NDIS Service

NDIS Respite Care & Short Term Accommodation (STA)

Caring for a loved one is rewarding, but everyone needs time to recharge. NDIS Respite Care and Short Term Accommodation (STA) gives participants the chance to enjoy new experiences, make friends and build independence, while giving primary carers peace of mind and a well-deserved break. My Care Link Australia connects you with verified respite providers at no cost to you.

Find respite care providers Talk to Sarah · (02) 5950 6064

What is NDIS Short Term Accommodation (STA) and respite?

Short Term Accommodation (including respite) is funded under Core Supports — Assistance with Daily Life — in an NDIS plan. It gives participants a short stay away from home with the support they need, while families and carers get time to rest.

The NDIS typically funds up to 28 days of Short Term Accommodation per calendar year. Participants can use this flexibly — for example, up to 14 days at a time, weekend getaways or holiday periods.

What is usually included in STA funding:

Suitable accommodation in an accessible, home-like setting
Personal care and 24/7 support workers tailored to your care ratio (1:1, 1:2 or 1:3)
All standard meals, drinks and nutritional support
Agreed community outings, recreational activities and transport during the stay

Types of respite care available

Respite looks different for every family. These are the most common options we help participants and carers find:

Centre-based and respite house stays — dedicated, fully accessible respite facilities with 24/7 trained support, communal dining, sensory spaces and peer social activities.
In-home respite — a qualified support worker comes to your home to support the participant while the primary carer rests, attends appointments or takes a holiday. See also NDIS support workers.
Emergency and urgent respite — rapid-response placement when an unforeseen crisis, illness or primary carer hospitalisation occurs.
Youth and teen respite camps — age-tailored school holiday programs, activity retreats and skill-building weekends.
Community-based and holiday respite — supported weekend getaways, coastal retreats or sporting trips with small group support.

Why choose My Care Link Australia for respite matching?

We are a free, independent matching service for participants, families, carers and Support Coordinators — we do not deliver respite ourselves.

Free concierge matching — we search our nationwide network of vetted providers for options matching your care ratio, location and dates, at no charge.
Plan flexibility — we work with NDIS-registered and quality-verified unregistered providers to suit self-managed, plan-managed and NDIA-managed participants.
Rapid turnaround — urgent requests are prioritised, with responses typically within 24–48 hours; planned holiday bookings can be arranged months in advance.
Personalised matching — we consider personality, age group, dietary needs, mobility equipment and sensory preferences.

How to request respite care

Use the Quick Enquiry Form on this page, call us on (02) 5950 6064, or speak with Sarah, our concierge. Tell us the participant's location, the support they need, the care ratio and your preferred dates.

NDIS Respite Care (STA) near you

My Care Link Australia accepts enquiries from right across Australia, from capital cities to regional and remote communities. Which respite options are available to you depends on your location, your requirements and what individual providers can offer at the time you ask. Tell us the area you are looking in, the type of support you need and the dates you have in mind, and our team will use that as the starting point. Older Australians outside the NDIS can also find respite care through aged-care pathways. You can also browse respite care by major city below.

Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Perth Adelaide Gold Coast Canberra Hobart

View all 100+ locations →

Common questions about NDIS respite

Is respite care free under the NDIS?

When Short Term Accommodation (STA) is included in your NDIS plan under Core Supports (Assistance with Daily Life), provider costs including accommodation, meals, activities and 24/7 care are funded by your plan. My Care Link Australia's matching service is 100% free for participants and families.

Do I need a specific STA line item in my NDIS plan?

In most plans, STA comes from your Core Supports budget under 'Assistance with Daily Life'. Because Core funding is flexible, you can often use existing core funds for respite if it relates directly to your disability needs and carer wellbeing.

Can I choose between in-home respite and a respite home?

Yes. Depending on what you and your family prefer, you can arrange support workers to assist in your own home or choose a stay in an accessible respite house or holiday apartment.

Can Support Coordinators submit a respite request on behalf of a participant?

Absolutely. Support Coordinators, LACs, hospital discharge planners and family nominees can submit an enquiry with preferred dates and care ratios, and our team will present suitable options promptly.

What happens if I need emergency respite?

If a primary carer becomes unwell or an unexpected emergency arises, let us know immediately through our enquiry form or by calling (02) 5950 6064. We prioritise urgent matches to help ensure safe, continuous care.