A Guide to NDIS Respite Guidelines

Everything you need to know about your rights and responsibilities as a participant

Short Term Accommodation (also called short-term respite) allows for temporary support and accommodation away from your usual home when it relates to your disability needs. This support is designed to give informal carers a break while ensuring participants continue to receive appropriate care.

Short Term Accommodation funding is based on each participant’s individual circumstances and NDIS plan. Under current NDIS guidance, short-term respite can generally be funded for up to 14 days at a time and up to 28 days per year where the relevant criteria are met. The amount funded depends on your disability-related support needs and individual circumstances.

Participants often ask:

• Can respite be used regularly? It depends on what is funded in your plan.
• Can respite be used during emergencies? Short Term Accommodation is not intended to provide emergency or crisis accommodation. If you need emergency accommodation, other mainstream or community services may be more appropriate.
• Is respite only for carers? While carer relief is a key purpose, funding decisions focus on participant support needs.

HealSoul provides Short Term Accommodation and respite supports for NDIS participants. If you have questions about your options, our team is here to help with a free consultation.

What is respite care under the NDIS?

Short Term Accommodation, also known as short-term respite, provides temporary accommodation and disability-related support away from home. It can give participants time apart from their primary informal supports while ensuring they continue to receive the disability-related assistance they need.

Depending on your individual needs and NDIS plan, funded supports during a respite stay may include:

• Personal care assistance such as hygiene and daily routines
• Disability-related assistance and supervision during the stay
• Short-term accommodation
• Disability-related support to access the community or participate socially

Here are some things that are important to know for new participants:

• Funding is for support and care, not holidays or general living costs.
• From 1 July 2026, STA accommodation and eligible disability-related assistance are funded separately. Everyday living expenses such as food and meals are not covered by NDIS STA funding.
• Individual arrangements vary depending on the participant’s disability-related needs and NDIS plan, within the current STA funding guidelines.
• Many respite arrangements occur in shared environments, though individual support may be approved when required.

Your rights and responsibilities

The NDIS assesses respite funding using the “reasonable and necessary” criteria. Decisions are made individually and may change over time.

1. Is the need related to your disability?

Respite must be linked to disability-related support needs. It is not funded for general travel or non-disability accommodation.

Common questions participants ask are often related to:

• Short Term Accommodation is not intended to fund temporary accommodation for general housing disruptions. Other NDIS, mainstream or community supports may apply depending on the circumstances.
• The NDIS considers whether short-term respite may help sustain the family members or informal supports who provide disability-related assistance.

2. Does it provide appropriate support?

Funding decisions focus on whether Short Term Accommodation provides suitable care and supervision during the stay. This includes situations where participants need additional monitoring or structured support.

3. Is it value for money?

The NDIS compares the cost of respite against other support options. Group-based arrangements are common, though one-to-one support may be funded if justified by risk or complexity.

4. How much support do informal carers provide?

Informal support plays an important role in funding decisions. The NDIS considers whether respite helps maintain sustainable caring arrangements over time.

Participants often ask:

• Can I access respite without informal carers? Sometimes, strong supporting evidence may be required.
• Can respite replace long-term housing? No, it is intended as temporary support only.

Additional ways the NDIS can support

Alongside Short Term Accommodation, participants may have access to other supports depending on their plan, such as:

• In-home support services
• Social and community participation programs
• Capacity building supports

Some participants combine respite with in-home supports or community programs to create a balanced support schedule. HealSoul can help you understand how these supports may work together within your plan.

Important pricing updates

The NDIS Pricing Schedule is updated regularly, with the 2026–27 Pricing Schedule taking effect from 1 July 2026. The new arrangements introduced significant changes to Short Term Accommodation, with participant accommodation and eligible disability-related assistance now priced separately

Under current pricing rules:

• Providers must follow the current NDIS pricing arrangements and applicable price limits when delivering funded Short Term Accommodation and respite supports.
• The amount of STA funding available depends on your individual circumstances and NDIS plan. Current NDIS guidance generally provides for short-term respite of up to 14 days at a time and up to 28 days per year where the relevant criteria are met.
• Food, meals and personal entertainment or activity costs are not funded through STA and may need to be paid separately.

Participants often ask:

Do pricing updates change my approved supports? No. Your plan funding remains the same unless your plan is reviewed or reassessed.

Can providers charge more than NDIS limits? Registered providers must follow applicable NDIS price limits when delivering supports subject to those limits.

For the most accurate and current pricing information, refer to the latest NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website.

If you are unsure how the 1 July 2026 STA pricing changes affect your respite supports, HealSoul can help you understand how your funding applies and what costs may need to be paid separately.

HealSoul is here to help you navigate these guidelines and find the best outcomes. We work with you to understand your needs while supporting independence and wellbeing.

If you would like guidance on Short Term Accommodation or respite supports, contact HealSoul to book a free consultation today.