Short Term Accommodation & Respite referrals in Frankston, VIC

Short stays away from home — support, accommodation, meals and activities bundled together — giving participants a break and carers time to rest, including urgent and emergency respite.

Short Term Accommodation and Respite (STA) funds support for a participant to stay somewhere other than their usual home for a short period. It bundles the accommodation, personal care and support, meals and everyday activities for the duration of the stay into a single support package, and is funded from the participant's Core Supports budget.

STA is often used for respite. It gives a participant's usual carer or family a planned break while making sure the participant keeps receiving the support they need. It also gives the participant a change of environment, a chance to build skills and independence, and opportunities to try new activities and social connections away from home.

STA is generally funded for a limited number of days a year (NDIS guidance commonly refers to up to around 28 days), used flexibly — a single night, a weekend, or a block of up to about two weeks at a time. It can be delivered in settings such as a dedicated respite house, shared accommodation, or with a host provider, and can include planned or urgent stays.

Coordinator FAQs

Which budget does STA come from?

STA is funded from a participant's Core Supports budget. Because Core funding is generally flexible, participants can often move funds across Core categories, but STA must be a reasonable and necessary support consistent with the plan and its goals. Check what the plan says, and where the plan is agency-managed, confirm the provider is…

How many days of STA can a participant use?

NDIS guidance commonly refers to funding for up to around 28 days of STA per year, used flexibly — a single night, a weekend, or a block of up to about two weeks at a time. The actual amount depends on the participant's plan and goals, so always check what is funded or stated in the current plan rather than assuming a fixed allowance.

Does STA cover respite for carers?

Yes. Respite is one of the main reasons STA is used — it gives a participant's usual carer or family a planned break while the participant keeps receiving support. Under the NDIS, respite is framed around the participant's need for support away from home rather than as a service to the carer, but the practical effect is genuine carer…

Can I arrange emergency or urgent respite?

Yes. Many providers hold or can flex capacity for urgent respite when a usual arrangement breaks down, such as a carer falling ill. Use Novida to find providers offering emergency respite and contact them directly to confirm immediate availability. Because urgent stays are often unplanned, discuss budget flexibility and whether a plan…

Does the STA provider need to be registered?

If the participant is agency-managed, STA must be delivered by an NDIS-registered provider under the relevant registration group. Self-managed and plan-managed participants can use unregistered providers, though registration can still offer added assurance. Confirm the participant's plan-management type before you refer, and check the…

What is included in the STA price?

STA is usually charged as a bundled package covering accommodation, personal care and support, meals, and everyday activities for the stay. The rate varies by support ratio and by weekday, weekend or public holiday. Some extras, such as specialised transport or one-off activity costs, may sit outside the package, so confirm exactly what…

How is STA different from SIL or MTA?

STA is short and time-limited — a stay away from home for respite or a change of environment. Supported Independent Living (SIL) is ongoing support in the participant's usual home. Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) bridges a gap while a participant waits for a confirmed long-term home. Choose STA when the need is short, temporary and…

What should I include in an STA referral?

Provide participant consent, NDIS number, plan-management type, the relevant Core line items and available budget, the requested dates and frequency, the support ratio, and any accessibility, medical, dietary or behaviour support needs. A complete referral lets the provider confirm suitability and availability quickly — which matters most…

Can STA be used regularly, such as every month?

Yes. STA can be planned as a recurring arrangement — for example, a regular weekend each month — as long as it stays within the participant's funded days and remains a reasonable and necessary use of the budget. Regular planned respite can help sustain an informal support network. Confirm the pattern is supported by the plan and book…