NDIS Respite, Short-Term & Medium-Term Accommodation (STA/MTA)

Respite and short-term/medium-term accommodations (STA/MTA) are funded NDIS supports designed to give participants and their families a break, transition between living arrangements, or help during short-term needs. These supports include in-home and out-of-home respite care, short-term accommodation (now called short-term respite), and medium-term accommodation. Each provides a temporary place to stay and the necessary support. Ray Foundation Group is here to guide you through these options, helping you access the right accommodation funding in your NDIS plan.

Whether you need NDIS respite care for a short break, STA accommodation while your home is being prepared, or longer MTA support during major life changes, Ray Foundation Group has solutions. We support participants across Perth with customised accommodation plans, aiming to make your temporary stay safe, comfortable and empowering.

Understanding NDIS Respite Care

Respite care under the NDIS provides temporary relief for participants and their carers. It can be taken at home or away, and is intended to give everyone a short break from the usual routine.

The NDIS clarifies that short term respite (formerly called short term accommodation or STA) “gives you time apart from your usual care arrangements”, allowing your primary informal supports (family or friends) to have a break while you are cared for elsewhere. In other words, respite is about taking a pause. If you’re a carer, it means having a bit of breathing space. If you’re the participant, it means experiencing a short break (possibly even a holiday!) with support in place.

For example, you might use NDIS respite care to stay overnight in a short-term rental home, hostel or with relatives who have support worker assistance. Alternatively, in-home respite can involve extra support workers coming into your home so your usual carers can take time out. The focus is always on giving carers a break and ensuring the participant’s needs continue to be met safely.

According to NDIS guidelines, respite care “is not for building new skills”. Its main purpose is to provide rest and relief. This distinguishes it from other supports; if the goal is skills development or independence-building, other parts of your plan would cover that. Respite is purely about taking care of well-being and giving everyone a chance to recharge.

Who can use NDIS respite? Short-term respite is available if you live with, or are heavily supported by, family or friends (your “primary informal supports”) and they provide over 6 hours of support per day. For example, if you live with your parents who provide most of your care, you are eligible. Carers benefit too: the NDIS specifically funds respite so that carers “can continue in their caring role” by taking a needed break.

In Perth, Ray Foundation Group assists NDIS participants and their families in accessing respite. We plan and coordinate everything – from booking the accommodation to ensuring staff support – so you can truly relax. Our goal is to make it easy: you tell us you need a break, and we handle the details.

Short-Term Accommodation (Short-Term Respite)

Short-Term Accommodation (STA), now officially called Short-Term Respite, is a Core Support in NDIS plans. It’s used when a participant needs to stay away from their usual home for a short period while still receiving funded support.

What qualifies as STA? Think of it as a “mini-vacation” from your normal care setting, but still within the scope of your NDIS supports. This could include:

• Staying in a specialist group home or hostel for a few days.
• Booking into a disability-friendly motel or serviced apartment with support staff assistance.
• Having in-home support from others while your family/carers are away (this also counts as STA if it takes you out of your routine).

The NDIS stresses that “short term respite focuses on the support being provided, whether at home or in shared settings, rather than the accommodation itself”. In practical terms, this means the support you receive during your stay (assistance with daily tasks, therapy, etc.) is the priority.

Key aspects of STA under the NDIS:

• Core Funding: STA is funded from your Core Supports budget. It’s typically listed in your plan as Short-Term Respite.
• Duration: NDIS generally provides up to 28 days per year for short-term respite. This limit can sometimes be more in special cases, but 28 days is common.
• Scope: It can be in-home (extra workers come to your house) or out-of-home. Out-of-home STA must be for genuine respite purposes, not ordinary holidays. (Regular holidays like travel or event tickets are paid by you.)
• Flexibility: You can use STA flexibly, even splitting stays into multiple shorter breaks.
• Same-State: Usually you use STA within your home state/territory of Western Australia. This is mainly so families can easily reach you if needed.

For instance, if your parents are going on a two-week holiday, your NDIS-funded STA might involve you staying with support workers in a Ray Foundation supported apartment in Perth. Or if you or your family have a medical situation, STA could provide safe respite during that time.

By law, STA “should be planned together with you and your provider, including how often, where, and what level of support is needed”. At Ray Foundation Group, we treat planning seriously. We consult with you and your carers to schedule stays that fit your life – whether it’s every school holiday or urgent short notice.

The Ray team makes sure STA is used correctly and to your advantage. We advise on how to talk to your NDIS planner if you need more days, and what evidence (like a care plan) might help. Our local knowledge in Perth means we know the best respite facilities, or we can arrange a comfortable home-stay setting if that’s better.

In summary, NDIS STA (Short-Term Respite) is like a temporary home away from home — a break in routine that gives both participants and carers a rest. It must align with your usual supports, not replace them; you still need the same level of care, just in a different place.

Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA)

Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA) is for situations where you need a place to stay longer than short-term respite, but not permanently. This support falls under the Home and Living core supports category in NDIS plans.

According to NDIA guidelines, “Medium term accommodation (MTA) gives you somewhere to live if you can’t move into your long-term home because your disability supports aren’t ready”. In other words, MTA covers transitional housing needs.

Typical uses of MTA include:

• Waiting for home modifications or support services to be completed in your new home.
• Recovering from a major surgery or hospital stay, when you need a stable environment with support.
• Moving cities for a while (e.g. relocating to Perth for work) before finding permanent housing.
• Preventing homelessness (e.g. if your rental fell through unexpectedly).

Key features of NDIS MTA:

• Time-limited: The NDIS usually funds MTA for up to 90 days. If you still need it beyond that, plans can sometimes be extended with proper justification.
• Eligibility: You must have a permanent home to move into eventually, but it’s not ready yet. You also must truly need it (for example, you wouldn’t get MTA if you already have stable supported living).
• Core Budget: MTA is a Core Supports budget, just like respite and STA.
• Not Skill Building: Like STA, MTA is about providing accommodation and support, not teaching new skills. Other parts of your plan (Capacity supports) are for skill development.

For example, if Ray Foundation Group has a participant whose new accessible unit is still being built, we might arrange MTA in a supported apartment for 2 months. Or if someone was in hospital and needs a gradual transition home, MTA could offer accommodation with daily support until they’re ready.

Another example: imagine your family home is flooding and you have to move out temporarily. Ray can find a medium-term rental for you and arrange disability services there, funded under MTA.

Ray’s staff will help you make the case that you qualify for MTA. We can liaise with medical professionals or builders for evidence. We also coordinate everything: finding an appropriate property, ensuring accessibility, and linking in support workers. If you’re in Perth or surrounding WA regions, Ray Foundation can set you up with a comfortable MTA situation so that this transition period is smooth and stress-free.

Overall, NDIS MTA support provides stability during life transitions. It ensures you have a safe, accessible place to stay when your usual living arrangements are disrupted. And like STA, Ray Foundation Group emphasizes choosing accommodations that feel as home-like as possible, with all the support you need on hand.

Eligibility and Funding Overview

All these accommodation supports fall under the NDIS Core Supports. Here’s how they fit in your plan:

• Respite and STA (Short Term Respite): Paid from your Core budget (Typically Core – Assistance with Daily Life, or an explicitly allocated Core budget line). These are flexible and “stated” in your plan, meaning you can use them within the guidelines.
• MTA: Also a stated Core support (Home & Living). It covers the cost of accommodation and any extra support needed, up to 90 days per approved period.

The NDIS Core funds (and any STA/MTA lines) are separate from Capacity Building funds. So using STA/MTA won’t affect your ability to fund skill-building therapies, for example.

It’s important to note a recent change: as of late 2025, the NDIS replaced the name “short term accommodation” with “short term respite” to better reflect its purpose. If your plan still says STA, it means the same thing. The support remains the same, just the terminology is updated to emphasise the carer respite aspect.

Emergency Respite: In urgent or crisis situations (e.g. carer illness, or sudden safety risks), the NDIS can approve emergency respite even if the usual respite days are used up. This is considered on a case-by-case basis. The Ray Foundation team can advise you if you need to request emergency funding, and help provide necessary documentation (like a doctor’s note).

Short-Term Disability Accommodation: This phrase sometimes refers to STA/MTA used specifically for disability-related reasons. Essentially it means the accommodation is to support the participant’s disability needs (e.g. making a home accessible) rather than just for travel. Under your STA/MTA plan, all stays should be disability-focused support.

Importantly, Ray Foundation Group helps you navigate these rules. We liaise with planners to ensure you have proper codes and evidence in your plan, and that any report or request clearly explains why STA/MTA is necessary.

Choosing the Right Accommodation

When using NDIS funds for respite/STA/MTA, the choice of accommodation matters. It must be safe, accessible and suited to your needs. Here are some options and considerations:

• Disability-Friendly Rentals: Apartments or houses equipped with ramps, grab rails or wide doorways. Great for STA or short MTA stays if these features are needed.
• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA): If you have SDA funding or high support needs, there are SDA residences available for temporary stays.
• Respite/Hostel Services: Some organisations offer dedicated respite homes or hostels (often for people with intellectual disabilities) where staff provide 24/7 care.
• Hotels/Motels: Standard hotels can sometimes be used if they meet accessibility needs (e.g. roll-in shower). Ray Foundation helps find accommodations that check these boxes.
• Family and Friends’ Homes: You might stay with relatives or friends, but have paid support workers visit. If you do, Ray can arrange a support roster.
• Short Stay Rentals (e.g. AirBnB): Furnished units or homes can feel very comfortable and “homey”, and can be used under STA guidelines.

The NDIS requires any accommodation used under STA/MTA to be “standard” – meaning basic comfort and cleanliness, not hotels beyond usual standards. It cannot be a fancy resort or an entertainment event. The Ray team will ensure whatever option you pick meets the NDIS definition of standard respite accommodation.

For Perth residents, Ray Foundation often uses comfortable, centrally located serviced apartments for STA stays, or arranges short visits to regional retreat centers for a change of scenery. Perth’s warm climate also means outdoor respite (garden beds, local beaches) can be part of the experience if preferred.

When planning a stay, consider:

• Length of stay: For respite, often 2–7 days; for STA, maybe a week or two; for MTA, up to 90 days.
• Support needs: If you need 24/7 assistance, ensure 24-hour care is funded. If just day support, maybe only staff come during the day and nights are quiet.
• Carer needs: Decide who will come with you (family, friend) and who needs a break.
• Location: Sometimes staying close to home is easier for family visiting; other times a short trip outside town can feel more restful.
• Budget: Work within your Core budget limits. Ray can advise how many days your plan covers.

By carefully choosing and planning, you ensure your STA/MTA stay is a positive, stress-free break rather than an additional burden.

National Guidelines on Respite, STA and MTA

The NDIS has clear guidelines on how these supports should be used:

• Purpose is important: STA/MTA funds are not for non-essential travel or holidays. They must directly support your disability and care needs. For example, taking an unpaid holiday to Bali is not fundable, but staying in a Perth apartment because your home is inaccessible qualifies.
• Funding Source: These supports come from the Core – Assistance with Daily Life funding. They are not part of your capacity-building funds.
• Overseas and Interstate: Generally, STA/MTA should be used within Australia. You can use them interstate (e.g. Sydney) but usually not overseas. Ray Foundation can advise on interstate possibilities if needed.
• Emergency Respite: If a crisis occurs (for example, a natural disaster affecting your home or a sudden health crisis), the NDIS will consider additional respite support even if normal annual limits are reached. This is a separate process (a special situation funding request). Ray can help submit this to the NDIA.

More detailed rules can be found in the NDIS Home and Living and Respite guidelines. For example, the Short Term Respite Guideline clarifies that STA can include your accommodation and support staff costs. It explicitly says “standard accommodation” like hotel or respite facility, not “holiday accommodation” or event fees.

Medium-Term Accommodation is covered under the core Home and Living Supports. The NDIA fact sheet states: “We usually fund medium term accommodation for up to 90 days” and you must have a home to move into later. This aligns with the idea that MTA bridges a transition rather than being a permanent solution.

Ray Foundation Group ensures compliance with these rules so your supports are approved smoothly. We also highlight any new policy changes. For instance, as of October 2025, the terminology changed so we now call STA “Short-Term Respite” to better reflect its use. We’ll help interpret your plan wording so you know exactly which supports you have.

Local Focus: Perth & Surrounding Areas

If you’re searching for “NDIS respite care Perth” or “STA accommodation Perth”, Ray Foundation Group is a locally-based provider ready to assist.

• In-Home Respite Perth: We can arrange extra support workers in your home, giving carers a break while you stay at home.
• Perth STA Locations: We partner with comfortable, accessible residences in Perth suburbs. This includes short-stay apartments and disability-friendly home settings.
• Regional Options: Sometimes, a change of scene is restorative. We organize STA at nearby destinations (for example, at Mandurah or York) where available, within practical reach of Perth.
• Perth-Based MTA: Ray can secure medium-term rentals in Perth for participants, collaborating with local housing agencies.

Because Ray Foundation Group is based in Perth, we know the best local options. We also understand Western Australia’s unique needs. For example, if distance is an issue, we can combine respite with travel support. If someone in the Pilbara region calls for STA help, we advise on the nearest options or assist in travel to Perth, as permitted by NDIS.

Our local knowledge also helps with on-page SEO. We’ll include location keywords like “NDIS respite care Perth” to show up for people in our service area looking for help.

Why Choose Ray Foundation Group for Respite and STA/MTA

• NDIS Expertise: We’re NDIS-registered specialists. We know the funding rules inside-out and advocate for the support you need.
• Personalised Plans: Your needs and preferences drive our planning. We work with you to choose suitable respite or STA that feels right (quiet retreat vs city break, group setting vs private accommodation, etc.).
• Trustworthy Staff: Our carers and support workers are vetted, trained and compassionate. We select workers who match the participant’s personality and support needs.
• Flexibility: We coordinate last-minute and emergency stays if needed. Our Perth network of providers means we can often find a solution quickly.
• Holistic Support: Beyond booking accommodation, we handle transport, advocacy, paperwork, and even fun activities during the stay if desired.
• Community Knowledge: We’re well-connected in the Perth NDIS community. We can recommend great places or activities for respite (like local parks, therapy centers, etc.).

Our focus is on safety, comfort and giving you peace of mind. As the Ray site says, we help you “enjoy a comfortable temporary home” and “expert care and support” during your respite or STA/MTA stay.

Contact Us for More Information

If you or a loved one are looking for:

• NDIS respite care and support
• Short term accommodation (STA) services
• Medium term accommodation (MTA) assistance
• Emergency respite care options
• Short term disability accommodation

…Ray Foundation Group can help.

Whether you need a short break or a transitional stay, our friendly team will explain your options and guide you through the process. We can answer questions like how many days of respite you can use, how to include STA/MTA in your next NDIS plan, or what types of accommodation might suit you.

Contact Ray Foundation Group today to learn more about NDIS Respite, STA and MTA. Let us help you find the rest and support you need. Your journey to flexible, safe accommodation starts here – reach out for a free consultation and we’ll assist with planning and booking your stay.