When a young person relies on family for daily disability-related support, arranging time apart can take a lot of preparation. A parent may need to attend to their own health. The young person may be nervous about staying somewhere unfamiliar, even if they like the idea of trying it.
Short Term Accommodation (STA), often described as respite, can provide disability-related support while a participant and their usual carers spend time apart. Where it meets the relevant NDIS requirements, it can help sustain the support arrangements the young person relies on at home.
At Kickstart Youth Services, we support children, young people and young adults aged 8–30. If you are considering a supported stay, you can start a referral conversation with our team about the young person’s needs and whether our service could be a suitable fit.
Planning around the young person
The first conversation should be about the support someone needs in their usual day. Who helps them at home? What support do they need overnight? How do they communicate that something is uncomfortable or becoming too much?
Those details matter more than filling an itinerary. A young person might enjoy an outing but need quiet time afterwards. They may want to help prepare a familiar meal, or prefer to know the evening routine before they arrive.
A stay can include opportunities to make choices and practise everyday tasks with support. Those possibilities should follow the young person’s needs and preferences. They do not, by themselves, establish eligibility for NDIS-funded STA.
Giving carers time away from their usual responsibilities
A break is harder to use when you are wondering whether staff know what to do if your young person becomes unsettled.
Before the stay, agree on how communication will work. Discuss who to contact and when staff should call you. Share the details that can be easy to overlook, such as how the young person likes to be woken or what helps them settle at bedtime.
For carers, time apart might mean catching up on sleep or attending an appointment that has been put off. STA’s role is connected to the participant’s disability-related needs and the sustainability of their usual informal supports. It is not an automatic funding entitlement whenever a family needs a break.
Check eligibility before making plans
The NDIS Short Term Accommodation guideline explains the requirements for this support. Having an NDIS plan or available Core funding does not automatically mean a particular stay can be paid for through the plan.
Eligibility considers the participant’s disability-related needs and the support they receive from their primary informal supports. The proposed arrangement also needs to meet the relevant funding requirements. A holiday or a change of scenery is not, on its own, a basis for STA funding.
For children, the distinction between disability-related support and ordinary parenting responsibilities needs particular care. Kickstart’s service age range does not mean everyone aged 8–30 is eligible for NDIS-funded STA.
If you are unsure, speak with your Support Coordinator or NDIS contact about how the requirements apply before committing to a booking.
Know what the stay will cost
Ask for a written breakdown that separates disability support from accommodation charges and any expenses you would need to pay yourself.
Everyday costs such as food and meals, along with activity entry fees, should not be presented as automatically covered by NDIS STA funding. A worker may provide eligible support to help a young person attend an activity, while the ticket remains a separate expense.
Check these costs before agreeing to the stay. Families should be able to discuss affordable options, including activities without an entry fee, rather than discovering extra charges afterwards.
The quote should also explain the proposed support arrangements, including whether support is shared and what is planned overnight. Ask how changes to those arrangements would affect the cost.
Considering a stay with Kickstart
Kickstart has a beachside respite home in Rye. The location is one part of the conversation; the more important question is whether the setting and available support suit the young person.
Talk with us about their daily support needs and what they would want to know before staying away from home. We can discuss suitability and the information needed to consider a booking. NDIS funding requirements still need to be checked for the individual.
To discuss support for someone aged 8–30, submit a referral or call 1800 229 736.