Short Term Accommodation (STA)

Funding for short stays away from home, including respite, usually up to 14 days at a time.

What it means

Short Term Accommodation (STA), which includes respite, is funding for short stays away from your usual home. It covers the whole package for that stay: the support you need, the accommodation itself, your meals, and activities while you are there. STA is often used to give both you and the people who usually care for you a break, which is why it is commonly linked with the word respite. It can also be a chance to try new activities, build skills and spend time in a different environment with different people. Because it bundles several things together, STA is a convenient way to fund a complete short stay rather than paying for each piece separately.

In practice

STA is usually funded for short periods, often up to around 14 days at a time, and can be used in different ways to suit you. Some people use it as a single block, such as a week away, while others spread it across the year as occasional overnight or weekend stays. A stay might be in a dedicated respite setting, a shared arrangement with other participants, or another suitable place, always including the support you need during that time. It is worth planning stays ahead where you can, since places may need to be booked. If regular breaks matter for you or your carers, talk with your planner or support coordinator about how much STA suits your situation and how you would like to use it.

A real example

For example, Marcus lives with his mother, who provides much of his daily support. Using STA, he spent a long weekend at a respite house where staff supported him and he joined group outings to the coast. The break gave his mother time to rest, and Marcus enjoyed meeting new people and trying activities he does not usually do at home.

Short Term Accommodation (STA) — FAQs

What does STA actually pay for?
STA pays for a complete short stay away from your usual home. That includes the support you need during the stay, the accommodation itself, your meals, and activities while you are there. Because it bundles these together, you do not have to fund each part separately. It is a convenient way to cover a full short break in one arrangement.
Is STA the same as respite?
Respite is included within STA. STA is the funding label, and respite describes one of its most common uses: giving you and your usual carers a break. So when people talk about respite, they are generally referring to STA being used for that purpose. The same funding can also support trying new activities and spending time in a different setting.
How long can an STA stay be?
STA is usually funded for short periods, often up to around 14 days at a time. How you use it is flexible: some people take a single block such as a week away, while others spread it across the year as occasional overnight or weekend stays. Talk with your planner about the pattern that suits you and your carers best.
Can I choose where I stay?
Often yes, within what is available and suitable. A stay might be in a dedicated respite setting, a shared arrangement with other participants, or another appropriate place, always including the support you need. Because places may need booking, it helps to plan ahead. Your support coordinator can help you find and arrange options that match your preferences and needs.
Who benefits from STA?
Both you and the people who usually care for you can benefit. STA gives your regular carers a chance to rest, which helps them keep supporting you over the long term. For you, it can be a break in a new environment, a chance to try activities and build skills, and an opportunity to spend time with different people.

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