NDIS Sleepover Rate: Essential Overnight Cost Guide

What is an NDIS sleepover?

A sleepover is a continuous eight-hour overnight span where the worker can sleep when not providing support. Up to 2 hours of active support during that span are included in the sleepover fee. If active support goes over 2 hours, only the extra minutes are billed separately at the correct night self-care hourly rate for the time and intensity level. Sleepovers can occur on any day of the week, including public holidays. Note: there is no night-time sleepover support item for nursing.

Pricing

Standard pricing:

• National flat fee: $297.60 per sleepover
• Remote: $416.64
• Very Remote: $446.40

Apply the Remote or Very Remote amount based on the service location’s MMM classification. Use the same loading when billing any extra active minutes.

Remote and Very Remote locations

The NDIS uses the Modified Monash Mode (MMM) to recognise higher delivery costs outside metro areas. In practice, Remote pricing is typically 40 percent higher than the national price and Very Remote is 50 percent higher. Always confirm the exact MMM classification for the service location before you invoice.

Billing extra active minutes (night self-care rates)

When total active time exceeds 120 minutes, bill only the extra minutes at the applicable night self-care rate. For Remote and Very Remote locations, apply the relevant loading to these hourly items as well.

Standard (night):

• Weeknight $78.81/hr
• Saturday $98.83/hr
• Sunday $127.43/hr
• Public Holiday $156.03/hr

High Intensity (night):

• Weeknight $85.27/hr
• Saturday $106.93/hr
• Sunday $137.87/hr
• Public Holiday $168.81/hr

Supporting more than 1 Participant at a time 

When a single worker supports multiple NDIS Participants at once, the key is fair apportionment. You should only bill each Participant for the share of support they actually receive, never the full rate for every Participant. Make sure the split and the rationale are agreed in advance with each Participant, then document it clearly in their service agreements and on your invoices and timesheets.

How to document and invoice it cleanly

Put the sharing arrangement in each Participant’s service agreement, including how you split base time, how you handle extras like additional active minutes, travel, or non-face-to-face time, and how often you review the split. On invoices and timesheets, show who the worker supported, when, and how you calculated each Participant’s share. Short notes like “Sleepover shared with [initials]; base split 50–50, +30 mins additional active support to Participant B at [rate]” make audits easy and build trust.

What “fair apportionment” looks like in practice

For shared shifts like sleepovers, group outings, or day programs, decide how you will divide costs before the shift. The split can be equal or proportional to the time and intensity each Participant actually receives. Keep simple written rules that match the scenario, and stick to them.

• Example 1: Two housemates sharing a sleepover

One worker covers an eight-hour sleepover for both Participants. You agree to split the sleepover cost 50–50 because their needs are similar. During the night the worker provides 90 minutes to Participant A and 30 minutes to Participant B. You still split the core sleepover fee equally as agreed, then apportion any extra active time beyond the included allowance based on who received it. Your invoice shows: half of the sleepover item to each Participant, plus any additional active minutes charged only to the Participant who received them.

• Example 2: Three Participants on a community outing

A support worker takes three Participants to a two-hour art class. Everyone travels together and attends the same activity. You charge each Participant one-third of the worker time, one-third of the travel time, and one-third of any non-labour travel costs. If one Participant needs one-to-one assistance for 20 minutes during the session, that extra 20 minutes is billed only to that Participant.

• Example 3: SIL home with variable needs

In a shared SIL home, a rostered worker supports two Participants. You set an equal split for base hours, but one Participant has higher personal care needs in the evening. You apportion the base hours 50–50 and then allocate the additional evening support time to the Participant who received it. Review the apportionment monthly to confirm it still reflects actual support patterns, and update the agreement if needs change.

Worked Pricing examples

1) Weeknight sleepover, 90 minutes active (Standard).
Invoice: 1 × Sleepover $297.60. No extras. Total $297.60.

2) Weeknight sleepover, 3 hours active (Standard).
Invoice: 1 × Sleepover $297.60 + 60 minutes at Weeknight Standard $78.81/hr.
Total $297.60 + $78.81 = $376.41.

3) Sunday sleepover in Very Remote area, 2.5 hours active (Standard).
Invoice: 1 × Sleepover $446.40 + 30 minutes at Sunday Standard $127.43/hr × 1.50.
Extra = $95.57. Total $446.40 + $95.57 = $541.97.

4) Two housemates share a weeknight sleepover, 2.5 hours active total (Standard).
Agreed split: 50–50 on the flat fee. Active minutes: A = 60, B = 90 (30 minutes over the included 120).
Invoice A: $148.80 (half the sleepover).
Invoice B: $148.80 + $39.41 (30 min × $78.81/hr) = $188.21.

The Significance of NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 

The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits are the rulebook for nights. They set the maximums you can claim for each overnight model and keep billing consistent, transparent, and fair for Participants and providers.

Clarity on the two overnight models

Sleepovers use a flat fee for an eight-hour span that includes up to two hours of active support; any time beyond that is billed separately at the correct night self-care rate. Active, awake overnights are billed hourly at night rates. Using the right item protects Participant funds and avoids rejected claims.

Value for money, in practice

Price limits encourage you to match the model to the need. If the Participant usually needs brief or infrequent help overnight, a sleepover stretches the plan further; if support is frequent or extended, active overnight is the right, fund-aligned choice.

Fair competition on quality

Because the price is capped, providers compete on reliability, worker skill, documentation quality, and outcomes. Clear overnight terms in service agreements and invoices build trust and help Participants compare providers.

Guardrails against overcharging

The limits stop double-charging on shared nights and prevent billing more than the included two hours without itemising the extra time. Accurate recording of active minutes, start/finish times, and items used keeps you audit-ready.

Serving regional needs the right way

Remote and Very Remote loadings apply to the sleepover fee and to any extra active minutes. Using the service location’s MMM classification ensures the Participant is charged correctly without under- or over-recovering costs.

Annual reset and operational updates

The guide usually updates from 1 July. Each year, refresh your overnight roster costs, service agreement clauses, and invoice templates so sleepover fees, night rates, and any remote loadings reflect the new limits from the first shift of the new year.

Consequences of non-compliance

Going over the cap leads to claim rejections, repayment requests, and audit exposure. A simple pre-shift check of item, day/time, location rate, and documentation requirements keeps overnight billing clean and compliant.