Does the NDIS cover a camp?
Partly. The NDIS can fund the disability support part of a camp, but not the recreational cost everyone pays. Here's how a camp is usually split.
It depends — a camp is usually split into two parts. The recreational cost everyone pays (the activities, the food, the fun) is not funded, but the disability **support** you need to attend safely can be. Understanding how a camp is divided is the key to knowing what your plan will and won't cover.
The short answer
How the NDIS decides
How a camp usually splits
How to ask and what helps
A realistic wrap-up
Frequently asked questions
Will the NDIS pay for the whole camp?
Usually not. The recreational part everyone pays for — accommodation, meals and activities — is a personal cost, while the disability support you need to attend can be funded. A camp delivered as Short Term Accommodation can pick up more, because it's built around support and respite.
What is the support component of a camp?
It's the extra help you need to attend safely and take part because of your disability — such as support worker hours, higher staffing ratios or personal care during the camp. This is the part that can come from your Core budget, separate from the recreational fee.
How do I know what I'll pay myself?
Ask the camp provider for an itemised quote that separates the recreational cost from the support cost. The recreational fee is yours; the support component may be funded. Your plan manager or support coordinator can confirm before you commit.
Is a camp the same as respite?
Not always. A camp can be a recreational activity with support added, or it can be delivered as Short Term Accommodation (respite), which bundles a supported stay away from home. STA is funded differently and can cover more of the cost, so ask the provider which one it is.