Key points
- Respite is funded through Core supports, mainly as Short Term Accommodation (STA) or as support worker hours in a day program or at home.
- From 1 July 2026 STA is no longer a bundled daily rate: support hours are billed under standard worker items and accommodation at a flat $162.85 a day.
- STA is typically funded for up to 14 days at a time and 28 days a year, but plans vary.
- Good respite has goals for the participant, not just a break for carers. Both matter and both are legitimate.
- The October 2026 budget changes reduce community participation funding, so it pays to be specific about why respite is reasonable and necessary.
"Respite" is a word many families avoid because it sounds like admitting they cannot cope. The NDIS takes a different view: sustaining the informal support of family and friends is one of the scheme's legal objectives, and time apart is good for participants too. A weekend away with peers, a weekly day program, or a few hours of in-home support can be the difference between a family that is thriving and one that is running on empty.
What respite looks like
- Centre-based day programs: structured activities with peers, usually weekdays, such as our Rouse Hill programs with art, cooking, music, outdoor activities and social gaming.
- In-home respite: a support worker comes to your home so the usual carer can leave, rest or sleep.
- Short Term Accommodation (STA): an overnight stay away from home, from one night to two weeks, with support and accommodation provided.
- Community access: a support worker takes the participant out for activities. Not called respite, but it has the same effect for carers.
- Medium Term Accommodation: up to 90 days while waiting for a long-term home; a different support with different rules.
How STA is funded in 2026-27
The 2026-27 Pricing Schedule changed the structure. Previously providers claimed a single daily STA rate for a given support ratio (one worker to one, two, three or four participants). Those bundled items were removed. Now:
| Component | How it is claimed | 2026-27 price limit |
|---|---|---|
| Support hours during the stay | Standard support worker items, at the ratio actually delivered | $73.58 per hour weekday day; higher for evenings, weekends and sleepovers |
| Accommodation (bed, meals, utilities) | Separate accommodation item | $162.85 per day (national flat rate) |
| Activities and outings | Participant pays entry and personal costs; worker time claimed as support | Not NDIS funded |
What this means for you: quotes will now show hours and accommodation separately, and the total depends on how much one-to-one support your family member needs. Ask providers to show the ratio and the hours clearly. If a quote looks far cheaper than others, check whether support hours are realistic.
How much STA can I get?
The NDIS typically funds STA for up to 14 days at a time and up to 28 days a year, though plans can be built differently if there is evidence of need. STA is a Core support, so if your plan has flexible Core funding you can usually use it for STA without a specific line, as long as it is reasonable and necessary and the provider is registered if you are agency-managed. If you need more than the usual amount, ask for STA to be a stated support with the evidence below.
Making the case in your plan
- Describe the informal support. How many hours a week do family members provide? What would happen if the main carer became ill?
- Link respite to participant goals. Social connection, trying new activities, practising independence away from parents, building tolerance for new environments.
- Include a carer statement and, where relevant, a GP letter about carer health.
- Be specific: "One weekend (two nights) STA per month plus one day program per week" is easier to fund than "some respite".
- Note risk factors: single-parent household, siblings with disability, carer age or health, behaviour that requires two-person support.
Choosing a program
Price and availability matter, but the question that predicts a good experience is: will my family member want to go back? Visit before you book. Look for:
- Registration and worker screening. Ask to see them. Nurture and Care Solutions is a registered provider and all staff hold NDIS Worker Screening and Working With Children Checks.
- Ratios that match needs. A one-to-four program may be perfect for a sociable adult and unsafe for someone with complex behaviour.
- Real activities chosen with participants, not television in a room.
- Communication with families: a daily note, photos with consent, and a clear incident process.
- Health and medication management procedures, including for seizures, PEG feeding or diabetes if relevant.
- A transition plan for the first visit: a shorter stay, a familiar worker, and your child's comfort items.
Preparing your family member
- Use a social story or photo book of the venue and staff.
- Start with a day visit, then a single night.
- Pack a one-page profile: what calms them, what upsets them, how they communicate, food preferences, bedtime routine.
- Agree on how and when you will be in contact, and then try to genuinely rest.
The October 2026 changes
From 1 October 2026 the NDIA is reducing Social, Economic and Community Participation budgets by around half in new and reassessed plans, and from 1 February 2027 unspent funds will not roll over at renewal. Day programs are funded from that budget. STA sits in Core as well. Our advice: do not stop using respite out of caution, because underspending can reduce future budgets. Instead, make sure every service agreement and provider report explains the goal each support serves. Read our explainer on the budget changes.
Respite and day programs in Rouse Hill
Our programs run for children, teens and adults with a focus on skill building, friendship and fun. We offer trial days and can help you work out how respite fits your plan. See what we offer or enquire today.
Sources
Prices are national price limits from the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27. Actual funding depends on your plan and the support ratio delivered.
