Koorana Child and Family Services Ltd joins our sector colleagues in expressing deep concern and disappointment over the recent NDIS Pricing and Price Limits released for 2025–26, particularly regarding the halving of the therapy rate for travel and the reduction in the physiotherapy hourly rate.
These decisions represent a step away from evidence-based, best practice early childhood intervention. For almost five decades, Koorana has supported children in the natural environments where they live, learn and play—homes, early learning centres, and schools. This approach is not only backed by national guidelines but is proven to deliver the best developmental outcomes for children.
The new pricing arrangements, however, severely undermine this model of care. By financially disincentivising travel to community settings, the NDIA is effectively forcing services into clinic-based delivery—even where that is less effective or inaccessible for families.
These changes will significantly impact the sector and those who rely on its services:
- Families with complex needs, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those with limited access to transport will be hardest hit.
- There is a risk of losing quality therapists in our sector, worsening the workforce shortage we already have.
- There is a risk that quality providers may be unable to continue delivering best practice services.
We call on the NDIA Board and the Ministers for the NDIS, the Hon Mark Butler and the Hon Jenny McAllister, to urgently reconsider these changes. We echo the sector’s request for:
- Immediate reversal of the travel pricing reduction for early childhood and therapy supports for children through the school ages.
- Reinstatement of an equitable hourly rate for physiotherapists and other undervalued disciplines such as dietetics.
- A temporary loading for early childhood intervention and school-based supports to stabilise service delivery during consultation and reform.
- A commitment to genuine consultation with the early childhood intervention sector to design a sustainable pricing model aligned with best practice and evidence.
Children with disability deserve timely, equitable access to effective supports. These pricing decisions jeopardise that right—and risk dismantling the very foundations of the NDIS.
We stand ready to work with government and peak bodies to co-design a funding model that truly serves children, families, and the future of the Scheme.
