Does NDIS pay for holidays? Separate support from travel costs
Does the NDIS pay for holidays? All you need to know about NDIS holiday funding
By James Bennett · Originally published 23 May 2021
Deeper review: 6 October 2026. Historical holiday examples and accessible-room claims do not establish current funding eligibility. Current short-term accommodation exclusions and the actual plan must be checked before booking.
Ask for two clear totals before paying a deposit
Ask the organiser to separate the ordinary holiday costs you will pay privately from the specific disability support proposed for your plan. A holiday goal does not make a package eligible. Check the actual support, plan wording and available funding before committing. Read the official guidance
The historical examples show how one business calculated earlier trips. They are not current rates or approval for your trip. Ask what a cancellation would cost and what happens if a requested support cannot be funded.
Original article and dated context
All Access Holidays is an NDIS-registered travel company with a focus on taking people with a disability on fun and innovative holidays across Australia. Here, James Bennett from All Access Holidays unpacks that often asked question, ‘Does the NDIS pay for holidays?’
The NDIS covers supports and services it deems reasonable and necessary. So, if travel supports the goals in your NDIS plan, the NDIS will fund those supports related to your disability. This included costs for a support worker to accompany you while on holiday.
[Clickability update, September 2026: A plan goal alone does not approve a purchase. Check the exact support, plan and funding rules before booking. Read current NDIS support rules.]
What the NDIS won't fund are the everyday expenses and holiday costs such as flights, meals and accommodation for both you and your support worker. In this post, we go into more detail about NDIS supported holidays so that you know exactly what is funded by the NDIS.
Holidays and the NDIS
People may have disagreements with regards to the NDIS but there's one thing we can all agree on: its implementation will revolutionise the provision of disability services in Australia. The move to ensure that choice and independence become an integral part of the way services are offered and delivered to people with a disability can, ultimately, only be a good thing.
However, introducing a scheme as ambitious and comprehensive as the NDIS was inevitably going to lead to teething problems for both consumers and providers.
One question and enquiry that we receive on a daily basis goes something like this; “Does the NDIS fund my holiday?” We thought we'd answer it here.
Are NDIS holidays possible?
Clearly there is a lot of confusion around exactly what the NDIS will pay for and what it will not pay for.
The NDIS will pay for all “reasonable and necessary" supports. It will not cover things such as food, accommodation or entertainment. In practical terms this means that the NDIS will pay for the care/support that you require whilst you are on holiday.
However, the costs that are not associated with the care will need to be paid for privately. The NDIS will not pay for flights to destinations; the cost of the flights is to be paid for separately.
It’s important to bear in mind that everyone has different support needs and requirements. The amount that All Access Holidays will invoice the NDIS for support needs could be different to the amount we will invoice the NDIA for a client with higher support needs, therefore drastically changing the amount you have to contribute to your holiday.
What does the NDIS pay for?
Support worker: If you're travelling, you may need your support worker to accompany you for the duration of your trip. While they might not be providing around the clock support, they'll be away from home and may have certain expectations as to what's covered. This could add up to an expensive invoice so it's best to iron out all these details and agree on a daily rate prior to booking your holiday.
[Clickability update, September 2026: Agree the actual support, staffing and itemised costs before booking. A bundled holiday quote must not conceal excluded personal travel costs or be treated as STA funding. STA has a separate purpose and rules.]
Equipment: If you need to hire portable equipment while on holiday, you may be able to claim from your NDIS plan. Speak to your Support Coordinator or Plan Manager about your goals and they will be able to determine whether you can claim or not.
Transport and accommodation: If your transport and holiday accommodation costs are significantly higher due to your disability, you may be able to claim the difference between the cost of a normal taxi or room and an accessible taxi or room. The same applies if you have to hire an accessible vehicle for your holiday.
[Clickability update, September 2026: Do not rely on this as a current rule permitting a holiday-room price difference. Holiday accommodation is on the excluded-supports list. Check the current exclusions.]
[Clickability update, September 2026: The package figures below are the contributor’s historical illustrations, not current quotes, approved claims or a general funding formula.]
How does NDIS holiday funding work?
To give some clarity, here are a few examples of how the payments work with regards to disability supported holidays.
Example 1: Minimal assistance
John Smith wishes to go to the Gold Coast, the cost of the all-inclusive holiday is $5000 and goes for 1 week, Saturday to Saturday. John is quite independent and requires minimal assistance, his support needs would be classed as a ratio of 1 carer to 4 clients.
John has been transitioned over the NDIS and wants to know how much they will pay and how much he will have to cover privately. To work this out, All Access Holidays will tally up how much care and support John requires in terms of hours and then invoice the NDIA accordingly.
For John’s care needs the total invoiced to the NDIA would be $2,083. Meaning that John would have the remaining amount of $2,917 to pay for privately. On our holidays, this fee includes accommodation, food, entertainment and transport, except for flights.
Example 2: More support
Jane Smith would also like to go to the Gold Coast. Jane requires some help with personal care, dressing and assistance with eating. Jane’s support needs would be classed as 1 Carer to 2 clients (1:2).
Jane would like to know how much the NDIS will cover for her holiday and how much she will need to pay herself.
As in John’s case, All Access Holidays will tally up how much care and support Jane requires in terms of hours in line with the NDIS price guide. For Jane’s care needs the total invoiced to the NDIA would be $3,420, leaving the outstanding amount for Jane to cover.
The cost of care while on holiday will differ
Confused? Clear as mud? We hope not! We appreciate the system has changed and is now unfamiliar territory for many people who are planning their holidays. As you can see, the cost of care (and therefore the holiday) differ for clients.
So, in answer to the question, “Does the NDIS cover holidays?”, technically the answer is ‘no’. But (and again this depends on the client) the NDIS will pay for the care that you receive whilst you are on holiday. Sometimes that care is quite extensive, so the cost of the holiday will in some cases be met by the NDIS to a large extent.
NDIS holiday providers
James from All Access Holidays listens to a customer’s needs and wishes, reviews their NDIS funding, and only then determines how much the holiday will cost.
Prior to a client coming on holiday with us, we will always offer a no-obligation quote that will break the price of the holiday down into two components, the cost that the client will be expected to pay and the amount All Access Holidays will invoice the NDIA for the care provided.
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Separate the holiday booking from disability support
Do not book a holiday as respite to solve a funding gap
Short-term accommodation serves a break from usual caring arrangements and has its own conditions. The current NDIA page excludes holiday packages, airfares, holiday accommodation, meals and holiday travel or accommodation expenses for accompanying family or support workers. A standard accommodation setting used for eligible respite is a different arrangement. Read the official guidance
Clarify the purpose and setting before booking. Keep the person’s preference and the carers’ actual support arrangement visible, rather than using an advertised destination as evidence of eligibility.
Check the cancellation terms and what happens if a booked worker is unavailable, as well as the private contribution.
Itemise the support instead of quoting an unexplained daily package
Describe the support actually delivered, dates, hours, staffing and relevant billing conditions. Identify private costs separately and explain who pays any disputed or excluded amount. Do not present a plan manager’s willingness to look at an invoice as NDIA approval.
Discuss changes before departure, including cancelled activities, a different staffing arrangement or equipment that was not included in the quote. Do not assume an accessible room surcharge or every expense of an accompanying worker is automatically claimable because the original article mentions it.
Questions readers ask
Does the NDIS fund a holiday package or airfare?
Holiday packages, holiday accommodation and airfares are on the excluded-supports list. Check any separately proposed disability support against the rules and your plan. Official guidance
Can I use the original examples as a current funding formula?
No. They are historical provider illustrations. Get a current itemised quote and confirm eligibility before booking.
Can a holiday package be claimed as short-term accommodation?
No. Current NDIA guidance excludes holiday packages and related holiday costs from short-term accommodation funding. Eligible disability support and genuine respite arrangements need their own checks. Official guidance
Find a provider to discuss support away from home
Use Clickability to describe the support and location you need. Compare support-work profiles and reviews, and ask directly about availability and travel arrangements.
