Petrol prices have been rising recently.

For support workers who drive between shifts, or support people in the community, this can quietly add up.

We’ve been hearing from support workers about how they’re thinking about this and what they’re doing to manage it, while still supporting good days for the people they work with.

There isn’t one approach.

Just a few things people are noticing.

How Travel Costs Usually Work

Travel can sometimes be paid for, but it usually needs to be agreed upfront.

For example:

Some providers and support workers use around $0.99 per km when workers use their own vehicle during a shift. This is the highest amount allowed in the NDIS.

The figure is usually discussed in advance, often in the service agreement.

If you’re unsure, it can help to check with:

Sometimes these conversations haven’t happened yet, and it’s okay to bring them up.

How the 99c per km Usually Works

The $0.99 per km isn’t just for petrol.

It’s meant to cover the broader cost of using your own car, including:

A Simple Example

Let’s say you drive 20km during a shift.

20km × $0.99 = $19.80

If your car uses 7L per 100km, and petrol is $3 per litre:

Driving 20km uses about 1.4 litres

1.4L × $3 = $4.20 in fuel

So in this example:

This will vary depending on the car, but it gives a simple idea of how the rate works.

Even with this, travel costs can still quietly add up, especially when:

How Support Workers Are Thinking About This

One thing we’ve heard consistently is that workers don’t want rising fuel costs to limit community experiences.

Outings and getting out into the community are often an important part of support.

At the same time, fuel prices are part of the world many workers are now navigating.

Some workers are making small adjustments that don’t reduce opportunities, but help make things more manageable.

A Few Things Some Workers Are Trying

Planning outings with travel in mind

Sometimes this means:

This is always guided by the person’s choice and control, just with more awareness of travel.

Exploring local options

Some workers are also:

Not as a limitation, just another option.

Using public transport where it makes sense

Some states are also reducing public transport costs, or making it free for a period of time:

For some people, this can be:

It won’t suit everyone, but it can be helpful in some situations.

Watching fuel prices

Some workers also keep an eye on:

When Distance Starts to Become Hard

Sometimes travel distances are quite large.

We’ve heard examples of workers driving 40–50km for a shift.

In those situations, some workers and providers explore:

For example:

This doesn’t always work, but sometimes there’s room to adjust.

If It Becomes Financially Difficult

Sometimes, even after exploring options, the travel simply becomes too difficult.

If that happens, it can help to have a conversation with:

These conversations can be hard, but often focus on maintaining continuity of support where possible.

We Don’t Know How Long This Will Last

Fuel prices change.

Sometimes quickly.

For now, many support workers are:

There’s no perfect answer.

Just different ways people are navigating this.

Correction:

This article previously stated that 99c per km is the highest amount allowed under the NDIS. This was incorrect and has been updated. 99c per km is a commonly used rate.