NDIS Service Agreements: How to Write Them Right (With Template)
Write compliant NDIS service agreements that protect your business. Free NDIS service agreement template structure, required clauses, pricing and cancellation
Do you legally need a service agreement?
What every NDIS service agreement template must contain
Pricing clauses: charge the price limit, not the wage
Price indexation: the clause that saves the July scramble
Cancellation and no-show terms (get this exactly right)
Claiming, payment terms and the 'prove and pay' shift
Compliance clauses: Code of Conduct and no conflict of interest
Ending and changing the agreement
A worked example: solo provider onboarding a plan-managed participant
Common mistakes providers make
How reforms change your agreement in 2026-27
Your next step
Frequently asked questions
Is a service agreement legally required for NDIS supports?
Only for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a written agreement mandatory. For all other supports it is strongly recommended but not compelled by legislation. Registered providers should still have written agreements, because the NDIS Practice Standards expect clear agreements with participants, and without one you have no enforceable price or cancellation terms.
What should be in an NDIS service agreement template?
At minimum: the parties and your ABN, the participant's plan dates and management type, the specific supports and goals, exact rates tied to current PAPL line items, cancellation and payment terms, how the agreement can be changed or ended, a complaints pathway referencing the NDIS Commission, and dated signatures from both parties. Add a price-indexation clause so rates update each July without re-signing.
How much can I charge for a cancellation?
Cancellation terms are set by the NDIA Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL). For a genuine short-notice cancellation you can generally claim up to 100% of the agreed price, subject to the current short-notice window and an annual cap on claimable cancellations per participant. Your agreement must match the PAPL — you cannot impose a harsher penalty than the rules allow. Confirm the current window and cap in the latest PAPL.
Do I need to re-sign the agreement when NDIS prices change each July?
Not if your agreement includes an indexation clause. State that rates follow the current NDIA PAPL and will be adjusted in line with it, with written notice to the participant. Then a July price change becomes a notification email rather than a full re-signing round. Reserve re-signing for material changes like new support types, a new plan, or a change of nominee.
How do the 2026 NDIS reforms affect service agreements?
From 1 July 2026, SIL and digital-platform providers face mandatory registration (group 0138) and SIL agreements should reflect the new tiered overnight pricing. 'Prove and pay' digital claiming means your records must be claim-ready in real time. A proposed 90-day claim window from 1 December 2026 is Bill-dependent and not yet law. Version and date-stamp your template against each PAPL and reform milestone.