Does the NDIS cover respite care?

Yes — primarily through Short Term Accommodation (STA), capped at 28 days per year, which funds out-of-home respite stays. In-home respite is funded under your standard Core Supports (Assistance with Daily Life). Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) covers longer stays of up to 90 days when long-term accommodation is being arranged.

How much does NDIS respite cost per day?

Respite is funded by the NDIS so there is no out-of-pocket cost if you have STA funding in your plan. Daily rates are set in the NDIS Price Guide and vary by support ratio (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4) and day type (weekday, weekend, public holiday). You don't pay providers directly — funding is drawn from your plan.

What's the difference between respite and STA?

STA is the formal NDIS funding category that covers out-of-home respite. 'Respite' is the colloquial term — same thing. The NDIS Price Guide uses STA. STA is capped at 28 days per year. In-home respite is technically not STA — it's funded under standard Core Supports as a support worker visit.

What is the 28-day STA cap?

STA funding is limited to 28 days of out-of-home stays per year. The 28 days can be used flexibly — single nights, weekends, or longer planned stays. If you need more than 28 days of out-of-home support per year, the conversation shifts to MTA or SIL rather than continuing to draw from STA.

NDIS Respite Care, STA & MTA

NDIS Respite Care — STA and MTA explained

Respite care under the NDIS comes in two forms: Short Term Accommodation (STA) and Medium Term Accommodation (MTA). Both fund a stay in a supported home outside your usual living arrangement. The difference is mostly duration and purpose.

STA — up to 28 days per year of funded short stays. Used for planned respite, family breaks, emergency situations, or to trial SIL before committing.
MTA — funded stays of up to 90 days when you need somewhere supported to live while your long-term home is being arranged (e.g. waiting for an SDA dwelling, recovering from hospital).

What does NDIS respite cost per day?

Respite care is funded by the NDIS, not paid out of pocket — but there are price caps in the NDIS Price Guide. As of the current price guide, STA in a shared home is funded at a daily rate that covers the support, accommodation, food and activities. The exact rate depends on the support ratio (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4) and whether it's a weekday, weekend or public holiday.

You do not pay anything out of pocket if you have STA funding in your plan. If you don't have STA funding and want to access respite, talk to your Support Coordinator about getting it added at your next plan review.

Does the NDIS cover respite for carers?

Yes — STA is the primary way the NDIS funds carer respite. The funding sits in the participant's plan (not the carer's), but the practical effect is a break for the family. STA is also used when a participant wants a holiday or change of scene, or when the family is unable to provide support for a short period (work travel, family event, illness).

Common uses for STA

Planned respite — booked in advance so the family can rest or travel
Emergency respite — when an unplanned situation means the participant needs somewhere supported, fast
SIL trial — a short stay in a SIL home to see if shared accommodation suits before committing
Hospital discharge bridging — when home isn't ready yet but acute care is finished
Family holiday — participant stays in respite while the family takes a break

The 28-day STA cap explained

STA is capped at 28 days per year. The 28 days can be used flexibly — back-to-back, in single nights spread across the year, or as longer planned stays. Days are counted by overnight stays. If you need more than 28 days of out-of-home support per year, the conversation shifts to MTA or SIL.

STA vs in-home respite

STA is out of home — the participant stays in a respite house with staff and (usually) other participants. In-home respite uses your standard Core Supports (Assistance with Daily Life) — a support worker comes to your home to give the regular carer a break. Both are funded but they're not interchangeable.

MTA — when STA isn't long enough

MTA fills the gap between short-term respite and a long-term home. It's typically funded when:

You're waiting for an SDA dwelling to become available
You're transitioning out of hospital and your home isn't accessible yet
A relationship breakdown or family emergency has left you without stable accommodation
You're in a SIL search and need somewhere supported in the meantime

MTA is harder to get than STA — it requires evidence that long-term accommodation is being actively pursued and that the current MTA is a bridging measure, not a permanent fix.

How to apply for STA or MTA

Talk to your Support Coordinator about why respite or medium-term accommodation is needed
Gather supporting evidence — letters from your GP, OT, family, current providers
Request STA or MTA at your plan review (or request an early review if there's an urgent need)
Once funded, choose a provider — at Prospect Hill we have respite stays available across most of our locations
Book the stay — usually 2–4 weeks lead time for planned stays, faster for emergencies

What's it like to stay in respite at Prospect Hill?

Our respite stays happen in real homes — not facilities — with trained support staff, a roster matched to your needs, and the same standards we apply to our permanent SIL homes. You bring your usual routine, medications, and any equipment you need. We work with your family and your Support Coordinator and other stakeholders to make the stay easy and the handover smooth.

Why choose Prospect Hill for NDIS respite

We operate respite stays out of real homes across NSW and QLD. Talk to our team about availability — respite spots are time-sensitive, so we'll give you a same-day answer where we can.

Respite Care