Everything you need to know about Short Term Accommodation and the NDIS

Life can settle into familiar routines – the same places, the same people, the same supports. And while that can be comforting, sometimes a change of scenery can open the door to new experiences, connections, and confidence.

If that rings true for you, Short Term Accommodation (STA) might be worth exploring.
If you’re an eligible National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant, STA is a support that could make it possible for you to step outside your usual routine while still having in place the everyday supports you need. And importantly, for the people who are there for you every day – your informal supports – it also offers time to recharge.

In this guide, we explain what STA is, what's included, and when it might be funded through your NDIS plan, so you can get a clearer picture of whether it's right for you.

What's Short Term Accommodation in the NDIS?

STA is support that lets you spend some time away from your usual home, and from the family members, friends, or carers who provide most of your unpaid daily support. These are the people the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) generally refers to as your ‘informal supports’. The main purpose of STA is to give you and your informal supports a break from your usual care arrangements, helping everyone recharge and continue their support roles sustainably.

You can access STA funding (in the right circumstances) for up to 14 days at a time, for a total of up to 28 days per year.

What STA includes

STA isn’t just about where you stay, it also involves the support you receive while staying there.

Depending on your needs and provider, STR inclusions can cover:

personal care (like help with daily tasks)
accommodation (in a clean, comfortable place with the accessibility features you need)
support to take part in activities (like a support worker to assist you at an event)

The activities will vary depending on your STA provider and your agreements, so it's important to check that out before booking.

Some providers may offer extras, but these aren’t usually covered by your NDIS funding. Here are some examples:

meals are generally considered an everyday living expense and aren't funded through STA. If a provider offers meals, you'll usually need to pay for them yourself
activities (like tickets or entry fees) aren’t funded, only the support to help you participate
transport to and from STA isn’t covered unless you have separate transport funding or live in a remote area

When you can and can't use STA

It’s important to understand when the NDIA can and can’t fund STA.

The NDIA may fund it if it:

means your family or informal supports can keep supporting you long term
helps you maintain functional capacity
aligns with your goals and disability related support needs
meets the reasonable and necessary criteria, including being value for money and beneficial for you

To be eligible, you’ll need to live with (or receive daily drop-in support from) your main informal supports and be receiving disability related support from them for at least six hours per day. On top of that, you might also need to meet one or more of the following criteria:

you get high intensity supports, like help with tracheostomy care, enteral feeding, or complex wound management
you have complex behaviour support needs or need specialist behavioural intervention
your informal supports are under pressure – e.g. maybe they’re ageing, dealing with illness, or juggling other caring responsibilities
you live somewhere where in-home supports are hard to access, like a remote or regional area

The NDIA doesn't typically fund STA if it:

exceeds 14 days in a row, or a total of 28 days per year
isn’t for the purposes STA is meant for
includes accommodation or travel for informal supports (like family and friends)
is outside of your state or territory, unless you live in a border town or remote area where the nearest option is interstate

How to get STA funded by the NDIA

STA is usually funded under the Core Supports budget.

STA might be stated in your NDIS plan, but even if it isn’t, you might still be able to use your Core Supports funding for STA if it fits within your budget and won’t affect your other approved supports.

You can talk to your NDIA contact to find out more, and if your situation has changed, you can also request a plan change to include STA.

There are maximum rates for STA in the NDIS pricing schedule, and the NDIA can fund up to 28 days per calendar year, with a maximum of 14 days at a time. If, in exceptional circumstances, you want to access more than that, you’ll need approval from the NDIA.

Just keep in mind – if you use more STA support than you need, your funding might run out faster so it’s important to plan carefully.

How to find and compare STA providers

There are lots of specialised providers of STA, and the services and supports they offer can be very different, so it’s important you take your time to research what’s available and which providers meet your support needs.
You can stay in a range of settings like a hotel, motel, cabin, homestay, or even your own home. Just note:

your NDIS funding only funds supports, not accommodation, in homestay or home-based arrangements
homestay can’t be provided by friends or family, as that’s considered informal support and not funded
if you need overnight support, the NDIA can fund your support worker’s accommodation