Respite and short term accommodation (STA) explained

Key takeaway: Everyone needs a break sometimes, and the NDIS funds short term accommodation so both participants and the people who care for them can rest and recharge.

What respite means on the NDIS

Respite is a word many families still use, and it simply means a break. On the NDIS the word is used less formally now, and the funded support you are actually looking for is called short term accommodation, often shortened to STA. It covers a stay somewhere other than home, along with the support you need while you are there. So when someone talks about respite, they are usually describing the idea of a break, and STA is the support that makes that break possible.

What STA covers

Short term accommodation is designed to cover everything you need for a short stay away from home. That usually includes the accommodation itself, meals, personal care and support with daily activities, and things to do while you are there. A stay might be a single night, a weekend or a longer block, and STA is often funded for up to around 28 days a year, though the exact amount depends on your situation and your plan. The idea is that you have a comfortable place to stay with the right support around you, so the break is genuinely restful rather than just a change of address.

Who it is for

STA is for participants who would benefit from a break, and also for those whose usual carer needs one. Sometimes the participant is the one who wants a change of scene, some new activities and time with different people. Other times a family member or informal carer has been providing support day after day and needs time to rest so they can keep going. Both are completely valid reasons. At its heart, STA is about sustaining everyone in the picture, because support works best when the people giving it and receiving it are both looked after.

Planning and booking STA

Short term accommodation usually sits in the core part of your plan, alongside your everyday support, which gives you some flexibility in how and when you use it. The main practical tip is to plan ahead. Good STA options, especially over school holidays, long weekends and busy periods, tend to fill up early. If you have a rough idea of when you would like a break, it is worth talking to providers well in advance and booking ahead rather than trying to arrange something at the last minute. A little planning makes it far more likely you will get a place that suits you.

How STA differs from MTA and SIL

These three supports are easy to mix up, so it helps to see them side by side. STA is a short break, a stay of days or weeks with support, then you return home. Medium term accommodation, or MTA, is a longer bridge, used when you have somewhere permanent to move into but it is not ready yet, so you need a place to stay in the meantime. Supported independent living, or SIL, is ongoing daily support in the home you live in, day to day and week to week. So the simple way to remember it is: STA is a break, MTA is a bridge, and SIL is ongoing support where you live.

Finding STA providers

Once you know a break would help, the next step is finding a provider with a place available when you need it. You can search by area to see who offers short term accommodation near you, then check their availability, the kind of stay they offer and the support they provide. It is always worth speaking with a provider before you book so you can ask questions and make sure it feels right. On Supportd you can search accommodation providers by area and see who has availability, which makes it easier to find a break that actually fits.

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