Short Term Accommodation (STA) / respite
NDIS Core support
A short stay away from home, giving the person a break or a change and giving family or carers a period of respite.
The short answer
Short term accommodation is a short stay away from home, giving you a break or a change and giving family or carers a period of respite.
About Short Term Accommodation (STA) / respite
A break can be valuable for everyone. For the person with disability, a short stay can be a chance to try new activities, meet people and experience some independence. For family and carers, it is a rest that helps them recharge and stay well.
Some services are purpose-built respite houses, while others are shared homes that offer occasional stays. Support is provided during the stay, and activities may be planned. Getting to know the service before a longer stay, through a visit or a short first stay, helps everyone feel comfortable.
Booking early is wise, because popular services fill up, especially around school holidays. Ask about what to bring, how medication and health needs are managed, and how families can keep in touch during the stay.
Who is this service for?
People who would like a short stay away from home, and families or carers who need a break.
What a typical session looks like
A short stay gives you a break in a different setting, or gives your family or carers a break. It might be a few nights in an accommodation house, a stay in a supported holiday home or a planned weekend away. Staff help with daily needs, and you can take part in activities, relax or try new things.
A good stay is planned ahead. You meet the staff or visit before you go, share information about your routines and needs, and pack familiar items. During the stay, workers follow your care plan, and afterwards they share how it went with you and your family. For many people, a positive experience makes it easier to plan more breaks.
Who delivers this support
Short term accommodation is provided by disability service providers with staff trained to support guests with different needs. Ask about staff ratios, training and experience with your needs, and whether the same staff are usually there. It helps if the provider can offer a visit or a trial stay first.
How to choose a provider
- Visit the service and meet the staff before booking.
- Ask how they get to know you and your routine.
- Check accessibility and how health needs and medication are managed.
- Ask about activities and how you can choose what to do.
- Find out how families can keep in touch during a stay.
Questions to ask a provider
- Can I visit or meet staff before a stay?
- How do you learn about my needs, routines and preferences?
- What training do staff have for my particular needs?
- How do you manage medication, meals and personal care during the stay?
- What is your emergency procedure, and how do you contact my family?
- How do you share how the stay went afterwards?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Going into a first stay without a visit or any preparation.
- Not sharing enough about routines and communication needs.
- Overlooking medication and health information.
- Booking too late, when places are hard to find.
- Not asking about how the person will feel and how they will be supported to settle in.
Getting started
- Think about what kind of break would be most helpful.
- Contact services and ask about availability and visits.
- Try a short stay first if you can.
- Book ahead for busy periods.
How it fits with the rest of your plan
Respite works with the ongoing support you already have, and it gives the people around you a break as well. It can be planned as part of a regular routine, or used for particular times such as when a carer is unwell. Thinking ahead about transport, medication and communication makes stays easier.
Eligibility
You can use NDIS funding for Short Term Accommodation (STA) / respite 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 Short Term Accommodation (STA) / respite 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 Short Term Accommodation (STA) / respite 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.
Respite care providers on the NDIS register
11,665 NDIS providers list respite care supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.
Providers listing respite 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 11,665 respite care providers
Listings by state and territory
- New South Wales (4,000)
- Victoria (3,416)
- Queensland (2,063)
- South Australia (1,101)
- Western Australia (979)
- Northern Territory (275)
- Australian Capital Territory (239)
- Tasmania (199)
Suburbs with the most listings
- Brisbane, QLD (521)
- Melbourne, VIC (389)
- Sydney, NSW (294)
- Central Coast, NSW (263)
- Perth, WA (245)
- Adelaide, SA (209)
- Blacktown, NSW (202)
- Parramatta, NSW (184)
- Liverpool, NSW (173)
- Tarneit, VIC (163)
- Ipswich, QLD (162)
- Geelong, VIC (159)
Listings covering the most areas
- Permalink Support Services - 503 areas
- Nurse Next Door Batemans Bay - 413 areas
- Hunter Valley Care & Assistance - 249 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
- Social and recreation activities
- Specialised transport
- Supported Independent Living (SIL)
- Supported holidays and camps
Frequently asked questions
What is short term accommodation?
A short stay away from home, giving the person a break or a change, and giving family or carers a period of respite. Stays are usually days or weeks.
How do I find a good respite service?
Visit if you can, and ask about staffing, activities, the environment and how they get to know you before a stay. Feeling comfortable there matters.
How far ahead should I book?
As early as you can. Popular services can be booked out, so plan around school holidays and other busy times.
Can I visit before staying?
Many services welcome a visit or a short trial stay. Ask.
Is respite only for people who live with family?
No. People in a range of living arrangements use short term accommodation.
What should I bring?
The service will tell you. Usually clothing, medication, personal items and anything that helps you feel at home.
How can I prepare for a first stay?
Visit beforehand if you can, pack familiar items, share a written summary of routines and needs and start with a short stay so you can see how it goes.
Can a stay be booked in an emergency?
Some providers can, but availability varies. It helps to know who to call, and to have information ready in advance.
Is short term accommodation the same as respite?
The terms overlap. Respite means a planned break for the person or their carers, and short term accommodation is one way of providing it.
Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Short Term Accommodation (STA) / respite?
If Short Term Accommodation (STA) / respite 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 Short Term Accommodation (STA) / respite 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.