Understanding Centre Capital Costs in Your NDIS Invoice

If you've been looking at quotes or invoices for centre-based supports, you might have noticed a line item called "Centre Capital Cost" and wondered what it means. This small but important charge helps ensure that the facilities where you receive support are safe, accessible, and well-maintained. Let's break down what centre capital costs are and how they work in your NDIS plan.

What Are Centre Capital Costs?

Centre capital costs are a per-participant, per-hour fee that contributes to the costs providers incur when running and maintaining a dedicated centre or facility. According to the NDIS, this charge can only be claimed when your support is delivered wholly or partially in a centre that's specifically designed for people with disabilities. These aren't the same as temporary community venues like a hired swimming pool - they're permanent facilities that have been set up with accessibility features, specialised equipment, and sensory-friendly design to meet diverse needs. At Gamely Connect, our centre capital costs go toward maintaining our sensory-friendly space in Caboolture South, including our gaming PCs, racing simulators, soft lighting, and all the specialised equipment that makes our environment accessible and comfortable for neurodiverse participants.

Why Were Centre Capital Costs Introduced?

Before the NDIS pricing changes, the cost of maintaining a centre was bundled into one overall price. The NDIS separated this out to make billing more transparent and to ensure providers can maintain high-quality, accessible facilities. These costs cover things like building maintenance, specialised bathroom and kitchen facilities, adaptive technology, accessible furniture, equipment upgrades, and ensuring the space meets safety and accessibility standards. This change helps participants understand exactly what they're paying for and ensures that centres can continue to provide purpose-built environments rather than cutting corners on facility quality. At Gamely Connect, our centre capital costs help us maintain the gaming equipment, sensory-friendly design features, and accessible spaces that make our sessions work for our participants.

How Much Do Centre Capital Costs Add to Your Sessions?

Currently, centre capital costs sit at $2.59 per participant, per hour in non-remote areas (prices may vary slightly and are updated annually by the NDIS). This is charged on top of the direct support costs. For example, if you're attending a 4-hour group session, you might see approximately $10.36 in centre capital costs on your invoice in addition to the support worker time. The good news is that this charge is still included in your NDIS plan funding - it's just itemised separately now so you can see what portion goes toward the facility itself versus the support workers.

When Can Centre Capital Costs Be Claimed?

Centre capital costs can only be claimed in specific situations. They apply when your support is delivered in a dedicated centre facility, including when a group spends part of the time at the centre and part in the community (as long as the centre remains available throughout). However, they cannot be claimed for supports delivered entirely in the community, for temporary venue hire like a rented hall or pool, or for supports provided in your own home. This distinction is important because it ensures you're only paying centre costs when you're actually benefiting from a purpose-built facility. At Gamely Connect, we claim centre capital costs for all our centre-based sessions, but if we're supporting you in the community for a specific outing or 1:1 community access, those costs wouldn't apply.

How Centre Capital Costs Appear on Your Invoice

Under the current NDIS pricing model, your invoice or statement from providers should clearly itemise three separate components: the direct support time (e.g., "Group Activities - Standard - Weekday"), the centre capital costs (listed as a separate line item), and any non-face-to-face time (administrative tasks related to your support). This detailed breakdown helps you understand exactly where your funding is going and makes it easier to track your plan spending. You should be able to see how many hours of support you received, what the support cost, and what the facility costs were. At Gamely Connect, we make sure every invoice clearly shows these breakdowns so you and your support coordinator can easily see how your funding is being used across each of our gaming sessions.

What This Means for Your NDIS Plan

The good news is that centre capital costs don't require any special action from you as a participant. They're already factored into how the NDIS prices centre-based supports, and your plan should have adequate funding to cover them when you're receiving centre-based activities. If you're working with a support coordinator, they can help ensure your plan has appropriate funding for the types of supports you're accessing. The separation of these costs actually benefits participants by ensuring centres can maintain quality facilities without having to compromise on the level of direct support they provide.

Understanding the Value

When you see centre capital costs on your invoice, remember that you're not just paying for a room - you're paying for a purpose-built space designed specifically to support people with disabilities. These facilities offer features you won't find in standard community venues, including accessibility modifications, sensory-friendly design, specialized equipment and technology, trained staff who understand how to use the space effectively, and ongoing maintenance to ensure everything remains safe and functional. These costs ensure that providers can continue offering high-quality, accessible environments where you can work toward your goals in a space that truly meets your needs. At Gamely Connect, our centre capital costs help us maintain our gaming PCs, racing simulators, board game collection, and all the specialised equipment that makes our space work for neurodiverse participants who deserve a venue designed with their needs in mind.

Need more information? If you have questions about centre capital costs or how they apply to your specific situation, your support coordinator is your best resource. You can also visit the NDIS website for the most current Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits document, or contact the NDIA directly.

About Gamely Connect: We're a supported social gaming provider in Caboolture South, offering centre-based sessions for autistic and neurodiverse teens and adults. Our centre includes gaming PCs, racing simulators, board games, and dedicated D&D sessions - all in a sensory-friendly environment designed for our community. Visit www.gamelyconnect.com to learn more.