Assistance with Transport referrals for NDIS coordinators
Support to get to activities, work, study and appointments where disability affects independent travel — distinct from a worker’s provider travel.
NDIS registration group: Assistance with travel and transport
What Transport is under the NDIS
Assistance with Transport is NDIS-funded support that helps a participant get to and from the places they need to reach - community and social activities, work, study, day programs and appointments - when their disability means they cannot travel independently or use public transport without substantial difficulty. It generally sits in the participant's Core supports budget under the Transport category.
It can take more than one form: recurring transport funding that helps cover the cost of travel (such as taxis, rideshare, community transport and vehicle running costs), and provider-delivered support where a worker drives or accompanies the participant. The funding is for reasonable and necessary transport related to the participant's disability and goals; it is not intended to cover ordinary travel costs that any person would incur.
Assistance with Transport is distinct from 'provider travel', which is the time and costs a provider claims for travelling to deliver a support to a participant. It is also separate from vehicle purchase and vehicle modifications, which are funded under different pathways. Public transport is generally expected where a participant can reasonably use it, sometimes alongside travel training to build independence over time.
What it covers
- Recurring transport funding toward taxis, rideshare and community transport
- A support worker driving the participant to activities, work or appointments
- A worker accompanying the participant on public transport
- Travel to and from work, study, day programs and volunteering
- Travel to social, recreational and community participation activities
- Getting to health, therapy and other regular appointments
- Vehicle running costs when a worker transports the participant (per pricing rules)
- Help coordinating community transport or accessible transport options
- Travel training to build confidence using transport independently (where funded)
Who it suits
Refer for Assistance with Transport when a participant's disability affects their ability to travel independently and reach the activities, work, study or appointments in their plan.
It suits participants who cannot use public transport without substantial difficulty, who lack informal supports to drive them, or who need a worker to accompany them while they build travel confidence.
How to refer Transport on Novida
Start in Novida by searching verified providers who offer Assistance with Transport in the participant's area. Filter for providers who cover the trips the participant actually needs - work, study, appointments or community access - and who can meet any accessibility or vehicle requirements, so you can shortlist quickly.
Before you contact anyone, check each provider's registration status against the participant's plan management type, and confirm they have current capacity to take a new referral - transport availability varies with area, vehicle type and driver availability. Then contact the provider directly with a complete referral: participant consent, NDIS number, plan management type, the relevant line items or budget the transport will be claimed against, travel frequency and timing, and any mobility, accessibility or vehicle requirements.
Novida is free to use and never sits in the middle of the referral. You deal directly with the provider and the participant keeps full choice and control, which keeps the arrangement fast and transparent from first contact.
What to check before you refer
- Confirm the plan actually includes transport funding (Core - Transport) or the specific line item the transport will be claimed against, and how much is available.
- Confirm plan management type - agency-managed participants must use registered providers, while self-managed and plan-managed participants can also use unregistered options such as taxis, rideshare and community transport.
- Clarify whether the participant is expected to use public transport where possible, and whether travel training is a goal, so paid transport fills only the genuine gap.
Transport — NDIS price limits (2026–27)
- Transport Allowance - Per Kilometre — $1 per km (02_050_0108_1_1)
- Activity Based Transport — $1 per km (04_590_0125_6_1)
How it’s priced
Assistance with Transport is priced according to the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (the NDIS Price Guide). Transport funding is generally provided as an amount in the participant's Core budget, while provider transport of a participant and associated vehicle running costs are claimed within the rules and limits set out there - always check the current guide rather than assuming a rate.
Coordinator FAQs — Transport
- Does Assistance with Transport pay for the support worker's time while they drive the participant?
- No - the worker's face-to-face time is usually claimed against the relevant support, such as social and community participation, not against transport funding. Transport funding covers the travel cost itself, including fares, community transport and vehicle running costs the participant is charged. Ask the provider how they intend to…
- What's the difference between transport funding and provider travel?
- Transport funding helps the participant get where they need to go. Provider travel is the time and cost a provider claims for travelling to reach the participant, or between participants, to deliver a support. They come from different parts of the plan and are claimed differently, so confirm which one you are actually arranging before you…
- Does a transport provider have to be NDIS registered?
- Not necessarily. Assistance with Transport is not a support that legally requires registration, unlike specialist behaviour support or Specialist Disability Accommodation. Agency-managed participants must use registered providers, while self-managed and plan-managed participants can use registered or unregistered options, including taxis,…
- Can transport funding be used for a taxi or rideshare?
- Yes. Transport funding can go toward taxis, rideshare, community transport and similar options where the participant cannot use public transport without substantial difficulty due to their disability. Self-managed and plan-managed participants have the most flexibility. Records or receipts are needed for claiming, so check the available…
- What if the participant can use some public transport?
- The NDIS generally expects public transport to be used where a participant reasonably can. Assistance with Transport then fills the gap - accompanied travel, or funding for the trips public transport cannot cover. Many plans also include travel training to build independence over time, so check the plan's goals and any stated expectations…
- How much transport funding is in the plan?
- I can't give figures. Transport funding varies with the participant's circumstances and goals, and the NDIS has used tiered levels linked to work, study and community participation. Check the plan itself and the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, and confirm the available amount with the participant or plan manager before…
- Does Assistance with Transport cover buying or modifying a vehicle?
- No. Vehicle purchase is not funded, and vehicle modifications are funded separately as assistive technology with their own assessment and evidence requirements. Assistance with Transport covers getting the participant to and from activities, not the vehicle itself. If a modified vehicle is the underlying need, that is a different referral…
- Can the same worker provide transport and support during an activity?
- Often yes. A support worker can drive the participant and deliver the activity support, but the time and the transport are usually claimed separately - activity time against the relevant support, and vehicle running costs against transport under the pricing rules. Ask the provider to confirm how they claim so the budget is used correctly.
- What should I include in a transport referral?
- Include consent, the participant's NDIS number, plan management type, and the line item or budget the transport will be claimed against. Add the practical detail: where they travel, how often, timing, any mobility or accessibility needs, and vehicle requirements such as wheelchair access. The clearer the brief, the faster a provider can…
Related NDIS registration groups
- Supported Employment referrals
- Finding & Keeping a Job referrals
- School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) referrals
- Assistive Technology referrals
- Consumables referrals
- Interpreting & Translation referrals
How to check a provider’s credentials
- NDIS Commission provider register — NDIS registration
- How worker screening works — Worker screening
- Make a complaint to the NDIS Commission — Complaints & conduct