NDIS Transport Funding Explained

There are two things people mean when they talk about NDIS transport. The first is the transport allowance: a set amount of funding to help you pay for getting around when you cannot use public transport because of your disability. The second is transport delivered as part of a support, such as a support worker driving you to an activity.

These are funded differently, and mixing them up is where a lot of confusion starts. It helps to know which one you are actually talking about.

The transport allowance is funded under Core Supports and paid to help with taxis, rideshare, community transport or running a modified vehicle. The NDIA sets it at broadly three levels, based on how much you need to travel for work, study or community activities.

Level one suits participants who are not working or studying but want to get out into the community. Levels two and three are for participants who travel more, often for study or some paid work. If your circumstances change, you can ask for a higher level at your plan review.

Separately, when a support worker drives you somewhere as part of your support, that travel is usually covered under your other Core funding rather than the transport allowance. This is common with community access, where getting there is part of the support.

So a participant can have both: a transport allowance for independent travel like taxis, and support-worker transport built into their community or in-home supports. Your provider can help you use each in the right way.

NDIS transport funding is for disability-related travel. It does not cover costs you would have anyway, such as the everyday running of a car for a whole household, or travel that is really someone else's responsibility, like getting to school where the education system provides transport.

It also does not usually pay for medical appointments that other systems, such as Medicare or the hospital, are meant to cover. When in doubt, ask your support coordinator or provider before you commit.

First Priority Care provides disability transport and support-worker travel across Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, the Gold Coast, Redlands and regional Queensland. We help you get to work, study, appointments and the things you enjoy, safely and on time.

Call 1800 402 205 or submit a referral online. We respond within one business hour.