A landmark decision by Australia’s workplace tribunal to address gender-based pay gaps in the care industry is about to ripple through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Starting 1 December 2026, maximum billing rates will rise for four specific home-support line items. The increases directly follow the Fair Work Commission’s priority review of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (SCHADS award), which awarded pay bumps of up to 15 percent for Schedule E employees to rectify historical undervaluation of domestic and care work.
Affected Services & Rate Changes
- House & Yard Maintenance (01_019_0120_1_1) Moves from $59.01 to $63.42 per hour ($4.41 increase)
- House Cleaning & Household Activities (01_020_0120_1_1) Moves from $60.10 to $64.59 per hour ($4.49 increase)
- Personal Domestic Assistance (01_004_0107_1_1) Moves from $61.16 to $65.73 per hour ($4.57 increase)
- Specialised Home Support for Children (01_016_0104_1_1) Moves from $61.16 to $65.73 per hour ($4.57 increase)
Key Operational Rules
- Effective Timing: Higher caps apply strictly to supports delivered on or after 1 December 2026. Claims for work delivered earlier must stick to the old rates.
- No Code Changes: Support item numbers and claiming methods stay identical.
- Participant Consent Required: Providers cannot unilaterally raise prices on active contracts. Any changes to existing service agreements must be discussed with and approved by participants beforehand.
- Documentation: The official NDIS Pricing Schedule update goes live on the NDIA website on 1 December 2026.