NDIS Respite for Carers: How STA Helps Families
Short term accommodation (STA) is NDIS funding for the participant, not the carer, but its purpose is to give family and other unpaid carers a short break so they can keep caring. The NDIA looks at how much support carers give, whether their health or other responsibilities put their role at risk, and the risk to the family's wellbeing without STA. Carers can also get respite and support through Carer Gateway.
Why Does the NDIS Fund Breaks for Carers?
Because the NDIA knows informal supports are vital, and wants them to be able to keep supporting the participant.
The NDIA's guideline says STA gives primary informal supports a short break from their usual caring responsibilities while the participant is supported by someone else. In October 2025 the NDIA announced it was renaming STA "short term respite", partly because participants, families and carers said the new name better reflected the value of informal supports.
What Does the NDIA Look at About Carers?
How much they do, and whether they can keep doing it.
- The hours of disability-related support carers give each day. STA needs more than 6.
- Whether a carer's wellbeing or capacity to keep caring is at risk, for example because they're ageing or unwell
- Whether carers have other caring responsibilities, like young children or other family members with disability
- The risk to the participant's and the family's wellbeing if they keep supporting without STA
- Breaks in paid supports, like school holidays, when carers do more
Looking for a Stay?
We'll connect you with a registered STA provider who may have a stay that suits.
What Does a Carer Do During a Stay?
Whatever they need. STA is about time apart, so the carer stays home or does their own thing.
The NDIA's examples include a mother using the time to recover from illness and take up a hobby, and parents spending time with their younger children. STA can't fund the carer's own accommodation or programs.
Where Else Can Carers Get a Break?
Carer Gateway, a national service for carers, on 1800 422 737.
Carer Gateway can talk through respite options and local services, including planned respite for carers who need a break and emergency respite if a carer suddenly can't continue. Within the NDIS plan, flexible Core funding can also pay for a support worker to help the participant at home or in the community when carers can't.
Questions People Ask
Is NDIS respite funding for the carer or the participant?
The participant. STA is in the participant's plan, but its purpose is to give their family or carers a break so they can keep caring.
Can a carer ask for STA on the participant's behalf?
A carer can help the participant ask their my NDIS contact, and give evidence about the support they provide and how it affects them.
Where can carers get help for themselves?
Carer Gateway, on 1800 422 737, helps carers with respite options and local services.
Keep Reading
- Who can get STAThe NDIA's rules for short term accommodation: the 6 hour test, the extra factors it looks for, when it won't fund STA, and the different rules for children.
- Getting STA in your planHow to ask the NDIA for short term accommodation (STA): who to talk to, the evidence that helps, how the amount is decided and what to do if the answer is no.
- Emergency respiteWhat to do when a carer suddenly can't continue: Carer Gateway emergency respite on 1800 422 737, using NDIS short term accommodation, and plan changes.
- What is STA?What NDIS short term accommodation (STA) is, who it's for, what a stay includes, how many days you can get, and why it's also called short term respite.
- NDIS respite accommodationNDIS respite accommodation explained: respite houses, cottages, group stays and host stays, who can get it, what's funded and how to find a registered provider.
- How it worksHow we connect you with an STA provider, and what happens to your details.
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