Short Term Accommodation for Children

What Does the NDIA Need to Know?

All of these, from the NDIA's short term accommodation guideline:

• The child lives with you and you're their primary carer. STA isn't funded for children in statutory residential out-of-home care.
• They need more than 6 hours a day of active, disability-related support, significantly beyond what's usual for their age, such as high intensity daily personal support or behaviours of concern that need direct supervision
• You need more support to keep caring because of the child's disability-related needs
• Other supports have been funded or considered, like support at home, assistive technology or social and community access

Which Extra Factors Count?

At least one of these has to apply as well.

• Another member of the household has major disability or developmental delay, and your caring responsibilities affect your wellbeing and the care you give
• You or the child's primary carer have serious health concerns, are ageing, or are at risk of not being able to keep caring
• There are identified risks with providing supports in the home
• There's an identified risk the child could enter out-of-home care because of their disability-related support needs
• You live somewhere other in-home supports aren't widely available, such as a remote or rural area

What Doesn't STA Replace for Children?

Normal parenting, and services every family uses.

STA isn't babysitting or nannying, and it isn't help with things all parents do for young children, like toileting or settling to sleep. It doesn't replace school camps or other community and mainstream services, and it can't be used instead of a formal child protection response.

How Many Days Can a Child Get?

Generally up to 28 a year, like adults. More is possible in exceptional situations, generally no more than 60.

The NDIA may fund more than 28 days a year when a child is at risk of not being able to stay in the family home because of significant disability support needs. It generally won't fund more than 60 days a year.

What Must Providers Caring for Children Follow?

State and territory laws that protect children, including worker checks.

That includes Working with Children or Working with Vulnerable People checks. States and territories also have laws on how many days a child can be cared for outside the home before it has to be registered with the relevant authority. Ask the provider how they meet these rules in your state.