What respite means
Respite is a break. For a carer it is time to rest, work, look after their own health or spend time with the rest of the family. For the person with disability it can be a change of scene, new people and new experiences.
Good respite keeps caring arrangements going over the long term. It works best when it is planned regularly, not only reached for in a crisis.
How the NDIS funds respite
The NDIS funds supports for the participant, so respite is built from supports that also give carers a break. The main ones are:
- Short Term Accommodation (STA): an overnight stay away from home, up to 14 days at a time, so you and your carers have time apart
- Support workers at home: a worker supports the participant at home while the carer goes out, sometimes called in home respite. This is funded from assistance with daily life
- Community and group activities: outings, day programs or centre based activities, funded from social, economic and community participation
- Camps and holidays: the disability support part of a camp can sometimes be funded, but not the general cost of the holiday
Short Term Accommodation is the main funded respite
STA is what most people mean by NDIS respite. The NDIS called it short term respite for a while from October 2025, then went back to the name Short Term Accommodation after community feedback.
STA is generally funded for up to 28 days a year, in stays of up to 14 days at a time. From 2026/27 it is priced in two parts: support worker hours, and a daily accommodation item. Our Short Term Accommodation page explains how it works in detail.
Respite outside the NDIS: Carer Gateway
Carer Gateway is a free Australian Government service for carers. Through it you can ask about planned respite, where a provider steps in so you can take a break, and emergency respite if you are suddenly sick or injured and cannot keep caring.
Emergency respite can be arranged 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, where a suitable local service is available. Call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737. If the person you care for is an NDIS participant, their planned breaks will usually come from their NDIS plan, so Carer Gateway is most useful for your own support and for emergencies.
How to get respite into an NDIS plan
Respite is funded when it meets the reasonable and necessary criteria, so the evidence is about the participant's needs and the sustainability of their informal supports. Before a planning meeting or reassessment:
- Write down how many hours of care the family provides each week, including overnight
- Explain what would happen if the main carer could not continue
- Include a carer statement describing the impact on the carer's health, work and other children
- Say what kind of break would work: overnight stays, regular weekend support, or a few hours a week at home
Respite and the 2026 funding changes
Since 1 October 2026, social, economic and community participation budgets are reduced by 50% when a plan is created, reassessed or renewed. STA and in home support sit in Assistance with Daily Life, which is not part of that reset, but group and community activities often do fall inside it.
If your respite relies on day programs or community outings, check your budget after your next plan change and talk to providers early about what matters most.