Top Respite & Short-Term Accommodation (STA) Providers in Australia

Respite is what most families call it; the NDIS calls it Short-Term Accommodation (STA). It sits in a registration group that also covers Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA), host-family and other shared living arrangements, and help with daily tasks in a group setting. Ongoing support in a shared home is Supported Independent Living (SIL), which has its own listing.

Short-Term Accommodation funds a short stay away from home, with the accommodation and the support you need during it. Participants use it to try new experiences, build independence and meet new people, and it often gives family members and carers a break. STA is funded from your Core supports budget, and your plan sets how much you can use.

Medium-Term Accommodation is for participants who have a long-term home arranged but can't move in yet, for example while a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) dwelling is being built or home modifications are finished. It covers somewhere to live for that period; your support is funded separately.

Providers in this group run respite houses, shared homes and host arrangements. Some offer planned stays booked in advance, others can take short-notice or emergency stays. Ask what a typical stay looks like, how many people stay at once, what support is on site overnight, and how they get to know your routines before you arrive.

Because many Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers are also registered for this group, a provider listed here may focus on SIL rather than short stays. Check that the provider actually offers STA or MTA, and when they have vacancies, before you plan around them.

Reviews from participants and families who have stayed can tell you a lot about the atmosphere of a house, staff consistency and how well the provider communicates. Compare providers on the experience they have with your support needs and how they handle the start and end of each stay.