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NDIS Short Term Respite (STR) is one of the most useful supports in a plan, yet it often goes unused because people are not sure how the funding works. This guide explains where respite funding sits, how much you can expect, how to claim it under each management type, and how to make sure it is in your plan.
Where respite funding sits in your NDIS plan
STR is funded from your Core Support budget, under the Assistance with Daily Life category. You may also see it listed by its formal NDIS line item name, Short Term Accommodation. Because Core Support is generally flexible, you can often direct funding towards respite without a separate, fixed line item, as long as it is a reasonable and necessary use of your budget.
This is good news: it means many participants already have the funding they need for a respite stay sitting in their plan right now. If you are not certain what your plan covers, our guide to respite care under the NDIS guidelines is a useful starting point.
In short: respite usually sits inside your flexible Core budget, so a separate line item is often not required.
How much respite can the NDIS fund?
The NDIS funds STR when it is considered reasonable and necessary for your situation. As a general guide, many plans include enough funding for up to 28 days of respite per year, often taken as one or two week blocks rather than all at once. The exact amount depends on your circumstances, your goals and the needs of your support network, so two participants can have very different respite funding.
Because it is drawn from flexible Core funding, you have some control over how you use it across the year. A support coordinator or plan manager can help you map out how many stays your budget realistically allows.
Claiming respite under each management type
How you pay a provider depends on how your plan is managed. Respite Stays is an NDIS registered provider, so we can support participants under any management type.
| Management type | Who pays the provider | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Plan managed | Your plan manager pays the provider directly and handles the paperwork. | No out of pocket cost to you. You can use registered or non registered providers. |
| Self managed | You pay the provider yourself, then claim the amount back through the myplace participant portal. | The most flexibility, along with the responsibility of keeping records. |
| NDIA managed (Agency managed) | The NDIA pays the provider. | The provider must be NDIS registered. Respite Stays is registered, so this is covered. |
What an STR daily rate covers
It helps to know what you are paying for, and this depends on the type of respite you choose. In group or facility based respite, the daily rate often bundles accommodation, personal care, meals and group activities together. In self contained accommodation, the cost covers your private home for the stay and the support you arrange, while meals and day to day activities are self directed, just as they are at home. Many families prefer self contained for the added privacy and flexibility, while others prefer the bundled structure of a group setting.
Either way: the support you need is priced according to your situation, and we always confirm the full cost in writing before anything goes ahead.
How to make sure respite is in your plan
If respite is not yet funded, the best time to raise it is at your planning meeting or plan review. A few things help.
1. Link it to goals
Frame respite around sustaining your support network and your own independence, not just a break.
2. Bring evidence
A carer statement, or a letter from an occupational therapist or GP, can show why respite is reasonable and necessary.
3. Ask for help
Your support coordinator can advocate for respite funding, and your plan manager can confirm what is already available. Our guide to advocating for your respite care needs walks through this in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Does using respite reduce my other Core supports?
Respite is drawn from your flexible Core budget, so spending on a stay does use part of that budget. The upside of flexibility is that you decide the balance between respite and your other day to day supports across the year.
Can I use respite funding for emergencies?
Yes, if you have Core funding available. Respite can be planned well ahead or arranged at short notice. Our guide to emergency versus planned respite explains the difference.
Who organises the booking?
You, a family member, your support coordinator or your plan manager can all start a booking. We then coordinate directly with whoever manages the funding to confirm everything before the stay.
Not sure what your plan allows?
We are happy to help work out whether respite is funded in your plan, with no obligation. Call our team on 0483 958 776.
Send a booking inquiry