Selecting the right NDIS modules is one of the most consequential decisions a provider makes before registration. Each module – or registration group, in NDIS Commission terminology – determines which services you can bill, which practice standards you are audited against, and what your revenue ceiling looks like until your next audit cycle. At HCPA, we have guided 10,500+ NDIS providers through this decision, and the revenue and compliance outcomes differ dramatically based on module selection strategy.
This guide provides a comprehensive NDIS modules comparison across the six primary service streams: core supports, behaviour support, supported independent living, specialist disability accommodation, psychosocial recovery coaching, and employment support. For each module, we examine revenue benchmarks, staffing requirements, margin profiles, and the strategic considerations that determine whether a module is a growth driver or a compliance liability.
HCPA’s consultants average a 3-year tenure with individual clients, which means our module selection advice is grounded in long-term business outcomes rather than registration speed. We have seen which module combinations scale and which ones create unsustainable operational complexity. What follows is the distilled version of that experience.
Understanding NDIS Modules vs Registration Groups
The term “NDIS modules” is commonly used to describe the registration groups that providers apply for during the NDIS registration process. The NDIS Commission uses the term “registration groups” officially, but many providers and consultants use “modules” interchangeably. Each registration group corresponds to a support category in the NDIS Price Guide and a set of NDIS Practice Standards that the provider must meet.
There are currently over 20 NDIS registration groups, ranging from Group 1 (Daily Activities) through to more specialised groups covering behaviour support, specialist supported employment, and Supported Independent Living. Providers apply for the groups relevant to their intended service delivery, and are audited against the specific practice standards attached to each group they hold.
The audit complexity – and therefore the cost of compliance – scales with the number of registration groups you hold and their individual complexity. A provider registered only for Group 1 (Daily Activities) faces a simpler audit than one registered for Group 1 plus Group 9 (Specialist Behavioural Support). Understanding this complexity gradient before you apply is essential to keeping compliance costs proportional to your revenue.
Module 1: Core Supports (Daily Activities and Community Participation)
Registration Groups: Group 1 (Daily Activities), Group 3 (Daily Activities – Standard), Group 4 (Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation)
Core supports are the foundation of most NDIS businesses. They cover assistance with daily activities, community participation, and social and civic engagement. These modules attract the largest participant volumes, the most established referral networks, and the most accessible entry requirements – making them the natural starting point for new providers.
Revenue and Margin Benchmarks
Core support billing rates are set by the NDIS Price Guide, with standard weekday support worker rates typically between $55 and $64 per hour depending on the support worker classification. Weekend, public holiday, and overnight rates attract higher margins due to the loading structure. Providers who optimise their rostering to include a mix of weekday and weekend support generate better average margins than those relying predominantly on standard hours.
Net margins for core supports range from 10% to 22%, with the spread driven primarily by rostering efficiency, coordination overhead, and geographic spread. Urban providers with dense participant concentration achieve the highest margins by minimising travel time between participants. Regional providers face a structural margin disadvantage due to travel costs but often experience less competition for participants.
Scaling Characteristics
Core supports scale linearly – revenue grows with headcount. The key scaling levers are rostering software adoption (which reduces coordination hours), team leader structures (which allow a single coordinator to manage 15-20 support workers), and participant intake processes that reduce the administrative cost of onboarding. Providers who invest in these systems in the first 12 months of operation consistently achieve better margins at scale than those who add headcount reactively.
Module 2: Behaviour Support
Registration Group: Group 9 (Specialist Behavioural Support)
Behaviour support is a high-value, high-qualification module reserved for practitioners who meet the NDIS Commission’s behaviour support practitioner registration requirements. Providers delivering behaviour support must employ or contract Proficient or Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioners as defined by the NDIS Commission’s Capability Framework.
Revenue Potential and Billing Structure
Behaviour support billing operates on a higher rate structure than core supports, with Proficient Practitioners billing at significantly higher hourly rates than support workers. The key revenue driver in behaviour support is not volume of hours – it is the development, implementation, and review of Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs), which attract substantial fees and generate ongoing review and monitoring work.
A well-structured behaviour support practice with 3 to 5 registered practitioners can generate $600,000 to $1.2 million in annual revenue with margins of 20% to 35%, depending on the mix of assessment, plan development, and implementation support work. These margins are significantly higher than core supports, but the workforce is harder to recruit and retain due to the qualification requirements.
Compliance Considerations
Behaviour support carries the most complex compliance obligations of any NDIS module. Providers must maintain a detailed regulated restrictive practices register, ensure all restrictive practice authorisations are obtained before implementation, and report quarterly to the NDIS Commission. The documentation burden is substantial, and the consequences of non-compliance – including conditions on registration and potential suspension – make this module unsuitable for providers without dedicated compliance infrastructure.
Module 3: Supported Independent Living (SIL)
Registration Group: Group 2 (Support in a Shared Living Arrangement) / Group 3 SIL
Supported Independent Living is the highest revenue-per-participant module in the standard NDIS provider toolkit. SIL providers deliver continuous support to participants living in shared or individual arrangements, generating annualised revenue of $80,000 to $150,000 per participant depending on support intensity and funding category.
Revenue Model and Margin Analysis
SIL revenue is driven by the approved SIL quote, which is negotiated with the NDIS and reflects the actual staffing costs required to support the specific participant mix in a given house. Well-operated shared living arrangements with compatible participant groupings generate margins of 18% to 28%, with the highest margins achieved in houses where staffing can be shared efficiently across participants without compromising individual support quality.
The critical financial risk in SIL is participant vacancy – the period between a participant leaving a house and a new participant being placed. SIL providers carry the staffing costs for the house during vacancy, which can rapidly erode margins if the vacancy period extends beyond 2 to 4 weeks. Providers with strong referral networks and efficient participant placement pipelines manage this risk most effectively. HCPA’s network includes active support coordinators and LACs who work with SIL providers on participant placement, reducing vacancy periods significantly.
Module 4: Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Registration Group: SDA Enrolment (separate to standard provider registration)
SDA is technically a separate registration pathway from standard provider registration, but it is included in this NDIS modules comparison because many providers combine SDA with SIL as complementary revenue streams. SDA providers develop or own housing that meets specific design standards, and receive SDA payments directly from participants’ NDIS plans.
Revenue and Investment Analysis
SDA payments range from approximately $12,000 to $100,000 per dwelling per year, depending on the design category (Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible, High Physical Support, or Robust) and the dwelling type (studio, standard, and large). High Physical Support properties attract the highest SDA payments and generate the strongest investment returns for providers who can manage the development and ongoing property management costs.
SDA represents a capital-intensive but long-term, government-backed income stream. NDIS SDA payments are indexed annually and guaranteed for the term of the participant’s NDIS plan, making SDA a highly attractive investment proposition for providers with access to development capital or property investor partnerships.
Module 5: Psychosocial Recovery Coaching
Registration Group: Group 7 (Support Coordination) / Psychosocial specific line items
Psychosocial Recovery Coaching is a specialist support coordination function for participants whose primary disability is psychosocial – arising from a mental health condition. Recovery coaches help participants understand and implement their NDIS plans, build capacity, connect with services, and work toward their recovery and independence goals.
Revenue and Workforce Requirements
Psychosocial Recovery Coaching is billed at a higher rate than standard support coordination, reflecting the additional training and expertise required. Recovery coaches must have relevant qualifications and experience in mental health support. The role is more advisory and capacity-building than direct support, which means lower travel costs, higher billable efficiency, and a more predictable income stream per practitioner.
Providers building a psychosocial recovery coaching practice can expect revenue of $60,000 to $90,000 per full-time equivalent coach, with margins of 20% to 30% for well-structured practices. The workforce pipeline is the primary constraint – mental health-qualified practitioners who also understand the NDIS are in high demand, and retention requires competitive compensation and professional development investment.
Module 6: Employment Support
Registration Group: Group 10 (Specialist Supported Employment), Group 11 (Finding and Keeping a Job)
Employment support covers both the coordination of employment pathways (Finding and Keeping a Job) and the delivery of specialist supported employment – where participants work in a structured employment setting with co-workers who also have disability. This module has seen increasing NDIS Commission attention following the Disability Royal Commission recommendations on improving economic participation for NDIS participants.
Revenue Profile and Strategic Considerations
Employment support generates revenue through NDIS billing for coordination and coaching activities, and in the case of specialist supported employment, through the employment enterprise itself. Providers who operate Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) alongside their NDIS registration can generate revenue from both channels, but the operational complexity of running an employment enterprise on top of NDIS compliance obligations is significant.
HCPA recommends employment support modules primarily to providers who have existing connections to employer networks or who are extending from a vocational rehabilitation background. Building an employment support practice from scratch without existing employer relationships is slower and more capital-intensive than the revenue projections typically suggest.
NDIS Modules Comparison Table
| Module | Hourly/Annual Rate | Net Margin | Entry Complexity | Scale Potential | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Supports | $55-$64/hr | 10-22% | Moderate | Linear | New providers, volume growth |
| Behaviour Support | High (practitioner rates) | 20-35% | High (qualifications) | Moderate | Clinical background operators |
| SIL | $80K-$150K/participant/yr | 18-28% | High | High (housing dependent) | Experienced care operators |
| SDA | $12K-$100K/dwelling/yr | Variable | Very High (capital) | Very High | Property developers/investors |
| Psychosocial Coaching | $60K-$90K/FTE/yr | 20-30% | Moderate-High | Moderate | Mental health background |
| Employment Support | Variable | 10-20% | High | Low-Moderate | Vocational rehab background |
How to Choose the Right NDIS Module Combination
The most profitable NDIS businesses are not those that registered for the most modules – they are those that registered for the right modules at the right time. HCPA’s module selection framework evaluates four factors for every client.
Factor 1: Qualification Alignment
Some modules require specific workforce qualifications that cannot be hired for quickly. Behaviour support requires registered practitioners. Psychosocial recovery coaching requires mental health experience. If you do not have these practitioners on staff or under contract before you apply, registering for these modules creates an audit liability – you will be registered for modules you cannot deliver compliantly from day one.
Factor 2: Capital Availability
SIL and SDA require working capital reserves to manage participant vacancies and property costs respectively. Core supports require minimal capital beyond the registration and audit costs. Your module selection should reflect your actual capital position, not your aspirational capital position. Registering for modules that require capital you do not have creates financial stress before you have generated a dollar of revenue.
Factor 3: Referral Network Strength
Your referral network determines how quickly you will fill capacity in each module. If you have strong relationships with support coordinators who place participants into SIL, registering for SIL makes sense. If your network is predominantly with mental health clinicians who refer psychosocial participants, psychosocial modules are the obvious starting point. Match your modules to your existing referral infrastructure, then build new referral networks as you expand. HCPA can help connect your emerging practice with our network of active NDIS support coordinators to accelerate participant intake.
Factor 4: 3-Year Growth Plan
Your module selection today sets your revenue ceiling until your next audit. Providers who think 3 years ahead register for the modules they intend to activate within that timeframe, even if they launch with a subset. This avoids the cost and delay of a registration variation when they are ready to expand. HCPA’s consultants develop a 3-year module roadmap for every client that sequences module activation against capital growth, workforce development, and referral network expansion. See our detailed guide on building an NDIS business plan that integrates your module roadmap with your financial projections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many NDIS modules should I register for initially?
The right number depends entirely on your service model, workforce, and capital. New providers with a clear focus on one or two service streams typically register for 2 to 4 registration groups. Providers with broader ambitions who have the workforce and capital to support multiple streams might register for 5 to 8 groups from the outset. HCPA recommends registering for every group you intend to activate within 3 years, but not for groups you cannot compliantly deliver from day one. The audit assesses your capability to deliver everything you are registered for, not just what you are currently delivering.
Can I add NDIS modules after initial registration?
Yes. Adding registration groups requires a variation application to the NDIS Commission, which triggers a new audit of the additional groups. The audit scope covers only the new groups being added, not your existing registration. However, the variation process takes time – typically 3 to 6 months from application to approval – and involves audit costs. This is why HCPA recommends planning your full 3-year module set upfront and registering for all intended groups in the initial application, even if you phase the activation of services.
Which NDIS module generates the highest revenue per participant?
SIL generates the highest revenue per participant, with well-funded participants generating $80,000 to $150,000 in annual SIL revenue. SDA, when combined with SIL for the same participants, can generate an additional $12,000 to $100,000 per dwelling annually. However, SIL requires the highest operational complexity and capital commitment. For providers optimising revenue per practitioner rather than per participant, behaviour support and psychosocial recovery coaching offer the strongest returns.
Are some NDIS modules more audit-intensive than others?
Yes, significantly. Behaviour support and SIL carry the most complex audit requirements, including additional practice standards, regulated restrictive practices obligations (behaviour support), and specific SIL-related standards around participant choice and control. Core supports have a more straightforward audit scope. Psychosocial modules add requirements around mental health-specific safeguarding. HCPA’s NDIS audit preparation service includes module-specific pre-audit reviews to ensure your documentation meets the specific standards for every group you hold.
Do I need a different quality management system for each NDIS module?
No – you maintain one quality management system that covers all your registration groups. However, the system must include policies, procedures, and evidence protocols that address the specific practice standards for each group. A quality system built for core supports alone will have gaps when audited against behaviour support or SIL standards. HCPA develops quality management systems that are structured to cover all intended registration groups from the outset, so expansion into new modules does not require a complete rebuild of your compliance documentation.
Make Your NDIS Module Selection Count
The NDIS modules you register for today define your revenue ceiling for the next registration cycle. Getting this decision right – based on your actual capital, workforce, and referral network – is one of the highest-value strategic decisions you will make as an NDIS provider. Getting it wrong means either leaving revenue on the table (too few modules) or creating compliance obligations you cannot meet (too many).
HCPA has helped 10,500+ providers make this decision well. Our consultants bring real-world experience across every module and every service stream, averaging 3 years with individual clients through registration, audit, and growth. Our full registration package – including module strategy, quality system development, and audit preparation – is available for $4,400.
Book a free strategy session today. Our team will review your situation, recommend the optimal module combination for your goals, and give you a clear timeline to registration and first revenue.
