NDIS respite and short-term accommodation in Adelaide and SA
Planned respite, Short Term Accommodation (STA) and emergency stays in homes we run and staff ourselves.
Respite is funded as Short Term Accommodation
Under the NDIS, a short stay away from home is funded as Short Term Accommodation, usually written STA, from the Core budget in your plan. The word respite is still the one most families use, and it describes the purpose: a break for the person and for the people who support them day to day. The funding line is the same whichever word you use.
Since the 2026-27 NDIS Pricing Schedule, an STA stay is claimed in two parts: a daily accommodation item and the hours of support during the stay at your usual ratio. Food and meals are not covered by NDIS funding and are agreed separately in the quote. Most stays are a weekend to two weeks. The NDIS guidance allows up to 14 days at a time and up to 28 days a year, unless your plan has been built for more.
ResicareSA delivers STA in the same homes it runs for Supported Independent Living and SDA, across Adelaide, Kadina and Wallaroo, Whyalla, Port Augusta and the Riverland. Support in every home is provided by workers we employ, with an on-call manager around the clock.
What a stay with us includes
A room in a staffed home, with the household's routines around you. The exact support is written down before the stay from the information you, your family or your support coordinator give us, and the staff on shift are briefed on it before you arrive.
- Personal care and medication support, as written in your plan and support notes
- Meals prepared in the home to your dietary needs, with the food cost agreed in the quote because NDIS funding does not cover it
- Daytime activities and community access, with transport
- Overnight support: sleepover or active overnight, depending on need
- A compatibility check with the household before any stay is confirmed
- A short written summary for you and your coordinator afterwards
Emergency respite
When a carer is suddenly unwell, or an arrangement breaks down, a room may be needed tonight. Call the office rather than using the website. We check which homes have a free room and whether the person's needs are ones we can meet safely at short notice, and we tell you within the hour either way.
Emergency stays are funded the same way as planned ones, from STA in the plan. Where there is no STA funding, your support coordinator or the NDIA can be asked for a change of circumstances; we can start the stay while that is sorted out when the situation calls for it, and we will say plainly if we cannot.
Respite in regional South Australia
Outside Adelaide the nearest respite option is often hours away, which turns a weekend break into a logistics exercise. Our homes in Whyalla Jenkins, Port Augusta, Kadina, Wallaroo and Loxton are all listed for STA when a room is free, so a family on the Copper Coast or in the Upper Spencer Gulf can book a stay close to home.
Regional price loadings apply to some supports in these towns under the NDIS pricing arrangements. The daily rate quoted to you names the exact line it comes from, so your coordinator or plan manager can check it.
How to book a stay
Tell us the dates you want, the support the person needs and which part of the state suits. We check rooms, confirm compatibility with the household, and send a written quote against the STA line in the plan. For a first stay we suggest a visit beforehand, or a shorter stay to start.
If you are a support coordinator placing someone, the referral form carries the detail we need; a phone call is quicker for anything within a fortnight.
- Planned stays: enquire two to four weeks ahead for the best choice of homes
- School holidays and Christmas fill first
- Emergency stays: call, do not email
Common questions
Does the NDIS pay for respite care?
Yes, as Short Term Accommodation (STA) under Assistance with Daily Life, when a short stay away from home is reasonable and necessary for the person. Carer sustainability is one of the factors the NDIA considers. Since the 2026-27 pricing schedule the claim covers accommodation and the hours of support; food is paid separately.
How many days of respite can I have?
The NDIS guidance is up to 14 days at a time and up to 28 days a year, unless your plan has been built around a greater need. The amount in your plan is what counts, so check the STA line or ask your support coordinator.
Can I choose which home I stay in?
Yes, from the homes with a free room on the dates you want. Each home page lists its features and access, and we arrange a visit or a video call before a first stay.
What is the difference between STA and MTA?
STA is a short stay, usually up to 14 days, for a break or to try something new. MTA, Medium Term Accommodation, is somewhere to live for up to about 90 days while a long-term home is being arranged. They are different lines in a plan.
Do you offer respite in Whyalla, Port Augusta or the Copper Coast?
Yes. Our homes in Whyalla Jenkins, Port Augusta, Kadina and Wallaroo are listed for STA when a room is free, staffed by locally employed support workers.
