The NDIA has released new Short Term Respite (STR) Operational Guidelines, replacing what was previously known as Short Term Accommodation (STA). While the name may seem like a minor change, the updated rules introduce much stricter criteria around eligibility, spending, and how support levels are calculated. The focus has shifted away from using short-term stays to build skills and towards giving informal carers, often ageing parents or family members, structured breaks from intensive daily responsibilities.
The new guidelines outline clearer limits on what STR funding can cover: standard accommodation only, no “extras,” and definitely not holidays. Participants must stay in stationary accommodation, remain within their home state or territory, and pay for their own meals and activities unless they’re in centre-based respite. Eligibility has also tightened significantly for adults and children, with detailed rules about the amount of informal care required, when STR won’t be funded, and how planners determine support hours. In practice, this means many families will face tougher scrutiny before STR is approved.
Calculating funding has become more complex as well. The NDIA now considers informal support hours, shared care, and whether existing paid supports can continue during respite. The rules also allow planners to adjust other support budgets to avoid duplication. For providers and participants, this represents a more rigid, and sometimes confusing, framework that requires careful navigation to stay compliant.To explore the full details, examples, and context behind these changes, we encourage our CareVision community to read the original source article. It’s a valuable breakdown for anyone supporting NDIS participants or adapting service delivery under the updated STR guidelines.