You won’t find the word respite as a line item in an NDIS plan, which is why so many exhausted carers assume they don’t have access to it. What most families call respite care, the NDIS calls short term accommodation, and in late 2025 it renamed the support again to short term respite. Three names, one support.
Whatever it’s called on the day, the support itself hasn’t changed: a short, funded stay away from the person’s usual home, with care provided throughout. This guide from Unisson Disability explains what short term accommodation NDIS funding covers, how many days you can access, what it costs, and how to use it.
Key Takeaways
- NDIS short term accommodation (STA) provides a funded break from home, covering accommodation, meals and support while also giving carers time away from their caring role.
- You can generally access up to 28 days of STA each year, with costs depending on accommodation, support hours, staffing ratios and when the stay takes place.
- Planning ahead can help you access the right respite option and make the most of your funding. If you’re on the fence about STA or want to discuss longer term options, contact Unisson Disability.
What is STA in the NDIS?
Short term accommodation is a temporary stay outside a person’s usual home, with support included for the length of the stay. In October 2025 the NDIS officially renamed it short term respite, though STA is still the term most people use and plans written before the change remain valid.
The support does two jobs at once. It gives family carers a genuine break from a caring role that often runs around the clock. And it gives the person staying a change of scenery, new people, and a chance to practise everyday living skills away from home, which for many people becomes a stepping stone towards thinking about longer term living arrangements.
What does NDIS respite funding include?
A funded stay bundles together everything the person needs while they’re away from home:
- Accommodation in a safe, accessible setting for the length of the stay
- Personal care and support, up to 24 hours a day where needed
- Meals throughout the stay
- Agreed activities that fit the person’s interests and plan goals
What it doesn’t cover are holiday extras. Theme park tickets, tourist activities and restaurant outings sit outside the funding, so a stay can be enjoyable without being a funded holiday.
How many days of respite care does the NDIS fund?
The NDIS generally funds up to 28 days of short term respite per year, used in blocks of up to 14 days at a time. How you spread those days is up to you. Some families use one weekend a month, which provides a predictable rhythm of breaks across the year. Others save the days for a longer block over school holidays or when the main carer needs extended time to recover from illness or travel.
Where the funding sits in your plan
Respite is funded from the Core budget, under assistance with daily life. Some plans include it as a stated amount, while others leave Core flexible, in which case you can often direct that flexibility towards a respite stay even when respite isn’t spelled out, provided it meets the reasonable and necessary test. Your planner, support coordinator or local area coordinator can confirm which applies to you.
How much does respite care cost per day in the NDIS?
Until this financial year, STA was billed as a single daily package covering accommodation, meals and support together. From 1 July 2026, the NDIS Pricing Schedule splits the claim into separate parts:
- Accommodation, priced at $162.85 per day nationally
- Support hours, billed at standard support worker hourly rates for the time of day and day of the week
- Higher intensity support items for people with complex support needs
The biggest driver of the total daily cost is the staffing ratio. Group respite at a one to three ratio shares the support cost between participants, while one to one support costs considerably more per day. Weekend and public holiday stays also cost more than weekday stays, because support worker rates are higher on those days. Full rates are in the official NDIS pricing arrangements.
How do you access short term accommodation?
Start by raising it at your planning meeting, plan reassessment or check in. Evidence helps here. A short statement from the primary carer describing the hours of informal care they provide each week, and what would happen without a break, gives the NDIA a clear picture of why the stay is reasonable and necessary.
Once funding is in place, book ahead. Popular respite providers fill up months in advance for school holidays, Christmas and Easter, so planning a stay three or more months out is realistic rather than cautious.
Thinking beyond the short stay
For many families, a respite stay is also the first glimpse of something bigger: the discovery that the person they care for can settle, connect and enjoy life in a supported home away from family. If that’s where your thinking is heading, our guide to Supported Independent Living explains the longer term option.
Unisson Disability has supported people with intellectual and developmental disability in NSW for over 100 years, with home and living support that ranges from a few hours a week through to 24/7 supported homes. If you’re weighing up respite options, or a short stay has you wondering about the next step, contact our team and we’ll help you map it out.
Frequently asked questions
Is short term accommodation the same as respite care in the NDIS?
Yes, they are the same support under different names. The NDIS used the term short term accommodation for years and renamed it short term respite in October 2025, but families, providers and plans still use all three terms interchangeably.
Can I use my Core funding for respite if it isn’t listed in my plan?
Often, yes. If your Core budget is flexible rather than fully stated, it can usually be directed towards a respite stay that meets the reasonable and necessary test, though it’s worth confirming with your support coordinator before booking.
Does the person I care for have to live with me to qualify for respite?
No, living together isn’t a requirement. What matters is that the person relies on regular informal support from family or friends, and that a short stay would sustain those arrangements or build the person’s skills.
What’s the difference between STA and medium term accommodation?
STA is a short break of days or weeks with a respite purpose, while medium term accommodation is transitional housing for up to 90 days when someone is waiting for a longer term home, often after hospital. They’re funded separately and serve different situations.