What Does Short Term Accommodation Include?
Short term accommodation (STA) pays for three things: the support you'd normally get from your family or carers, standard accommodation for each night, and a support worker's accommodation if they need to stay with you. It doesn't pay for meals, activities, holidays or transport you could manage yourself. Those are everyday costs the guest pays.
What Does STA Pay For?
The NDIA only funds your accommodation, personal care and the support you need to take part in activities.
- Help with everyday activities, like getting ready for the day, showering, toileting, cooking, eating and drinking, cleaning and chores
- Support to take part in community, cultural or social activities, but not the activities themselves
- Standard accommodation with no extra inclusions: clean and comfortable, with a bed, a bathroom and the accessibility features you need
- A support worker's accommodation, if they need to stay with you, for example for overnight support or because there's no local worker
- High intensity supports, delivered by trained workers, if you need them
What Do Guests Pay for Themselves?
Anything that's a day-to-day cost for everyone.
| Cost | Why |
|---|---|
| Meals and food | Food is a day-to-day living cost. You can buy meals from the provider, bring your own or cook. |
| Activities, tickets and entry fees | Everyday costs. STA can fund the support to take part, like one-to-one help for archery, but not the archery. |
| Transport to the stay | Can't be included in the STA price if you can travel or use public transport independently. Transport funding in your plan can still be used. |
| Holiday costs | Holidays aren't NDIS supports. STA can't be used for cruises, tours, airfares or holiday accommodation. |
| Family members' accommodation | The point of STA is time apart, so it doesn't fund your family's stay or programs. |
Looking for a Stay?
We'll connect you with a registered STA provider who may have a stay that suits.
Can You Use STA at Home?
Yes, if you usually need overnight support. The NDIS funds the support only, not the accommodation.
The same applies to a homestay with a host: the NDIS funds the support the host gives, not their home. Friends and family can't be paid as hosts, because that's informal support. This site is about stays away from home, in a respite house, cottage or other accommodation.
Is Support Shared or One-To-One?
It matches what you usually need. If you usually share support, the NDIA funds shared support in STA. If you need one-to-one, it funds that.
The NDIA looks at how many people you can safely share support with. If you usually need extra help for an activity, STA funding can pay for it, as long as it's agreed with the provider and fits the budget.
What About Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices?
Providers delivering intensive and complex behaviour supports must be registered with the NDIS Commission and follow its rules.
If an STA provider needs to use a restrictive practice during your stay, it must also be authorised by the relevant state or territory authority. Some families arrange for a trusted regular worker to support the person during outings on a stay.
Questions People Ask
Does NDIS respite include food?
No. Meals are a day-to-day living cost. Funding you already have for help to prepare or eat food can still be used during a stay.
Can STA pay for a holiday?
No. The NDIA says STA isn't for holidays: it can't pay for holiday packages, cruises, tours, airfares or holiday accommodation.
Can my support worker come with me?
Yes. Your regular worker can provide the support during a stay, and STA can fund their accommodation if they need to stay with you.
Can STA be used for a camp?
It can fund the support and standard accommodation at a stationary setting like cabins or a lodge. The activities themselves are paid by the guest.
Keep Reading
- 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.
- STA rates and price limitsNDIS short term accommodation rates for 2026-27: the support items, the daily accommodation item, sleepovers, high intensity and who the limits apply to.
- Can the NDIS pay for a holiday?Can NDIS short term accommodation pay for a holiday? What the NDIA says about holidays, camps, cabins and travel, and what your plan can still pay for away.
- 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.
- Planning a first stayHow to plan a first overnight respite stay on NDIS short term accommodation: questions to ask the provider, what to agree in writing, and what to pack.
- How it worksHow we connect you with an STA provider, and what happens to your details.
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