Respite care gives NDIS participants and caregivers a reset button. Funded by the NDIS, this short-term support lets caregivers recharge while participants enjoy tailored activities—from art workshops to community outings—with trained professionals. For those with autism, dementia, or mobility challenges, it’s a safe way to build skills and social connections.
Caregivers return refreshed, reducing burnout and improving long-term care. Families gain peace of mind knowing routines and health needs are met. This guide breaks down how respite care works, its proven benefits (like stronger relationships and independence), and steps to include it in NDIS plans. Let’s begin.
What is Respite Care in the NDIS?
Respite care, formally called Short-Term Accommodation and Assistance (STAA) under the NDIS, provides temporary support for participants and their caregivers. Funded through the Core Supports – Assistance with Daily Life category, it covers stays of up to 14 days in safe, supervised environments.
This service helps caregivers recharge while participants access skill-building activities, social opportunities, or tailored care. Designed to align with NDIS goals like community participation and independence, it ensures continuity of support during breaks without disrupting routines or progress.
Types of Respite Care
- Short-Term Accommodation (STA): Overnight or multi-day stays in NDIS-approved facilities offering 24/7 support, meals, and therapeutic activities. Ideal for caregivers needing extended breaks or participants exploring independence in new settings.
- In-Home Respite: Trained support workers provide care at the participant’s home, maintaining familiar surroundings. Suitable for caregivers managing work commitments or short-term illnesses.
- Centre-Based Respite: Structured group activities at dedicated facilities, such as art workshops or social outings, fostering peer connections and skill development.
- Community Access Respite: Staff accompany participants to community events, parks, or recreational programs, promoting social engagement and confidence.
- Emergency Respite: Immediate support during crises, such as caregiver illness, ensuring uninterrupted care in home-based or facility settings.
When is Respite Care Recommended?
Respite care benefits caregivers needing planned breaks to prevent burnout, manage personal responsibilities, or recover from illness. It’s also used when participants require enriched social interaction, skill development, or temporary accommodation during home modifications.
Emergency respite addresses sudden caregiver unavailability, ensuring consistent support. NDIS funding prioritises services that align with participant goals, such as improving independence or accessing community activities, while maintaining compliance with safety and wellbeing standards.
How Respite Care Enhances Participant Wellbeing
Respite care offers targeted support that improves physical health, emotional resilience, and social connection while empowering NDIS participants to grow within safe, structured environments.
Boosting Mental and Emotional Health
Respite care programs reduce anxiety and depression through activities like art therapy, gardening, or hydrotherapy—proven to lower stress hormones by up to 30%. Social outings and group meals foster peer connections, combating isolation common in adults with disabilities.
For participants with dementia, structured sensory activities (e.g., music playlists from their youth or familiar meal routines) stabilise mood and reduce agitation by maintaining neural pathways tied to long-term memory.
Routine and Familiarity Matter
Providers replicate home routines for continuity, critical for dementia participants. Morning hygiene rituals, meal times, and preferred hobbies are preserved to prevent disorientation.
Some respite services use 24/7 staff to guide participants through tailored schedules that mirror their home lives, reducing anxiety spikes by 45%. Familiar items like personal bedding or family photos are encouraged to ease transitions into respite settings.
Encouraging Growth and Independence
Skill-building activities—cooking classes, mobility exercises, or budget management workshops—develop real-world independence. Participants in STA programs gain confidence through incremental challenges, like planning a community outing with staff support.
Art and music therapy sessions improve fine motor skills while allowing creative expression, with 68% of participants reporting heightened self-esteem post-respite.
Safe Risk-Taking in Supportive Environments
Respite care introduces controlled challenges, such as overnight stays away from caregivers or trying adaptive sports. These experiences build decision-making skills and resilience, preparing participants for eventual independent living arrangements.
Supporting Families and Carers
Respite care under the NDIS provides critical relief for caregivers, ensuring they can maintain their wellbeing while delivering quality support to loved ones.
Preventing Carer Burnout
Consistent caregiving can lead to chronic stress, with many NDIS carers reporting exhaustion. Respite care, funded through Core Supports – Assistance with Daily Life, offers scheduled breaks for rest, medical check-ups, or personal time. Regular pauses reduce burnout risks, improving mental clarity and patience. This helps caregivers sustain high-quality support long-term while prioritising their health.
Time to Focus on Other Priorities
Respite care frees hours weekly for carers to manage work, education, or family needs. NDIS plans align respite schedules with school terms, part-time jobs, or personal goals. One carer used respite hours to complete a certification, enhancing her ability to advocate for her child’s NDIS plan updates.
Strengthening the Support Network
Breaks let carers reconnect with friends, join NDIS workshops, or engage in community groups. Stronger social ties reduce isolation—a key factor in carer depression. One mother joined a local support group during respite, gaining strategies to better manage her son’s autism-related challenges.
Why Choose Our Respite Services?
Personalised, Compassionate Support
We co-design NDIS respite plans with participants, families, and therapists to align with goals like community participation or skill-building. For example, a participant with autism might enjoy structured art sessions at our Perth centre, while another may focus on cooking classes to boost independence.
Our team integrates therapy goals—such as speech practice or mobility exercises—into daily activities, ensuring progress even during short-term stays. Regular check-ins with caregivers guarantee routines stay consistent, reducing stress during transitions.
Experienced Staff and Specialist Care
Our WA-based team holds NDIS-specific certifications in dementia care, PEG feeding, and positive behaviour support. Staff trained in AAC devices and sensory modulation techniques support nonverbal participants or those with complex needs.
For example, we use memory-enhancing activities for dementia clients, like photo journals or music therapy, to reduce agitation. Ongoing training in trauma-informed care ensures emotional safety for participants with psychosocial disabilities.
Proudly Local WA Expertise
As Perth’s trusted NDIS provider, we partner with WA therapists, schools, and disability advocates to deliver seamless care. Services include Short-Term Accommodation at fully accessible facilities in Cockburn and Joondalup, emergency respite with 4-hour response times across metro regions, and in-home care using WA-specific community resources like local parks or adaptive sports clubs. Our local knowledge ensures smooth transitions and culturally appropriate activities.
Take the First Step Towards Quality Respite Care
Reaching Abilities delivers NDIS-aligned respite care that empowers participants and relieves caregivers. Our WA team crafts personalised plans with skill-building activities, sensory-safe outings, or emergency stays, all led by specialists trained in dementia care and complex needs. Participants thrive in local, accessible facilities while caregivers reclaim time to rest, work, or connect. Activate tailored respite care in 48 hours—no upfront paperwork. Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how we align services with your NDIS goals, routines, and wellbeing needs.
