NDIS Guide
NDIS short term accommodation (STA) gives participants funded time away from their usual care arrangements — and gives carers and family members a much-needed break. If you’ve heard it referred to as “respite” or noticed it’s now being called “short term respite” in official NDIS communications, that’s the same support under a new name. This guide explains what STA covers, how many days you can access, who is eligible, and how to get it included in your plan. For an overview of how your plan funding categories work, see our guide on NDIS budget categories.
What is NDIS short term accommodation — and why is it now called short term respite?
NDIS short term accommodation (STA) is funded support that covers temporary stays away from your primary home. The NDIA funds both the accommodation itself and the support you need during the stay — meals, personal care, and organised activities are all included, depending on your plan.
In 2024, the NDIS officially renamed STA to short term respite. If your current plan still uses the term “short term accommodation,” the support and what it funds remain exactly the same — only the label changed. Providers, plan managers, and NDIS planners all use both terms interchangeably, so it’s worth knowing both names to avoid confusion when searching for services or reading your plan.
The purpose of STA is twofold. It gives participants a break from their usual environment, a chance to try new activities, and an opportunity to build independence. It also gives primary carers and family members a genuine rest — time to look after their own health and wellbeing so they can continue in their caring role.
What NDIS short term accommodation covers
STA funding is drawn from your Core Supports budget — specifically the Assistance with Daily Life category. This means it sits alongside your everyday support funding, not your Capacity Building budget.
One of the most useful things about STA is how much it covers in a single funded package. Unlike some NDIS supports where you claim accommodation and personal care separately, STA is designed as an all-in-one daily rate that includes:
01
Accommodation
The place you stay — which can be a disability-specific respite house, a hotel, motel, holiday cabin, or short-stay rental. The accommodation must meet your support needs.
02
Support hours
Up to 24 hours per day of disability support, as set out in your plan. This includes personal care, supervision, community access, and assistance with daily tasks.
03
Meals and activities
Standard meals during the stay are included in the STA daily rate. Organised group activities offered by the provider are generally covered as well.
04
Carer support goal
If your STA stay is partly to give your primary carer a break, that can be noted in your plan as part of the funding rationale — it strengthens your case at a planning meeting.
What STA funding does NOT cover
The STA daily rate covers accommodation and support. It does not cover personal spending, travel to the destination, or add-ons that go beyond standard disability support. Specifically, STA funding cannot be used for:
- Food purchased outside the stay — meals at the accommodation are covered, but buying your own food at a supermarket or café is not
- Transport to and from the STA location — getting to and from the destination must be funded separately from your Core Supports transport budget or paid privately
- Holidays or tourist activities — STA is not a holiday funding package; the purpose must be disability-related (respite, skill building, or carer support)
- Non-NDIS items — personal clothing, entertainment, gifts, and other purchases are at your own expense
- Activities not included in the provider’s daily rate — optional excursions, tickets, or activities offered separately by the provider may incur additional costs
How many days of short term accommodation can you access per year?
The NDIS funds STA on a per-plan basis rather than a fixed annual entitlement. What you can access depends on what your planner or LAC includes in your plan, based on your needs and the support your primary carer provides.
As a general guide:
- Standard allocation: Most STA plans include enough funding for stays of up to 14 consecutive days per booking
- Extended allocation: Some participants, particularly those with high-intensity support needs or carers who need longer breaks, may have plans that allow up to 28 days per year
- Per-booking limit: STA is designed for short, planned stays. Long-term or indefinite accommodation arrangements are covered by different support types — SDA, SIL, Individualised Living Options (ILO), or Medium Term Accommodation (MTA)
If you use your STA days and need more, you can request a plan review. The NDIA will consider whether additional days are reasonable and necessary given your circumstances. Your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) can help you make that case.
Who is eligible for NDIS short term accommodation?
To access NDIS short term accommodation, you must already be an active NDIS participant with STA included in your plan. The NDIA will consider including STA when:
Reason 1
You have a primary informal carer who needs a break
If a family member or partner provides most of your day-to-day support, the NDIS can fund STA specifically to give that carer time to rest. You will need to demonstrate the carer’s current level of support during your planning meeting.
Reason 2
STA will help you build skills or maintain independence
Some participants use STA in settings that offer structured skill-building programs — cooking, community participation, independent living skills. If this fits your plan goals, it strengthens the case for STA funding.
Reason 3
The need is directly related to your disability
The NDIS only funds STA when the support need arises from your disability. A stay that doubles as a family holiday or recreational trip will generally not qualify — the disability-related purpose must be the primary reason.
Children with disability can also access STA. For participants under 18, the NDIS applies the same principles but may also consider whether the stay supports the broader family system — particularly where siblings or parents need respite.
How to get STA in your NDIS plan — and what plan management has to do with it
STA does not automatically appear in every NDIS plan. You need to request it — either at your planning meeting or via a plan review if it isn’t in your current plan.
Step 1
Raise it at your planning meeting or review
Tell your NDIS planner or LAC that you want STA included. Be specific: explain how many days you’re seeking, why you need them (carer respite, skill building, or both), and what kind of accommodation would suit your disability-related needs.
Step 2
Get a quote from an STA provider
STA providers must be registered with the NDIS Commission — this is a mandatory requirement for STA regardless of your plan management type. Contact registered STA providers to get a daily rate quote, which you can use to substantiate the budget request in your plan.
Step 3
Book through your plan manager — or directly if self-managed
If you have plan management, your plan manager handles all STA invoices and claims against your Core Supports budget. They can confirm the provider is registered, check available budget, and process payments directly with the provider. If you are self-managed, you claim directly from the NDIA after paying the provider yourself.
One important point on registered providers: because STA involves overnight or multi-day support at a ratio of up to 24 hours of care, it is classified as a support type that requires a registered provider. Unlike some everyday supports where plan-managed participants can use unregistered providers, STA bookings must go through a registered provider regardless of whether you have plan management or are self-managed.
That said, plan management still makes a real difference with STA. A good plan manager will track your STA budget separately, alert you before it’s exhausted, process invoices quickly (so providers are paid on time), and help you plan how to spread your STA days across the plan year. If you don’t yet have a plan manager, our independent comparison of NDIS plan managers can help you find the right one for your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about NDIS short term accommodation
What is the difference between short term accommodation and short term respite?
They are the same support. The NDIS renamed “short term accommodation” to “short term respite” in 2024. If your current NDIS plan references STA, nothing changes — the funding, what it covers, and the eligibility rules are identical. Future plans will use the “short term respite” label, but both terms refer to the same Core Supports line item.
How many STA days can I get per year under the NDIS?
There is no fixed annual entitlement. The NDIS funds STA based on what is reasonable and necessary for your individual situation. Most plans include enough for stays of up to 14 consecutive days per booking. Participants with high support needs or carers who need longer breaks may be funded for up to 28 days annually. If you need more than your current plan allows, you can request a plan review.
Does NDIS STA cover travel to the accommodation?
No. Transport to and from the STA destination must be funded separately — either from your Core Supports transport budget or paid personally. The STA daily rate covers accommodation and disability support during the stay itself, not the cost of getting there. If transport is a significant cost, raise it with your planner when requesting STA funding so it can be included in your Core Supports transport allocation.
Do STA providers need to be registered with the NDIS?
Yes. Unlike many everyday supports where plan-managed participants can use unregistered providers, STA requires a registered provider regardless of how your plan is managed. This applies whether you have plan management, are self-managed, or are NDIA-managed. Check the NDIS Commission register to verify any provider’s current registration status before booking.
What if STA isn’t included in my current NDIS plan?
You can request it at your next scheduled plan review. If you need it sooner, contact your LAC or call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 to discuss a plan variation or unscheduled review. Come prepared with a clear explanation of why you need STA (carer respite, skill building, or both), a quote from a registered STA provider, and information on your current caring arrangements. Our comparison of NDIS plan managers includes options that help coordinate STA bookings once it’s in your plan.
Can children access NDIS short term accommodation?
Yes. Children with disability who are active NDIS participants can access STA. For participants under 18, the NDIS considers both the child’s disability-related need and the broader family context — including whether parents or siblings need respite from caring responsibilities. The application process is the same: raise it at a planning meeting or review with supporting detail about your family’s situation.