NDIS Guides

NDIS Respite Care Cost: How Funding Actually Works

August 5, 2026

Wondering about NDIS respite care cost? Here is the honest answer. The NDIS does not charge you a set price for respite. It funds it, based on the level of support you usually need, and the rates for each support item sit in the official NDIS pricing schedule. This guide explains how respite funding works, what it covers, how many days you generally get, and what you cannot claim.

Quick summary

The NDIS calls respite short-term accommodation, or STA.
It is usually funded for up to 28 days per year.
Funding is based on the level of support you usually need.
Standard rates apply, and the line items sit in the NDIS pricing schedule.
You should only pay for the supports you actually use.
It cannot be used for holidays, airfares, entertainment, or food and meals.

What the NDIS actually calls respite

Families say respite. The NDIS says short-term accommodation. They describe the same idea. According to the NDIS, short-term accommodation gives you time apart from your usual care arrangements, such as your family, friends or carers.

The purpose matters here, because it shapes what gets funded. It supports you while the people who usually help you take a short break from their caring responsibilities. That break helps them keep caring for you afterwards.

So what does NDIS respite care cost?

There is no single price, and that is genuinely good news. Rather than charging you, the NDIS funds this support in your plan. Two things then determine the amount.

First, your funding is based on the level of support you usually need. Someone who needs a lot of daily assistance will have that reflected in what is funded. Second, standard rates apply to what providers can charge. The line items for claiming short-term accommodation sit in the NDIS pricing schedule, and you should only pay for the supports you actually use.

The NDIS pricing schedule sets out what the NDIS considers appropriate and reasonable maximum prices for all NDIS supports. It lists the support item number, the support item name, the unit, and the recommended maximum prices for national, remote and very remote areas.

We have deliberately not printed a dollar figure here. Prices are updated by the NDIS, they differ by support item, and they differ by region. Any number in a blog post would be out of date quickly. Check the current schedule on the NDIS website, or ask your provider to show you the exact line item they will claim.

Who can get short-term accommodation funding?

The NDIS uses a clear guide. You may be able to get short-term accommodation funding if you:

live with your primary informal supports, such as family, friends or a carer, or you get daily drop-in support, and
get disability-related support from your primary informal support for more than 6 hours a day.

That second point surprises a lot of families. If a partner, parent or friend is providing a large share of your daily support, this funding exists for exactly that situation.

How many days do you get?

Short-term accommodation is usually funded for up to 28 days per year. You can use it flexibly, and the NDIS gives two helpful examples. You might use a block of up to 14 days at a time. Or you might prefer one weekend per month.

There is one condition to keep in mind. You must spend the funding in line with your plan, so it needs to last the whole length of your plan. If you use more support than needed, you may use all of it before your plan ends. If your situation changes, you can ask to change your plan.

What the funding covers

Short-term accommodation funding can be used for:

supports to help you do everyday activities, such as showering, cooking and toileting
standard accommodation, such as a hotel, motel, short stay rental, cabin, cottage, hostel or respite accommodation
support to stay in your own home, or a homestay arrangement with a support worker, if you usually need overnight support.

You can choose to use it in your own home, or in a shared or individual accommodation setting. Generally you should use the funding in your home state or territory. If you live in a remote area, the NDIS may be able to fund short-term accommodation outside your home state or territory.

What the funding cannot be used for

This is where families most often get caught out, so it is worth being direct. Short-term accommodation funding cannot pay for items on the NDIS list of non-NDIS supports. That includes:

cruises, holiday packages, holiday accommodation and airfares
passports, visas, or travel and vehicle insurance
accommodation or travel expenses for family members or support workers who are providing support on holiday
theme parks, music, theatre, cinema, sporting events and conferences
food or meals.

Short-term accommodation also does not replace normal time apart, such as going to school or work, or doing activities in the community. It does not replace other mainstream and community supports either, such as crisis accommodation.

What about participants under 18?

The NDIS may fund short-term accommodation for participants younger than 18 years in some situations. That might be when their disability-related support needs are more than what is typical for their age, or when short-term accommodation helps their family to keep caring for them, for example a break to look after their own wellbeing or health.

One boundary is clear. Short-term accommodation does not replace normal parenting responsibilities, such as helping a child go to the toilet, settling them to sleep at night, or babysitting.

Frequently asked questions

How much does NDIS respite cost per day?

The NDIS does not publish a single daily price for participants. It funds short-term accommodation based on the level of support you usually need, and standard rates apply through the NDIS pricing schedule. Check the current schedule on the NDIS website for the exact figures.

Is respite the same as short-term accommodation?

Yes, in everyday language. The NDIS uses the term short-term accommodation, while families usually say respite. Both describe support that gives you time apart from your usual care arrangements.

How many days of respite can I get?

It is usually funded for up to 28 days per year. You can use it flexibly, for example as a block of up to 14 days, or as one weekend per month.

Do I pay for respite myself?

If it is funded in your plan, the funding covers the supports you use. You should only pay for the supports you actually use. Food and meals are not covered by this funding.

Can I use respite funding for a holiday?

No. Cruises, holiday packages, holiday accommodation and airfares are on the list of things this funding cannot be used for, along with theme parks, cinema and sporting events.

Can I use respite in my own home?

Yes. You can choose to use short-term accommodation in your own home, or in a shared or individual accommodation setting. It can also cover a homestay arrangement with a support worker if you usually need overnight support.

How do I get respite added to my plan?

Talk to your my NDIS contact if you think you may need short-term accommodation funding in your plan. There may also be other support options, such as a support worker to help you at home, or community and mainstream supports.

How 1 Care Connect can help

1 Care Connect is a registered NDIS provider supporting participants and families across Western Sydney. Our respite and short-term accommodation support is nurse-led, so participants with clinical needs are properly looked after during their stay, and carers can genuinely rest.

If you would like to understand your options or plan a break, we are glad to talk it through. You can read about our respite support or get in touch with our team.