| Support item number | 15_610_0128_1_3 |
|---|---|
| Support item name | Therapy – Art Therapist – Direct Service |
| Unit | Hour |
| National price limit | $156.16 |
| Remote | $218.62 |
| Very remote | $234.24 |
| Schedule | Schedule 4: Therapy and Professional Supports |
| Table | Art Therapist |
| Support category | 15 – Improved Daily Living |
| Registration group | 0128 – Therapeutic supports |
| Effective | 1 July 2026 (Pricing Schedule 2026-27, version 1.2) |
This item covers therapy from an art therapist. It is claimed per hour of support and is listed in Schedule 4 (Therapy and Professional Supports), Art Therapist. It sits in support category 15 (Improved Daily Living) and registration group 0128 (Therapeutic supports).
These rules are from the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2025-26, version 1.1 (valid from 24 November 2025), which the NDIS pricing page (current as of 24 September 2026) still lists as the claiming guidance alongside the 2026-27 Pricing Schedule.
Use a different support item in these situations.
Agreed in advance, for this participant’s support only (not general admin)
Worker travel time, each way: at 50% of the price limit for therapy
Less than 2 clear business days’ notice or a no-show: up to 100% of the agreed fee, if the conditions are met
Only when the NDIA asks for the report and the participant agreed in advance
When appropriate and agreed in advance; same standard of care as in person
Price limit shared between the people in the group:
Only for activities that are part of delivering this support to this participant (not general administration such as service agreements, rostering, service bookings or payment claims), explained to the participant and agreed in advance in the service agreement. Claim it with 15_610_0128_1_3_NF (a separate item in the 2026-27 schedule).
Worker travel time to the participant, up to 30 minutes each way in MMM1–3 areas and up to 60 minutes each way in MMM4–5 areas (no time limit in remote and very remote areas), plus return travel from the last participant to the usual workplace if the worker must be paid for it, within the same limit. It applies when the support itself is face to face, the participant agreed to the travel costs in advance and the provider has to pay the worker for the travel (or is a sole trader). Travel shared between participants is split between them by agreement. For therapy supports the price limit for travel time is 50% of the item’s price limit. Claim it with 15_610_0128_1_3_PT (a separate item in the 2026-27 schedule).
Non-labour travel costs (such as tolls, parking and vehicle running costs) are claimed separately with 15_799_0128_1_3, only where travel time can be claimed.
If the participant gives less than 2 clear business days’ notice or does not show up, the provider can claim up to 100% of the agreed fee, as long as it could not find other billable work for the worker, has to pay the worker for that time (unless it is a sole trader or partnership), and the service agreement sets out the cancellation terms. Providers can waive the fee or offer better terms. Claim it with 15_610_0128_1_3_CA (a separate item in the 2026-27 schedule).
Only when the NDIA asks for the report (a report at the start of a plan, a plan review report on functional outcomes, or another report the plan says is required) and the participant agreed in advance. Claim it with 15_610_0128_1_3_RR (a separate item in the 2026-27 schedule).
When delivering the support by telehealth is appropriate, it is part of this support, and the participant agreed in advance in the service agreement. The provider must give the same standard of care as in person. Claim it with 15_610_0128_1_3_TH (a separate item in the 2026-27 schedule).
The price limit for each participant is the item’s price limit divided by the number of people in the group, and the provider claims for each participant for the full time of the support.
The price limit applies to NDIA-managed and plan-managed participants; self-managing participants are not bound by price limits. Providers cannot agree a price above the limit, and claim part hours by time spent.
Claim against the support item that matches the service delivered, using the full number (15_610_0128_1_3) on invoices and payment requests.
The national price limit for 15_610_0128_1_3 did not change: it was $156.16 in both 2025-26 and 2026-27.
| Location | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | $156.16 | $156.16 | $0.00 | 0.0% |
| Remote | $218.62 | $218.62 | $0.00 | 0.0% |
| Very remote | $234.24 | $234.24 | $0.00 | 0.0% |
2025-26 figures are from the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2025-26, version 1.1 (valid from 24 November 2025), page 96. 2026-27 figures are from the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27, version 1.2. Art and music therapy limits were reduced from $193.99 to $156.16 an hour from 24 November 2025 (version 1.1), so the 2025-26 figure shown is the reduced one.
These examples use the 2026-27 price limits: the most a provider can charge NDIA-managed or plan-managed participants. The price agreed with a provider can be lower. Part hours are claimed by the time spent (for example 45 minutes is 0.75 hours).
| Example | Worked out as | Price limit |
|---|---|---|
| 45 minutes | 0.75 hours × $156.16 | $117.12 |
| A 1-hour session | 1 × $156.16 | $156.16 |
| A 1-hour session plus 30 minutes’ provider travel | $156.16 + 0.5 × $78.08 (travel limit, 15_610_0128_1_3_PT) | $195.20 |
| 10 one-hour sessions | 10 × $156.16 | $1,561.60 |
| A 1-hour session in a remote area | 1 × $218.62 | $218.62 |
| The same in a very remote area | 1 × $234.24 | $234.24 |
| 2 hours in a group of 3, per participant | $156.16 ÷ 3 = $52.05 an hour, × 2 hours | $104.10 |
Building a whole plan? Add 15_610_0128_1_3 to the plan budget builder to mix it with other supports and email yourself the breakdown.
Travel uses the provider travel price limit for this item (50% of the direct service limit). Travel time is capped at 30 minutes each way in MMM1–3 and 60 minutes in MMM4–5 areas. The result is the most a provider can charge NDIA-managed or plan-managed participants; the agreed price can be lower.
For this support the schedule lists a separate support item number for each claim type. The provider travel limit is half the direct service limit.
| Claim type | Support item | National | Remote | Very remote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct service (this item) | 15_610_0128_1_3 | $156.16 | $218.62 | $234.24 |
| Cancellation | 15_610_0128_1_3_CA | $156.16 | $218.62 | $234.24 |
| Non-face-to-face | 15_610_0128_1_3_NF | $156.16 | $218.62 | $234.24 |
| Provider travel | 15_610_0128_1_3_PT | $78.08 | $109.31 | $117.12 |
| NDIA requested reports | 15_610_0128_1_3_RR | $156.16 | $218.62 | $234.24 |
| Telehealth | 15_610_0128_1_3_TH | $156.16 | $218.62 | $234.24 |
For 15_610_0128_1_3 the remote limit ($218.62) is 40% above the national limit and the very remote limit ($234.24) is 50% above it. Schedule 11 of the Pricing Schedule lists isolated towns that are re-classified as remote for planning and pricing purposes.
15_610_0128_1_3 is a Capacity Building support (support purpose 3) in support category 15 (Improved Daily Living). Capacity Building supports build the participant’s independence and skills. Plan budgets are allocated at support category level and must be used towards the goals in the participant’s plan.
| How the plan is managed | Who can deliver it | Price limit applies |
|---|---|---|
| NDIA-managed | A registered NDIS provider, registered for registration group 0128 (Therapeutic supports). The provider must tell the participant its prices and conditions, including notice and cancellation terms, before delivering. | Yes |
| Plan-managed | Registered or unregistered providers. The plan manager pays the provider and checks the price. | Yes |
| Self-managed | Registered or unregistered providers. | No: self-managing participants are not bound by price limits |
An example invoice at the 2026-27 national price limit. Use the price you agreed with the participant, which can be lower.
| Date | Support item | Description | Qty | Unit price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 13/10/2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm | 15_610_0128_1_3 | Therapy – Art Therapist | 1 | $156.16 | $156.16 |
| Tue 13/10/2026 | 15_610_0128_1_3_PT | Provider travel, 30 minutes | 0.5 | $78.08 | $39.04 |
| Tue 13/10/2026 | 15_799_0128_1_3 | Provider travel – non-labour costs (parking fee) | 8 | $1.00 | $8.00 |
| Total | $203.20 | ||||
In the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27 the national price limit for 15_610_0128_1_3 (Therapy – Art Therapist – Direct Service) is $156.16 an hour; $218.62 remote and $234.24 very remote.
The participant is 9 or older and the support is therapy that builds functional capacity, adjustment and community participation. It is delivered by an art therapist who is a Professional Member of the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA).
The national price limit did not change: it was $156.16 in both 2025-26 and 2026-27.
15_610_0128_1_3_TH (Therapy – Art Therapist – Telehealth), with a national price limit of $156.16 an hour.