Carers do an enormous amount, and everyone needs a break. The NDIS funds several kinds of respite, and the names have recently changed. This guide explains the main NDIS respite options, what each covers and what it cannot be used for.
What is respite in the NDIS?
In NDIS terms, respite gives a participant time apart from their usual care arrangements while their family, friends or carers take a short break. The NDIS says the purpose is to help those informal supports keep going in their caring role.
What is short term respite?
Short term respite is the NDIS’s new name for what was called short-term accommodation. The NDIS says the new name focuses on the support provided, whether it happens at home or in a shared setting, rather than on the accommodation.
The NDIS may fund short term respite if you live with your main informal supports, or get daily drop-in support, and they give you more than 6 hours of disability-related support a day. It:
- is usually funded for up to 28 days a year
- can be used flexibly, such as a block of up to 14 days, or one weekend a month
- covers the supports you usually need, such as help with showering, cooking and toileting
- can include standard accommodation, or support to stay in your own home or a homestay if you usually need overnight support
What is in-home and community respite?
Not all respite involves staying somewhere else. The NDIS notes that a support worker at home, or community and mainstream supports, may be other options. A worker might stay with the participant for an afternoon while a parent attends an appointment, or take them to a regular activity so the carer has a few hours to themselves. This is usually funded from core supports.
Kindora Connect offers in-home and community respite care for NDIS participants in Adelaide. Talk to us about the times you need.
What can’t respite funding pay for?
- cruises, holiday packages, holiday accommodation and airfares
- passports, visas, or travel and vehicle insurance
- accommodation or travel for family members or workers supporting you on holiday
- theme parks, concerts, theatre, cinema, sporting events and conferences
Short term respite also does not replace normal time apart, such as school, work or community activities, or other services such as crisis accommodation.
Where can short term respite happen?
The NDIS says you can use short term respite in your own home, or in a shared or individual accommodation setting. It should generally be used in your home state or territory, although it may be funded elsewhere if you live in a remote area.
How do you ask for respite in your plan?
Talk to your my NDIS contact if you think you need short term respite in your plan. If your plan does not include the support you need, or your situation has changed, you can ask to change it. Once funded, you should only pay for the supports you actually use, and make the funding last for the length of your plan.
What does in-home respite look like in practice?
A good in-home respite visit feels like an ordinary day for the participant. Before the first visit, the worker learns the routine, favourite activities and what helps if the person becomes upset. Many families start with a short visit while they are still at home, then build up to longer breaks once everyone is comfortable.
What about respite for children?
The NDIS may fund short term respite for participants under 18 when their disability-related support needs are more than is typical for their age, and a break will help the family keep caring. It does not replace normal parenting, such as helping a young child settle to sleep or babysitting.
How do you plan respite well?
- Start small: a few hours of in-home support can build trust before a longer break.
- Write down routines, preferences and anything that helps the participant feel settled.
- Plan ahead, because respite funding needs to last the whole plan.
- Tell your my NDIS contact if your situation changes, such as a carer becoming unwell.
Related guides: how family members can enquire about support and NDIS plan management options. You might also look at community participation support.