The NDIS has updated its guidance and pricing for Short Term Accommodation (STA) and there are some important changes providers need to know.
At Leap in! we’ve received many questions from providers about who may be eligible, what’s included and how STA can be claimed. Here’s an overview of the latest information.
A quick note about the STA and respite name change.
You may have seen this support called a few different things. In 2025, Short Term Accommodation was renamed Short Term Respite. In 2026, the NDIS changed the name back to Short Term Accommodation after feedback from the community.
You may still hear people refer to it as respite, NDIS respite, STA or Short Term Respite. In this article, we use Short Term Accommodation or STA, in line with current NDIS terminology.
STA is a Core support that gives people on the NDIS time apart from their usual care arrangements. It can provide temporary accommodation and disability-related support with daily living while family, friends or carers take a short break from their caring responsibilities.
Who is eligible for Short Term Accommodation?
The NDIS considers someone’s individual circumstances when deciding whether STA meets the funding criteria.
Generally, the person needs to:
- Live with their primary informal supports or receive daily drop-in support from them
- Receive more than six hours a day of disability-related help from their primary informal supports on an ongoing basis.
At least one of the following will also generally need to apply:
- They receive high-intensity supports
- They have intensive or complex behaviour support needs
- They need specialist behavioural intervention support
- Suitable in-home supports aren’t widely available where they live
- The wellbeing of their primary informal supports, or their ability to continue providing care, is at risk
- Their primary informal supports have other significant caring responsibilities.
For adults, STA may be considered where family members, friends or carers provide significant ongoing disability-related support and some time apart may help those arrangements continue.
A participant is unlikely to be eligible for STA if:
- They live alone and don’t have daily informal or drop-in support
- They receive more than 18 hours of paid supports per day at home
- They’re not spending time apart from their primary informal supports
- They’re waiting for home modifications to be completed
- They live in Supported Independent Living (SIL)
- They have primary or supplementary Individualised Living Options (ILO) funding
- They need accommodation because of a housing crisis.
For children under 18, the NDIS may fund STA in exceptional circumstances. It considers whether the child’s disability-related support needs are significantly greater than would usually be expected for a child of the same age.
STA does not replace ordinary parenting responsibilities and cannot be used for babysitting, nannying or mainstream activities such as school camps.
What’s included and what’s not covered?
Providers need to understand what can and can’t be charged to a participant’s STA funding to help ensure claims meet NDIS requirements.
STA may include:
- Standard accommodation, such as a respite facility, hotel, motel, short stay rental, cabin, cottage or hostel, with any accessibility features the participant needs. Cruises, long-haul train trips or tours are not accepted.
- Disability-related support provided in their home or through a homestay arrangement
- Personal care and everyday support, such as help with showering, dressing, cooking or eating
- Disability-related support to take part in community, cultural or social activities
- A support worker staying with the participant where overnight or other disability-related assistance is required.
There are some everyday costs STA won’t cover.
Meals. Participants will need to pay for their own food and groceries. If they have separate NDIS funding for disability-related help with preparing or eating food, they may still be able to use that support during STA.
Activities. STA cannot pay for costs such as entry fees, tickets, equipment or membership fees. It may cover the disability-related support a participant needs to take part.
Transport. STA generally cannot pay for transport to accommodation or activities if the participant can travel independently or use public transport. Participants with separate transport funding in their NDIS Plan may be able to use that funding for travel to and from STA.
STA also cannot be used to fund holidays or recreational travel, including holiday packages, cruises, airfares, overseas accommodation, passports, insurance or tourist activities.
Can support worker accommodation be funded?
Yes. From 1 July 2026, participant accommodation and support worker accommodation have separate NDIS price limits.
Support worker accommodation may be relevant where a participant requires a support worker to stay with them to provide overnight or other disability-related assistance.
Providers should ensure the accommodation and supports delivered reflect the participant’s approved STA arrangements and that invoices clearly identify the supports and accommodation being claimed.
STA pricing changed from 1 July 2026.
From 1 July 2026, accommodation and disability-related support under STA are priced separately.
The amount that can be charged to a participant’s NDIS Plan may depend on:
- The type of accommodation
- How many hours of support are delivered
- When the supports are delivered
- Whether standard or high intensity support is required.
Current STA support price limits are hourly, with different rates applying to weekday daytime, evening and night supports, weekends and public holidays. Separate rates also apply for sleepovers.
Accommodation has a daily price limit, with separate line items for participant and support worker accommodation.
Providers should check the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits before delivering and invoicing STA, as price limits are not necessarily what every provider will charge.
How STA works within an NDIS Plan.
STA is funded through the Assistance with Daily Life category in Core Supports. Depending on when a participant’s plan was created, STA is usually included as a specific line item or stated support in their NDIS Plan.
Participants can typically access up to 28 days of STA per calendar year. These days can generally be used flexibly, such as in blocks of up to 14 days or one weekend per month, unless the participant’s plan states otherwise.
The level and type of support funded will typically reflect the support the participant usually receives from informal or paid supports.
STA cannot be used to double up on other funded supports in the participant’s plan or to build new skills.
What Leap in! needs to process STA claims.
From the Member
- A copy of their NDIS Plan
- Information confirming STA is included as a specific or stated support, where required
- Any relevant information about the STA supports approved in their plan
- Accommodation receipts, if relevant.
If STA is not included or approved for the Member where this is required under their NDIS Plan, Leap in! may not be able to process the claim.
From the provider
- A copy of the service agreement with the Member
- Support logs, timesheets or other evidence of the support hours provided
- Clear, itemised invoices showing the supports delivered
- Accommodation receipts or other supporting documentation, where applicable.
If required information is missing or inaccurate, Leap in! may follow up with the Member and/or provider before processing the claim. This helps ensure claims meet NDIS requirements and can be processed without unnecessary delays.
Final tips for delivering STA.
- Check the plan: Confirm STA is approved in the participant’s NDIS Plan where required before delivering services
- Check current pricing: Accommodation and disability-related supports are now priced separately, so always refer to the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits
- Confirm the supports: Make sure the type and level of support being delivered reflects the participant’s approved STA arrangements
- Keep clear records: Maintain accurate service agreements, support logs, accommodation records and itemised invoices
- Keep personal expenses separate: Meals, activity costs and other personal expenses that aren’t covered by STA should not be included in STA claims.
Have questions?
If you are unsure of your requirements as an STA provider, please contact the NDIA Provider team on 1300 311 675.
Leap in! are here to help with plan management and provider invoice enquiries. Call us on 1300 05 78 78, email [email protected] or chat with us online at www.leapin.com.au.
