Respite, also known as Short Term Accommodation or STA, is about taking a break from your usual routine in a supportive environment. It’s a chance to build confidence, explore your interests, make connections and enjoy experiences that matter to you.
In this article, we cover what respite means for different people, and at different stages of life. So, whether you’re just starting out with respite, looking at options, or have specific disability support needs, you can get all the info you need to get the right respite experience for you.
Respite can be particularly valuable for families, especially if you’re raising children with autism, or with high support needs.
As a parent or carer, you’re often balancing support responsibilities alongside work, other children, appointments, household tasks, and everything in between! Having access to respite can create space to rest, attend important commitments or simply recharge.
For your child, it’s a chance to make new friendships and try fun new experiences outside of their usual routine.
Respite for children may include in home support, community based activities, school holiday programs and recreational camps, overnight stays or short term accommodation. Sometimes it’s used to provide temporary, emergency support during major life transitions or family crises.
Good support isn’t always easy to measure on paper or tick boxes, but you can feel it when it’s there. Here are some of the signs to look out for:
When we provide support for children in respite, we’re supporting much more than their disability. Like any young person, they’re navigating friendships, emotions, changing interests, growing independence and all the ups and downs that come with being a child or teenager. At Melba, our role is to understand the whole person and create an experience that’s right for them, where they’re able to be themselves.
Shannon, Outcomes Manager at Melba Support Services
At Melba, we try to stick to the routines children have at home, so there is consistency
We will bend over backwards to make sure the families have peace of mind.
Jayden, Melba Support Worker
Respite for adults can take many forms depending on your age, support needs, interests and living arrangements.
For some people, it’s about spending time with a support worker at home. This may include support with things like meal preparation, personal care, household tasks, or simply enjoying some company while maintaining familiar routines.
Others may choose community based respite through local day programs or community centres. These programs provide a chance to meet new people, enjoy a range of activities, and stay connected with the community in a supportive setting.
It’s important that respite is centred around you as a person. This means taking the time to understand your routines, interests and lifestyle, so the experience created feels comfortable, enjoyable and meaningful to you.
If you’re 65 years or older, residential respite is available through aged care services. Whether you need a short stay in an aged care setting, support in your own home, or within the community through residential respite programs, it can range from a few days to several weeks. Respite can be particularly helpful for people living with dementia, age-related health conditions or high support needs.
Depending on what you need, you may need to apply for aged care funding through My Aged Care.
Respite can also be incredibly beneficial for people with high or complex disability support needs, but careful planning is needed to make sure support needs are met and remain consistent.
In many cases, highly trained support workers, nurses and specialised equipment are needed, especially for complex mobility needs, enteral feeding, medication management, ventilation support, personal care and other high intensity daily supports.
The respite environment itself may also be adapted. For instance, some people benefit from low stimulation spaces, sensory supports, quiet areas or specialised equipment.
The most important thing is finding a respite provider that understands your specific needs and that support is centred around what matters most to you. Whether you’re exploring respite for yourself or someone else, the Melba team will work with you to understand the situation and create a tailored support plan.
Sometimes things happen that are out of your control. A carer falls sick, there’s a family emergency, you need urgent medical treatment, or an unexpected situation disrupts your supports temporarily.
Melba can arrange emergency short notice support during these situations. Our team are available to discuss emergency planning with you, your family or support team before a crisis occurs. Because having a plan in place provides peace of mind for everyone involved.
The NDIS may fund respite through different support categories, depending on your situation. It’s typically funded via Assistance with Daily Life, under Core supports in your NDIS plan.
Funding may cover accommodation, personal care, meals and support during your respite stay. There’s also the option to use other funded supports to access respite experiences through community participation, individual support arrangements or other approved services.
Because every NDIS plan is different, Melba can help you understand what funding may be available to you.
When it comes to high intensity respite, additional staffing, specialist skills and equipment is often needed, and funding arrangements can be more complex. In these cases, the NDIS may ask for assessments and supporting evidence to demonstrate the level of support needed.
The cost of respite can vary considerably depending on the type of support being provided, where it takes place and the level of support needed.
As a general guide:
The good news is, many people are eligible for funding to help cover some or all of these costs. Depending on your circumstances, support may be available through your NDIS plan or through aged care funding programs.
If you’re unsure what funding you’re eligible for, get in touch with the Melba team today and we can talk you through your options.
At Melba, we know respite looks different for everyone. For some people, it’s a chance to relax and enjoy a change of scenery. For others, it’s an opportunity to try new activities, build connections and enjoy new experiences.
Whatever respite means to you, we’ll take the time to understand what matters most, so we can help you find the right environment and people to support you.
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