If you're an NDIS participant, you've probably noticed that your funding never quite feels like enough. Between price guide updates, the cost of support, and making sure every dollar goes where it counts, managing your plan can feel like a part-time job.

But here's the thing: how far your budget goes often has less to do with how much you're funded, and more to do with who you're working with.

At Like Family, we've helped thousands of Members across Australia get more hours - and more meaningful support - from their NDIS budgets. And we'd love to help you do the same.

What's been happening with the NDIS price guide

The NDIS price guide continues to set the ceiling for what registered and unregistered providers can charge for support categories. For social support and community participation, those rates represent a maximum, not a fixed price - which means providers can and should be charging less if their model allows for it.

The focus on scheme sustainability in recent years has made it more important than ever for participants to be across what their funding covers and to ensure the providers they're working with are genuinely delivering value. With NDIS budgets finite and review cycles in focus, every hour counts.

Why your hourly rate matters more than you might think

Here's a simple way to think about it: your NDIS budget is a pool of hours. The higher the hourly rate you're paying, the fewer hours you get. The lower the rate, the more time you get from your hours.

The difference between Like Family's rates and the NDIS price guide limit for social support is 11%. That might sound small, but it translates into a meaningful difference in real hours every single week.

Take a weekly budget of $320. At the NDIS price guide limit, that gets you around 4.6 hours of support. With Like Family, that same $320 gets you 5.2 hours - roughly 36 extra minutes every week. Which adds up to around 31 extra hours of support across a year.

That's 31 more afternoons out, conversations shared, skills practised, or simply moments with someone who's got your back.

You can see exactly how far your budget can go with our budget calculator — just enter your weekly NDIS budget to compare hours with Like Family versus the NDIS price guide limit.

Where Like Family comes in

Like Family was founded on a simple belief: that no one should feel alone, and that the right support can make life feel more connected and more enjoyable.

We're a registered NDIS provider operating across Australia. Our Social Carers are people in your local community - carefully vetted, thoughtfully matched to you based on your personality, interests, and goals. Whether it's getting out in the community, building new skills, or simply having someone there, we make sure every booking feels like time well spent.

And we can do this at rates that make a genuine difference to your NDIS budget.

Our pricing - and what it means for your plan

Like Family's 1:1 hourly rates are $62 on weekdays and $83 on weekends — that's 11% below the NDIS price guide for social support.

These are flat rates. They don't change based on which Social Carer you choose or what you're doing together.

View our full NDIS pricing here.

Rate comparison based on the NDIS price guide as at 30 June 2026. Rates are subject to change as the price guide is updated. Please refer to our pricing page for current rates.

How we help you make every dollar count

Beyond the hourly rate, Like Family is built to be straightforward and transparent - so your budget goes further without any surprises.

Our pricing is all-inclusive: no platform fees on top. Some providers and platforms add an 8–10% platform fee on top of their hourly rate, often not visible until the final step at checkout. With Like Family, what you see is what you pay. Our rates include everything - there's nothing added on top.

No prepayments or subscription fees: You only pay for the time you spend with your Social Carer. There are no lock-in contracts, no upfront costs, and no membership fees eating into your plan.

We're always transparent about how costs work: There are no hidden fees - and we ensure to be upfront about our cancellation policy. If a booking is cancelled within 24 hours of the start time, the booking fee still applies. It’s important to us that our community is aware of factors like this - so there are no surprises, and your plan is managed with clarity.

The right match, not just any match: We offer five free meet and greets so you can find a Social Carer who truly suits you before committing. When the relationship is right, support is more consistent, more enjoyable, and ultimately more effective - meaning your hours go further in the ways that actually matter to you.

A team in your corner: From finding the right Social Carer to handling invoicing and admin, our Customer Care team takes care of the details. You can reach us by phone, email, or message - we'll do the rest.

The hours really do add up

We built our budget calculator to make this tangible. Because it's one thing to hear that our rates are lower - it's another to see what that actually means in terms of real hours in your week.

Slide across your weekly NDIS budget and you'll see immediately how many hours you'd get with Like Family versus the NDIS price guide limit. Whether your budget is $50 a week or $500, the extra time adds up in a way that matters.

More hours means more opportunities to get out in the community, learn something new, share a meal, or simply have someone there with you. And over a year, those extra hours can genuinely change how connected and supported you feel.

Life is better when it's shared

At Like Family, we believe support is more than completing a task. It's about connection - the kind that makes everyday moments feel meaningful.

We're proud to be a provider that holds that belief while also being honest about value. Because the two should go together. Quality support doesn't have to cost you more hours of your plan than it needs to.

If you're looking for a Social Carer who feels like family - someone who gets you, suits your lifestyle, and helps you enjoy life the way you want to - we'd love to help.

Try the budget calculator and see how far your NDIS budget can go. Or speak with our Customer Care team if you'd like some help getting started.

Because life's better when we enjoy it together.