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Navigating the requirements and processes for NDIS short term accommodation (STA) and respite can be challenging for participants and coordinators. As a trusted and valued provider of STA and Respite services Australia-wide, Habitability has developed a list of our most frequently asked questions.
As stated in the Short-Term Accommodation or Respite Guideline(s) available at Short Term Accommodation or Respite | NDIS, STA is not for holidays. STA, if funded in a participant’s plan, will usually be for the purposes of respite or when the participant’s usual support network is not available for a short period. STA can include personal care, accommodation, food and/or activities.
In appropriate circumstances, a participant’s plan may specify that NDIS funds may
be used for:
NDIS funding does not cover non- disability related daily expenses such as entrance fees and event tickets.
The Habitability network of trusted partners and booking organisations reaches out across Australia. We work hard to find suitable options in every state and territory, in order to meet your unique needs. With so many choices, we can help you realise your STA goals and objectives and enjoy the STA of a lifetime. Learn more About Habitability
The NDIS may fund Short Term Accommodation/Respite, alongside additional supports that provide a ‘respite effect’ and help your carers to keep supporting you in the long term. The NDIS considers the risk to you and your family’s wellbeing if they continue to support you without Short-Term Accommodation. They also consider how the support provided by your family and networks affects your independence. We compare this to the independence and opportunities Short-Term Accommodation may provide.
Yes. We will discuss this with you, and with your consent, discuss your STA with your support coordinator, plan manager, and representatives. At Habitability, we recognise that each participant has unique goals and expectations. Our model provides choice and control and ownership for NDIS participants, allowing you to grow with the promise that we will create a value for money STA Quote, which complements and adheres to the NDIS Guidelines.
NDIS STA/Respite funding will NOT cover the attendance
of family members and/or informal supports during STA (respite) (this may be considered to be a family holiday). A paid support may provide services during your STA which align with a participant’s usual level of daily or weekly disability core support.
Daily STA Funds – Allowance for 3 meals per day – breakfast/lunch & dinner
– From $0 – $200 per day
*Habitability can discuss booking activities – on a case-by-case basis. Please note that any considered activity must align with your individual plan goals, and/or are noted within your NDIS Plan, as capacity building opportunities.
Based on your eligibility and circumstances, STA covers the cost of your care in another place, for up to 14 days at a time and for a period of up to 28 days within a 1 year period. *Note that there must be a break of at least one day before commencing a stay within STA.
The NDIS may fund Short-Term Accommodation for children if circumstances meet the NDIA’s ‘reasonable and necessary’ criteria. Eligibility will depend on your child or children’s needs and the NDIA consider the needs of the family and carers and take into account the whole family situation. *Specific funding for STA/Respite may need to be written in your child’s plan for STA/respite to be considered.
Habitability recommends that you discuss eligibility with your LAC and/or NDIS Planner or your local NDIS office.
The NDIA have advised Habitability that NDIS funding does not cover non-disability related daily expenses such as entrance fees and event tickets. Habitability can discuss booking activities on a case-by-case basis, provided they align with a participant’s individual stated plan goals, & have the possibility to develop independence, build new skills, including social skills, capacity and confidence. If activities are requested, we ask for a letter from a Registered Occupational Therapist.
*Habitability will keep this information on file *for the life of the current NDIS Plan dates, to be utilised, & evidenced if future STA’s, are requested.
Habitability are aware that the current advise may not yet be fully visible within the existing STA guidelines, but as we have been forewarned of these new directives & expectations, we must abide by them in their entirety, to the very best of our ability. We encourage participants, and representatives to contact their local NDIS office, LAC and or NDIS Planner if they have concerns that their choice and control may be adversely affected by these new updates.
In closing, Habitability encourages dialogue and advocacy, and it is our intention & desire to provide increased opportunity and capacity building platforms, for all NDIS participants.
Presently, Habitability STA works with Plan-Managed and Self-Managed NDIS participants.
Habitability suggests that you speak to your plan manager, support coordinator, LAC, or family
member to discuss whether sufficient funds are allocated to cover your Habitability STA.
As a NDIS participant, you have access to the NDIS portal where you can view your NDIS funds.
If you are plan-managed, your plan manager is your first point of contact to enquire about your
NDIS funds and your eligibility for STA/Respite.Habitability has no authority or access to your funding or your NDIS Plan and therefore cannot advise you on your NDIS funding and we do not provide any financial advice to NDIS participants on how to use your NDIS funding.
Please note also that your plan manager, support coordinator, LAC, or family member will not
discuss your circumstances, until you provide them with consent to share information with us.
We suggest that you speak to your plan manager, support coordinator, LAC, family member, or NDIA to check how your NDIS funding is managed.
Habitability cannot book more than one bedroom for the participant.
This is due to recently updated information, stating that the NDIS will NOT cover the
attendance of family members and/or informal supports during STA (respite) – as
this may be considered to be a family holiday.
The NDIS state that – STA supports should be used to help participants take a break
from their home and their informal supports.
Therefore, only the participants accommodation can be booked.
Habitability are conscious that in some cases the participant may require a full-
time support worker (SW) – to assist them during their STA & that this person may
require to be ‘on site’.
In these cases, Habitability strongly encourages participants/and or representatives
to provide supporting evidence *from a registered NDIS clinician, such as a physio,
social worker, psychotherapist or GP – as to why a SW is required to be ‘on call’ and
in the vicinity of the participant’s stay.
No, Short Term Accommodation/Respite is not a STA Respite.
The NDIS only funds STA when the need for it is related to your disability, such as for respite or skill-building. We suggest that you speak with your support coordinator, LAC, early childhood partner or planner if you’re going on STA Respite and need your disability support delivered in another location.
If you are experiencing homelessness, please contact your NDIS representatives for support and guidance. In some cases the NDIS may consider funding STA for a short period of time if there is a risk of harm involved and will consider all factors of your circumstances.
https://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/are-you-experiencing-homelessness
In most cases you may not require specific funding for STA to be written in to your plan, *although we suggest that you may consider discussing this with your Support Coordinator & representatives in the run up to your plan review. In the meantime, you may be able to access the flexible funding within your core allocation – which may allow you to experience Short Term Accommodation – if it helps you pursue and meet your goals and increase your independence and capacity.
If your circumstances change and you need Short Term Accommodation, you can request a plan re-assessment (review) if there isn’t enough funding in your current plan. On consideration of your circumstances, the NDIS may include additional funding in your plan to cover Short-Term Accommodation if it is deemed reasonable and necessary.
STA can include personal care, accommodation, food and/or activities.
NDIS funding does not cover non-disability related daily expenses such as entrance fees and event tickets.
The NDIA may consider funding activities that align with your stated plan goals and/or are noted within your NDIS plan as opportunities for increasing independence and capacity.
The NDIS funds standard rates for Short Term Accommodation. You can find the rates in the https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/price-guides-and-pricing
You can choose to use the core budget on a range of supports like STA to suit your clients needs and individual requirements as outlined in their plan. If your client already has funding in their core budget, this may be used for STA. Generally funding is for a group price, unless there is evidence your client requires individual support because of their disability.
Habitability’s STA/Respite model only supports STA and Assistance (inc Respite) at a 1.1 ratio.
Saying this, – *based on increased participant feedback, on the matter, Habitability take into consideration, that in very ‘limited circumstances’, STA’s may be taken without a paid support, if a participant has a specific disability need, that may warrant this.
Therefore, If you wish to seek NDIS Planner, approval, please let us know, – and we can provide you with a quote – which will outline the details of your request.
Most importantly, manage client expectations!
All Habitability STA’s require plan manager approval in writing from the plan manager before we can proceed with active facilitation of the requested service.
Also, there are times where the preferred STA accommodation options of your client are unable to be pre-reserved by Habitability – as we must adhere to the providers cancellation and payment options.
Options to pre-reserve accommodation decrease the nearer the scheduled check-in date is, so it is best to plan ahead wherever possible to allow time for a) the option of pre-reservation b) the process to evolve to hopeful, plan manager approval of the STA!
Habitability’s model provides flexibility of choice and control for NDIS participants. We work with the participant, their support coordinator, plan manager and family members to create a value for money STA quote within the NDIS price limits.
All STA costs can be discussed individually in the hope of clients achieving their unique goals and aspirations.
Please note that Habitability cannot assist with flights, but we may be able to assist with other transfer options and we encourage you to discuss potential options with our Intake & Assessment Coordinators.
Your Habitability quote/and or Service Agreement may include fees for personal care/support, accommodation, food and/or activities & our service provision fees.
In addition, fees may be attributed (if required) to reasonable & necessary assistance with transfers & specialised equipment.
There may be out of pocket expenses in some circumstances.
Expenses may occur, where requests, – when combined with the highlighted STA costs, exceed the daily cap allowance or if particular requests do not rest within the advised NDIS guidelines.
Habitability STA’s have a service administration fee of $400 per day for new participants.
If your STA is 2 days, *or less – our fee, increases slightly to $425 per day.
For returning participants (*you have taken an STA with us previously) – our service administration fee is $375 per day.
Our fees cover all operational and administrative costs & allows our clinical team to provide ongoing support & advice throughout your STA journey with us.
Our team work with you until completion of your STA, in addition to our post STA ‘check-in’ & evaluation.
If your STA request does not receive approval Or go ahead for any reason – Habitability will not charge a fee for any time taken in relation to your co-working with your assigned Habitability Case Manager, although NDIS cancellation fee’s may be applicable in certain circumstances.
At Habitability, we believe that our fee structure offers participants a genuine client focused & innovative STA/Respite model, that truly cares & truly delivers memorable and empowering experiences.
It is 0115. And we suggest that you refer to the NDIS price guide for further reference.
We encourage our clients to consult with their support coordinator, LAC, plan manager, planner, and family members to seek support and guidance around their STA. *Our Service Agreement is only developed after the Habitability STA quote is reviewed and approved, firstly by the client and then their representatives.
Habitability requires as much notice of cancellation as possible.
At a minimum, we offer free cancellations if the booked STA is cancelled within 72 hours of booking. Furthermore, all cancellations will apply according to the NDIS pricing arrangements *but this is subject to conditions, as Habitability works with a range of independent accommodation providers whose cancellation policies are not aligned or governed under the NDIS, therefore, within our service agreement we make reference to this.
Habitability STA Accommodation Cancellation Policy – Third Party Accommodation Providers Conditions.
The participant agrees for Habitability to recoup all STA pre-payment costs associated with their STA accommodation booking, in the event of cancellation.
This will be in line with the terms and conditions of the accommodation provider, which can be 7 days before the STA commences, but this is a guide only, as STA accommodation providers have differing terms and conditions, within their individual cancellation policies.
The participant gives consent for Habitability to recoup all STA pre-payment costs, if choosing to vacate their STA Accommodation for any reason once their STA has started.
In limited cases Habitability may be able to negotiate a room credit (to be used in a future STA) or partial refund.
All Habitability STA invoices are sent to plan managers or self-managed clients within 24 hours of the completion of the STA service.
Habitability has arrangements and partnerships with a range of hotel chains around Australia, but aside from this your client can choose any accommodation option which is featured on booking.com – as we work well with them, within their terms and cancellation conditions.
We prefer to receive as much notice as possible to discuss, develop and facilitate your STA experience! Our preferred timeframe is a minimum of two weeks but in some cases, it is possible to facilitate an earlier entrance of your STA, based on a number of factors being met, with the most prominent being plan manager approval, once a quote is received and approved by your client.
After the quote is approved, we encourage support coordinators to seek Plan Manager approval as we can only proceed with an STA when we have received Plan Manager approval in writing.
