Short-Term Accommodation (STA) (previously called Short Term Respite) is a type of NDIS support allowing you to spend time away from your usual support arrangement.
STA can play an important role in maintaining participant wellbeing, preventing burnout for carers and supporting families to continue providing day-to-day care. Here’s what you need to know about how it works and what it includes.
Am I eligible for STA?
You may be eligible for STA funding if you:
- live with family, a carer, or another person who regularly supports you, or receive daily drop-in support; and
- receive more than 6 hours of disability-related support each day from an informal support person, such as a family member, friend, or carer.
The NDIS will also consider whether other factors apply, such as high support needs, risks to carer sustainability, behavioural support needs, or limited access to alternative supports.
STA is not funded if you:
- live alone independently without daily informal support
- live in SIL, ILO, residential aged care or other 24/7 paid support settings
- receive more than 18+ hours of paid supports per day
- are not having a break from primary informal supports.
Please refer to the STA guidelines to understand the full eligibility criteria.
What is STA for?
STA can be used on supports to help you, while the people who usually support you take a break.
The funding can be used for:
- Standard accommodation
- Accommodation for a support worker (if overnight support is required)
- Supports for everyday activities (personal care, cooking, cleaning etc) that informal supports would usually provide
It may be delivered in
- Hotels
- Short stay rentals
- Respite facilities
- Homestay arrangements
- The participant’s own home if it still provides meaningful respite
STA does not include:
- Holidays or leisure travel
- Flights, cruises or attraction tickets
- Meals, groceries and other everyday living expenses
- Therapeutic sessions or goals training
- Recreational activities unrelated to disability or respite
The NDIS Pricing Schedule set the maximum amounts that can be claimed for Short Term Accommodation.
STA is about time apart, allowing informal supports to rest and recharge.
Where STA is funded from
Short-Term Accommodation is generally funded as flexible funding within a participant’s Core budget
Participants can generally use Short Term Respite for:
- Up to 28 days per calendar year, and
- Up to 14 consecutive days per stay
In exceptional circumstances, the NDIS may fund more than 28 days per year. For children with significant disability support needs who may be at risk of leaving the family home, additional STA may be considered, although funding will generally not exceed 60 days per year.
How we support you through these changes
As a Plan Manager, MyIntegra can help you stay informed and compliant.
Here’s what we do for you:
- Check invoices for required breakdowns before processing
- Help providers use correct line items
- Flag any risks that look like holidays instead of respite
- Help you understand eligibility for STA
- Provide advice so you know what the NDIS will and won’t fund when planning STA stays
If you are planning Short-Term Accommodation for one of your participants or want help navigating these new guidelines, our team is here to help. You can contact us on 1800 696 347 or email [email protected].
Short-Term Accommodation can be transformative for participants and families offering essential breaks for carers. Understanding what is and isn’t included helps ensure this support is used in the right situations and is aligned with each participant’s NDIS plan.
For more detailed information on Short-Term Accommodation please refer to these resources on the NDIS website:
