The Ultimate Guide to NDIS Respite Short-Term Accommodation (STA) in Perth
Are you an NDIS participant looking to build your independence in a new environment? Or are you a dedicated family carer in Western Australia needing a moment to recharge? Understanding NDIS respite short-term accommodation is essential for maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
As the NDIS landscape evolves in 2026, the focus has shifted towards meaningful Short-Term Respite (STR). This guide explores how you can access these supports in Perth to improve your well-being and achieve your long-term goals.
From STA to STR: What Perth Participants Need to Know First
In October 2025, the NDIA officially renamed Short-Term Accommodation (STA) to Short-Term Respite (STR). The support, eligibility criteria, and funding rules remain exactly the same. Only the name has changed. Both terms are still widely used.
What is NDIS Short-Term Accommodation (STA)?
Short-term accommodation (now officially called Short-Term Respite) is a funded NDIS support that allows participants to stay away from home for a short period while their informal carers take a well-deserved break. It is not a holiday. It is a structured, supported stay designed around your care needs and personal goals.
Designed Around You and Your Carer
STA is designed for NDIS participants who rely on family members or friends for daily support. These informal carers, often a parent, partner, or sibling, provide significant unpaid care that makes a participant’s home life possible. Over time, that responsibility takes a real toll.
This support exists to give those carers breathing room while participants continue receiving consistent, professional care in a different setting. It is built around two people: the participant, who deserves quality support, and the carer, who deserves genuine rest.
What Your Respite Stay Looks Like in Practice?
Participants can access up to 28 days of short-term accommodation per year, with a maximum of 14 consecutive days per stay. That allocation is flexible. Some participants use it in short weekend blocks spread across the year; others prefer a single fortnight-long stay. The choice depends on what works best for you and your family.
Funding for STA comes from your Core Supports budget under Assistance with Daily Life. Importantly, STA does not need to be listed separately in your plan. If you have Core funding available, you can generally use it flexibly to access this support when you need it.
During your stay, qualified support workers are available 24 hours a day to assist with personal care, meals, medications, and daily activities. Many providers also offer structured programmes, including community outings, skill-building sessions, and social activities designed to align with your NDIS goals.
Pro tip: Not sure whether your core budget covers STA? Contact your support coordinator or plan manager before booking. They can confirm your available funding and help you plan your stay around your existing budget.
Why is Respite Important for Participants and Carers?
Living with a disability often involves a high level of support from family and friends. Respite short-term accommodation serves as a vital circuit breaker for the entire support network.
- For the Participant: It’s an opportunity to meet new people, experience a change of scenery, and practise living away from home, a key step if you are considering supported independent living (SIL) in the future.
- For the Carer: It helps prevent “carer burnout”. According to carer gateway, regular breaks are essential for the mental health of informal supports, ensuring they can continue their role long-term.
Benefits of Short-Term Accommodation for Participants
Respite care is often talked about from the carer’s perspective. But the benefits for participants are just as real.
A change of environment matters. Staying somewhere new, meeting different people, and stepping outside your usual routine builds confidence in ways that are difficult to replicate at home. Many participants find that short-term stays help them discover interests and abilities they did not know they had.
New social connections are one of the most consistent benefits reported by participants in group respite settings. Shared meals, activities, and outings create genuine opportunities to meet others and build friendships outside of family life.
Skill-building is woven into quality STA programmes. Participants can work on:
- Independent living skills such as cooking, budgeting, and personal organisation
- Community participation through supported outings and group activities
- Communication and social skills in a safe, supported group environment
- Confidence managing routines without the support of a familiar carer
They also lay valuable groundwork if you are considering supported independent living (SIL) in the future. A short-term stay gives you a low-pressure chance to practise independence in a supported setting. That matters.
Professional support is available around the clock throughout your stay. You do not need to manage alone. Trained disability support workers are there for personal care, medication, and anything else that comes up, giving both you and your family genuine peace of mind.
How Do I Get STA Funding in My NDIS Plan?
To access NDIS STA services, you generally need funding under your core supports, assistance with your daily life budget. The NDIA considers several factors before approving this funding:
- Reasonable and Necessary: Is the support related to your disability and value for money?
- Sustainability of Care: Does it help your family or friends keep caring for you?
- Goal Alignment: Does it help you build social skills or independence?
Pro Tip: If you live alone, the NDIS typically does not fund respite, as the primary goal is to provide a break for an informal carer. If you live alone and need temporary housing, you may need to look into medium-term accommodation (MTA).
Is Respite Care the Same as STA?
While the terms are often used interchangeably, ‘respite’ describes the purpose (giving carers a break), while ‘short-term accommodation’ is the funding category used by the NDIA. In 2026, the national disability insurance agency (NDIA) emphasises that these stays must focus on skill development and maintaining the sustainability of your home-based care.
How to Choose the Right NDIS Service Provider in Perth?
Selecting a provider is a significant decision. When looking for respite care in Perth, ask the following questions:
- What is the staff-to-participant ratio? (1:1, 1:2, or 1:3).
- Are the facilities fully accessible? Check for ramps, hoists, and modified bathrooms.
- What activities are included? Do they offer community participation or social outings?
- Can they cater to my diet? Ensure they can handle specific nutritional or medical requirements.
Who Qualifies for Short-Term Accommodation?
Eligibility for STA centres on one core requirement: you live with or receive substantial daily support from an informal carer, typically a family member or close friend who provides unpaid care.
The NDIA assesses STA funding based on the following:
- Your carer provides significant support. This generally means your informal carer is involved in your daily life in a meaningful, ongoing way, including personal care, overnight supervision, or consistent daily assistance.
- The support is unsustainable without a break. The NDIA looks for evidence that regular respite is necessary to prevent carer fatigue and keep your home care arrangement functioning long-term.
- The support is reasonable and necessary. Like all NDIS funding, STA must be directly related to your disability and represent value for the scheme.
Who Doesn’t Qualify?
Understanding who does not qualify saves time and avoids disappointment. Not every participant is eligible for STA, and that is worth knowing upfront.
- You are already receiving Supported Independent Living (SIL). If you are funded for 24/7 paid supports through a SIL arrangement, you are already receiving round-the-clock professional care. The NDIA considers additional STA funding a duplication of support and will not approve it.
- You live independently without an informal carer. STA exists specifically to give unpaid carers a break. If you live alone and receive support only from paid workers, there is no informal carer requiring respite. In that situation, you may want to explore medium-term accommodation (MTA) instead, which is designed for different circumstances.
- You already have 24/7 paid support in place. Similar to the SIL exclusion above, if your plan already funds constant professional support, STA would not be considered reasonable and necessary.
- Your child is under 18 without exceptional circumstances. Since October 2025, children’s access to STA requires a higher level of evidence. Standard caring arrangements are unlikely to meet the new threshold without strong supporting documentation from health professionals.
If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, speak with your support coordinator before your next plan review. They can assess your circumstances honestly and help you prepare the right evidence if a case can be made.
What are the different types of respite available in Perth?
Perth offers a variety of environments for your stay. Depending on your needs, you might choose:
- Group Respite Houses: Stay in a purpose-built facility with other participants. This is great for socialising and is usually funded at a 1:2 or 1:3 staff-to-participant ratio.
- Individual Respite: For those with complex needs requiring 1:1 support.
- Community-Based Respite: Short stays centred around specific activities, such as supported camps or weekend outings.
Comparing STA, SIL, and SDA: What’s the Difference?
It’s easy to get lost in NDIS acronyms. Here is a quick comparison table:
| Support Type | Duration | Primary Purpose |
| STA (Short-Term Accommodation) | Up to 14 days per stay | Respite, skill-building, and carer relief. |
| SIL (Supported Independent Living) | Long-term/Permanent | Assistance with daily tasks in a shared home. |
| SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) | Long-term/Permanent | Specialist buildings for high physical support needs. |
If you require high-physical support housing, you should explore specialist disability accommodation (SDA).
Experience Premium Respite With Achieve Disability Care
At Achieve Disability Care, we pride ourselves on being a trusted NDIS service provider in Perth. Our respite short-term accommodation options are designed to feel like a getaway, not just a service.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many days of STA can I use?
Usually, the NDIS provides funding for up to 28 days per year. Most participants use these in 48-hour weekend blocks or a 14-day stay during school holidays.
Does STA cover my transport?
While the stay includes activities, getting to and from the facility is often handled separately. You can use your assisted travel transport funding for this.
Can I stay in a hotel?
The NDIS guidelines in 2026 specify that funding is for “standard” accommodation. If you choose a luxury hotel that exceeds the NDIS price guide limits, you may have to pay the gap out-of-pocket.
What if my carer has an emergency?
If a primary carer is suddenly hospitalised, you can access Emergency Respite. In these cases, you should contact your Support Coordinator or the NDIA immediately to arrange crisis funding.
