New NDIS Service Agreement Resources (2026): Template, Checklist and Key Updates
A provider you like sends over an NDIS service agreement with pricing tables, cancellation rules and a signature line. You are allowed to take your time with it.
The NDIA has now published resources that show what a clear NDIS service agreement looks like. This guide explains what they contain, what has changed, and how to use them in a real conversation with a provider.
What is an NDIS service agreement?
An NDIS service agreement is a written agreement between you and your provider about your NDIS supports. It records what will be delivered, how, when and at what cost, and what happens if something goes wrong. It is separate from your NDIS plan, a service booking and a tenancy agreement.
Your plan sets out your goals and funding. The agreement sets out how one provider will work with you inside that plan.
It also protects you. A provider cannot use a service agreement to contract out of their responsibilities under the NDIS Code of Conduct or Australian Consumer Law.
What the NDIA has released
The NDIA developed the new resources with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and stakeholder consultation informed them. The set includes:- A service agreement template
- A checklist
- Written guidance on making an agreement
- Easy Read versions of both the “What is a service agreement” and “How to make a service agreement.”
Three updates worth knowing
The template is optional. Participants and providers can choose to use it. Anyone who does must tailor it to the person’s needs. The NDIA is not a party to your agreement. It does not record or enforce service agreements. You and your provider make them and keep them, and you do not send them to the NDIA. The NDIS website carries a notice that pages are being updated to reflect new NDIS legislation. Open the current page before you rely on any detail here.Who needs an NDIS service agreement?
The answer depends on the type of support.
| Support | Service agreement |
|---|---|
| Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) | Required |
| Supported Independent Living (SIL) | Encouraged |
| Other supports | Optional, and recommended when you start with a new provider or your needs change |
Accommodation often comes with two documents. A tenancy agreement deals with the home. A service agreement deals with supports. Read both before you sign either.
For Perth participants weighing up SIL, SDA, Individualised Living Options (ILO), Short Term Accommodation (STA) or Medium Term Accommodation (MTA), the agreement is where the practical detail lives. It shows who supports you, how often, and what each hour costs.
NDIA service agreement template: how to use it
The NDIA service agreement template is a Word document you can download from the “How to make a service agreement” page on the NDIS website. The NDIA created it with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Treat it as a guide, and get advice if you need it.
If you use it, the NDIA suggests these checks:
- Confirm it suits you and your provider.
- Read the disclaimer.
- Fill in the details where the template asks for them.
- Make sure everyone understands it before you agree.
You can ask for the agreement in a format you like, in words you understand. Ask your provider to arrange an interpreter if you need one. You can ask for changes to the terms, and you can say no.
A template saves time on the layout. It cannot replace the conversation about your routine, your goals and how you like to be supported. Have that conversation first, then let the document record it.
NDIS service agreement checklist: what a good agreement includes
The NDIA released its own checklist alongside the template, and you can find it on the NDIS website. The list below follows the NDIA’s guidance on what an agreement should contain, so you can bring it into a meeting.
Who and what
- Your name, your provider’s name and contact details
- Any representatives, such as a guardian
- Your goals and your NDIS plan
- Which supports are provided, and how, where and how often
Money
Each support should show its category, item name or number, description, quantity or hours, unit price and total cost. Where GST applies, the GST amount should appear too. Extra charges such as travel belong in writing.
Do the arithmetic yourself. If the quantity multiplied by the unit price does not match the total, ask why before you sign.
Dates
The agreement needs a start date, an end date and a review date. The end date should fall on or before your plan reassessment date. A support coordinator or family member can compare the two dates quickly.
Working together
Look for the provider’s responsibilities: respect, clear and timely communication, and plain explanations of complaints, changes, privacy, records, safety rules and conflicts of interest.
Look for your rights: dignity, safe and quality supports, choice and privacy.
Look for your responsibilities: sharing information, raising concerns, paying invoices on time and telling your provider when your needs or plan change.
Cultural safety belongs here too. That means information in a form that works for you, an interpreter when needed, and your choice to involve family, carers or community.
Cancellations, changes and disagreements
- Cancellation fees and notice periods
- What happens if your provider cancels, pauses or replaces a support
- A named contact for questions
- A clear complaints process, including who to contact if an issue stays unresolved
Small changes can go into a variation, which is an extra document attached to the original. Big changes call for a new agreement: new or significantly changed supports, a new provider or a new NDIS plan. An agreement that has passed its end date needs replacing too.
Five questions to ask before you sign
Each question maps to something the NDIA says a good agreement covers. Ask them out loud in the meeting, and ask for the answers in writing.
- What notice do I need to give to change or cancel a session, and what fee applies?
- How are travel charges worked out, and where do they appear in the agreement?
- Who is my contact when I have a question, and how quickly will I hear back?
- How will you tell me about a change to the agreement, and how do I say no?
- Can I have this in Easy Read or another language before I decide?
Who can help you read an agreement
You do not have to read a draft alone. A support coordinator, family member, guardian or advocate can read it with you, and you can take the time you need. The NDIA recommends that you have time to read and understand the agreement, and time to get help if you need it.
Getting your NDIS service agreement right
Achieve Disability Care is a registered NDIS provider based in Balga, Perth. We support people with disability through accommodation options including SIL, SDA, ILO, STA and MTA, alongside daily living support, community participation and community nursing.
If you are comparing providers or preparing for a move, bring your questions to us. Bring your support coordinator, a family member or an advocate if you like, and take the draft home to read.
Contact the Achieve Disability Care team in Balga to start the conversation.
Want to talk through your NDIS service agreement before you sign?
Contact Achieve Disability Care, a registered NDIS provider in Balga, Perth. We can explain how supports, costs and dates would look for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use the NDIA service agreement template?
What happens to my NDIS service agreement when my plan is reassessed?
Can I change my NDIS service agreement after I sign it?
Does the NDIA keep or enforce my NDIS service agreement?
Do I need an NDIS service agreement for SIL or SDA?
Is an NDIS service agreement the same as a tenancy agreement?
What should I do if I do not understand part of my NDIS service agreement?
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