based NDIS provider?

A group and centre based provider delivers NDIS-funded supports to multiple participants at the same time, in a shared setting. Common examples include day programs, life-skills groups, social activity centres, and therapy groups. This model differs from one-to-one supports because a single worker — or team of workers — delivers assistance to several participants concurrently, and the cost of that assistance is divided proportionally across each participant's NDIS plan.

To deliver and claim for these supports lawfully in 2026, a provider must hold NDIS registration under the correct registration group, comply with the NDIS Practice Standards relevant to that group, and price every support at or below the rates published in the NDIS Support Catalogue (formerly the Price Guide).

Registration requirements for group and centre based providers

Registration is not optional. Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013, a provider who charges an NDIS participant for supports — including group-based supports — without registration is committing a criminal offence. For group and centre based activities the key registration group is Group and Centre Based Activities (Registration Group 0136).

Depending on your scope of delivery, you may also need registration in related groups such as:

• Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation (0125)
• Specialised Supported Employment (0102), if your centre includes open or supported employment components
• Any therapeutic support group if allied health practitioners deliver group therapy on-site

Registration requires an audit against the relevant NDIS Practice Standards by an NDIS Commission-approved quality auditor. The 2026 strengthened framework introduced revised Practice Standards and Quality Indicators — providers seeking renewal or initial registration must demonstrate conformance with the updated standards, not the superseded 2018 version.

How group pricing works under the NDIS Support Catalogue

The NDIS Support Catalogue sets price limits — the maximum a registered provider may charge for a given support item. Providers are free to charge less, but may never charge more. For group and centre based supports, the Support Catalogue publishes distinct price limits for different group sizes (commonly expressed as ratios such as 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, and so on).

The fundamental principle is cost apportionment: the total cost of delivering the session is shared across participants. NDIS rules require that no individual participant is charged more than their proportional share of the actual cost of the support. If a worker earns a certain hourly rate and delivers a session to four participants, each participant's claim should reflect no more than one quarter of the relevant worker cost plus any approved loadings.

Key price limit variables

Always cross-reference the current NDIS Support Catalogue PDF, available on the NDIS website, before setting or reviewing your price schedule. Rates are reviewed annually, and interim updates can occur during the year.

Claiming for group supports: a step-by-step guide

1. Confirm plan authorisation. Before the participant attends, verify that their current NDIS plan includes funding under the relevant support budget and that the support item you intend to claim is listed or reasonably falls within an approved category. Check whether the participant is plan-managed, agency-managed (NDIA-managed), or self-managed — your claiming pathway differs for each.
2. Record attendance accurately. Keep a dated attendance register for every session. Record the participant's name, the support item code delivered, start and end times, the worker name, and the group size at the time of delivery. This record is your primary evidence if a claim is later queried.
3. Calculate the claimable amount per participant. Apply the correct price limit from the Support Catalogue for the relevant support item, group ratio, day, and time. Do not round up. Your business management system or spreadsheet must show the calculation transparently.
4. Submit the claim through the correct channel. Agency-managed participants: submit via the NDIS myplace provider portal or your registered bulk-upload method. Plan-managed participants: invoice the participant's plan manager. Self-managed participants: invoice the participant directly.
5. Retain records for five years. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requires registered providers to retain records that demonstrate compliance with conditions of registration. For group supports this includes attendance records, service agreements, and claim calculations.
6. Conduct periodic self-audits. Compare your claimed amounts against the Support Catalogue limits at least quarterly. Over-claiming — even unintentional — constitutes a debt to the NDIA and may trigger compliance action.

Service agreements and individual support plans

Every participant attending your group program should have a current signed service agreement with your organisation. The agreement must specify the support items to be delivered, the agreed price (at or below the price limit), cancellation terms consistent with NDIS rules, and the participant's right to raise complaints.

Under the strengthened Practice Standards, providers must also maintain or have access to each participant's individual support plan or goals summary. For group settings, this means you must demonstrate how the group activity meets each individual participant's plan goals — a generic "group activity" description is not sufficient evidence of participant-centred practice.

Short Notice Cancellations in group settings

NDIS cancellation rules apply to group supports. If a participant cancels within the notice period defined in the NDIS Support Catalogue (check the current catalogue for the applicable window), you may be able to claim a cancellation fee for that participant's allocated slot, subject to the conditions set out in the catalogue. However, you may not "double-dip" by claiming both a cancellation fee for the absent participant and filling that slot with another participant without adjusting your group ratio calculations accordingly.

Incident management and restrictive practices in group settings

Group environments carry a heightened incident risk because multiple participants with differing support needs are present simultaneously. Under the NDIS (Incident Management and Reportable Incidents) Rules, registered providers must have a documented incident management system and report certain incidents to the NDIS Commission within prescribed timeframes. In group settings, ensure your workers understand the reporting obligation even when an incident involves a participant who is not the primary focus of their attention.

If any restrictive practice is used with a participant in a group setting, it must be authorised under the relevant state or territory framework and the required NDIS Commission notifications must be submitted. Using an unauthorised restrictive practice — even once, even in a group context — is a serious non-conformance against the Practice Standards and may trigger a compliance investigation.

Common pricing mistakes to avoid

• Charging per session rather than per participant. The NDIS requires individual claiming. One invoice for the whole group is not compliant.
• Using the wrong group ratio. If five participants attend but you claim at a 1:3 ratio, you are potentially over-claiming for three of them.
• Forgetting to check for price limit changes. Many providers miss mid-year updates to the Support Catalogue and continue charging superseded rates.
• Missing worker qualification requirements. Some support items require the delivering worker to hold specific qualifications. Claiming a higher-rated item when the worker does not meet the qualification threshold is a compliance breach.
• No individual attendance records. A group sign-in sheet with only a group name and date is insufficient — each individual's attendance must be recorded against their participant identifier.

Preparing for the 2026 audit cycle

The NDIS Commission's strengthened Practice Standards, which apply to all registered providers from 2026, place greater emphasis on participant outcomes, workforce capability, and governance. For group and centre based providers specifically, auditors will look for evidence that the provider can demonstrate how group activities are tailored to each individual's goals, that pricing calculations are transparent and accurate, and that incident and complaints data is used to improve service delivery.

If you are approaching a renewal audit or seeking initial registration, having your pricing policy, service agreements, attendance records, and individual support plans audit-ready before the auditor arrives will save significant time. The ndiscompliant.com.au 74-document SIL compliance kit includes policy templates and evidence registers designed to meet these requirements.