As of late 2025, there are
approximately 269,432 active NDIS providers operating across Australia. This number includes a mix of registered and unregistered providers, serving over 760,000 participants. However, some estimates suggest a much smaller number of “registered” providers at around 16,000.

    Active Providers: The total number of active providers (registered + unregistered) is heavily debated, with estimates ranging from roughly 48,000 to over 269,000.
    Registered Providers: As of early 2026, approximately 16,000 providers are registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
    Rapid Growth: The sector has seen explosive growth in numbers, with high concentrations in specific urban areas, such as western Sydney.
    Future Changes: From July 2026, registration will become mandatory for certain high-risk services, such as Supported Independent Living (SIL).

These providers support over 760,000 participants in the scheme as of December 2025, with costs exceeding $50 billion annually.

That makes a less than a 3 to1 ratio of providers to clients not workers.