Overnight support
NDIS Core support
Support provided overnight, either awake or asleep on site, for people who need help or supervision during the night.
The short answer
Overnight support is help or supervision during the night, either with a worker who stays awake or one who sleeps on site.
About Overnight support
Some people need support during the night: help with repositioning, toileting, medication, health monitoring or reassurance and safety. Overnight support can be delivered as an active shift, where the worker stays awake, or as a sleepover, where the worker is on site and can be woken if needed.
Which model suits depends on your needs. If you need help several times a night or need regular checks, an active shift is likely needed. If you need help only occasionally, a sleepover may be enough. A health professional or your provider can help you work out what is right.
Because the worker is in your home at night, trust and safety matter. Ask providers about screening, training, emergency procedures and how they handle records. Also ask how arrangements will be reviewed, since needs change over time.
Who is this service for?
People who need help or supervision during the night, either with a worker awake or asleep on site.
What a typical session looks like
Overnight support means a worker is present in the home through the night. Depending on your needs, this may be an active shift, where the worker is awake and helping with personal care, repositioning, medication or supervision, or a sleepover shift, where they are available if needed but can sleep between tasks.
A typical night includes a handover in the evening, help getting ready for bed, and checks through the night as agreed. The worker records what happens, responds to any needs or emergencies and helps with the morning routine before handing over to the day team. A quiet, calm approach helps you rest.
Who delivers this support
Overnight support is provided by trained support workers, and workers need to be alert, reliable and comfortable working alone at night. Some tasks require additional training, such as managing a seizure or helping with breathing equipment. Ask about the worker's training, how the provider handles emergencies and how workers are supervised overnight.
How to choose a provider
- Ask how the provider decides between active and sleepover support.
- Find out how workers are screened and trained.
- Check their emergency procedures and how they contact you or your family.
- Ask how they record what happens overnight.
- Ask how the arrangement will be reviewed.
Questions to ask a provider
- Will the worker be awake overnight or available on a sleepover basis?
- How do you make sure workers are alert and trained for my needs?
- What happens in an emergency, and who does the worker call?
- How is my privacy respected during the night?
- How do you record events overnight and share them with the day team?
- How will we review whether the level of support is still right?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not being clear about whether the worker is awake or asleep.
- Not training workers in specific night-time tasks such as repositioning or seizure care.
- Not having an emergency plan that the worker knows.
- Failing to record what happens, so the day team is not informed.
- Never reviewing whether overnight support is still needed at the same level.
Getting started
- Write down what help you need at night and how often.
- Discuss it with your doctor or therapist.
- Ask providers about their overnight options.
- Agree a trial period and a review.
How it fits with the rest of your plan
Overnight support connects with personal care, supported living and respite. It offers reassurance to the person and their family and can make it possible to live at home safely. It is worth reviewing the level of support from time to time, since needs may change, and technology such as alarms and sensors can sometimes complement or replace some checks.
Eligibility
You can use NDIS funding for Overnight support if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.
Funding
Core supports help with everyday activities and are usually the most flexible part of an NDIS plan. If Overnight support is in your plan, it is normally paid from a Core budget. Your plan shows how much you have and how it can be used. Many NDIS supports have price limits, so ask providers for a quote and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.
What it costs
Supports such as Overnight support that are funded by the NDIS are paid at rates that follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which the NDIA reviews regularly. Many items have a maximum price, and some prices are higher in remote areas. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.
Personal care providers on the NDIS register
14,468 NDIS providers list personal care supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.
Providers listing personal care
- 1 Abbira Care Services - VIC; includes Fraser Rise, VIC
- 1 All Care - SA; includes Findon, SA
- 1 Care Connect - NSW; includes Manly, NSW; Rooty Hill, NSW; Rosehill, NSW
- 1 Circle Of Care - VIC; includes Pakenham, VIC
- 1 Heart Care Services - NSW; includes Orange, NSW
- 1 In Town Services - SA; includes Mansfield Park, SA
- 1 The Helpers - NSW; includes Parramatta, NSW
- 1-Care - NSW; includes Lalor Park, NSW
- 10 Plus Care - VIC; includes Camberwell, VIC
- 121 Best Care - QLD; includes Calamvale, QLD
- 121 Supports Hunter - NSW; includes Hamilton, NSW; Newcastle, NSW; Newcastle West, NSW
- 123 Community Support - NSW; includes Ermington, NSW
See all 14,468 personal care providers
Listings by state and territory
- New South Wales (4,886)
- Victoria (4,266)
- Queensland (2,648)
- South Australia (1,365)
- Western Australia (1,198)
- Australian Capital Territory (325)
- Northern Territory (318)
- Tasmania (267)
Suburbs with the most listings
- Brisbane, QLD (680)
- Melbourne, VIC (544)
- Sydney, NSW (398)
- Central Coast, NSW (308)
- Perth, WA (289)
- Adelaide, SA (263)
- Blacktown, NSW (257)
- Parramatta, NSW (236)
- Liverpool, NSW (214)
- Tarneit, VIC (212)
- Geelong, VIC (204)
- Ipswich, QLD (198)
Listings covering the most areas
- Permalink Support Services - 503 areas
- Nurse Next Door Batemans Bay - 413 areas
- Ivy Health and Support Services - 248 areas
- Nurse Next Door Ballarat - 233 areas
- Nurse Next Door Armidale - 230 areas
- Nurse Next Door Wagga Wagga - 207 areas
- Nurse Next Door Canberra - 189 areas
- Huge Care - 188 areas
Checking credentials
- Check registration Search the NDIS Commission's register of registered providers to see whether a provider is registered and for which types of support. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use unregistered providers.
- Ask about worker screening Ask whether workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check where their role requires one, and how the provider checks its workers' identity and qualifications.
- Get it in writing Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that describes the support, the prices, how to change or end it and how to make a complaint.
Regulation and safeguards
NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulates NDIS providers and handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports. Phone: 1800 035 544.
- National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Runs the NDIS. Contact them about your plan, your funding and eligibility. Phone: 1800 800 110.
Related services
- Personal care
- Recurring transport allowance
- Short Term Accommodation (STA) / respite
- Social and recreation activities
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between active and sleepover support?
With an active overnight shift the worker stays awake to help. In a sleepover, the worker is on site and sleeps but can be woken if needed. Which suits you depends on your needs.
Why might someone need overnight support?
Reasons include needing help with repositioning, health monitoring, safety or reassurance during the night.
What should I ask overnight support providers?
Ask how the overnight workers are trained, how they respond to emergencies and how they keep records. Also ask how the arrangement will be reviewed.
Where does the worker sleep?
Ask the provider about arrangements. A room or space for the worker may be needed.
Can I have the same worker each night?
You can ask. Providers try to keep consistent workers, but availability varies.
What if I need help but the worker is asleep?
In a sleepover model workers are woken when needed. Discuss how you will call them.
What is the difference between active and sleepover overnight support?
An active shift means the worker stays awake and available throughout the night. A sleepover means the worker is on site and can sleep, but must wake if you need help.
Can technology reduce the need for overnight support?
For some people, alarms, sensors or monitoring can help, but they suit some needs better than others. Discuss with your team what is safe for you.
Will the worker disturb my sleep?
A good worker keeps checks as quiet as possible, and you can agree on how often they check and how they respond.
Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Overnight support?
If Overnight support is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.
How do I find a Overnight support provider near me?
Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.
Sources and further reading
- NDIS: how the NDIS works, plans and price limits
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: find a registered provider, make a complaint
Browse the NDIS and aged care provider directory
Helpful reading
- How to choose an NDIS provider: 12 questions to ask before you commit: A practical checklist for comparing providers, from how a service fits your plan to what happens when something goes wrong.
- Registered or unregistered? What it means when you choose an NDIS provider: Registered and unregistered providers can both be legitimate, but the rules, checks and options for your plan are not the same. Here is how to think about the difference.
- How to change NDIS provider without losing support: You are allowed to change providers. A little planning means the new service is ready before the old one ends, and nothing falls through the gap.