If you’ve ever typed “NDIS respite care” or “STA accommodation” into Google and ended up more confused than when you started, you’re not alone. Most participants and carers aren’t unsure because they haven’t tried hard enough — they’re unsure because the NDIS uses specific language and rules, while families use everyday words like “respite”, “a break”, “temporary housing”, or “emergency accommodation”.

At Ray Foundation Group, we support NDIS participants and families across Perth to navigate these choices in a practical way — focusing on what’s happening in your life right now and what the NDIS is likely to fund. Ray Foundation Group provides Respite / Short-Term Accommodation (STA) / Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA) supports, with a focus on helping you take a break or access a comfortable temporary home while receiving support.

This guide is your short term disability accommodation guide for deciding between:

Short term respite (also commonly called STA or “respite”)
Medium term accommodation (MTA)
and, importantly, situations where neither is the right fit (for example, crisis accommodation or emergency housing, which is usually outside the NDIS).

Because NDIS rules change over time, this article uses the current NDIS language and guideline-based rules. It also includes real-life scenarios (carer burnout, home changes, hospital discharge) so you can see what each option looks like in everyday life — and how Ray Foundation Group can help you plan it properly.

Why these NDIS terms are confusing in real life

Most families don’t start by thinking “We need Short Term Respite.” They start with a real situation: a carer is exhausted, a participant needs a safe place to stay while a home is being modified, or there’s a sudden breakdown in supports. The NDIS does fund accommodation-related supports in some circumstances, but each type is funded for a different purpose and comes with specific inclusions and exclusions.

The confusion often comes from three overlapping issues:

First, the NDIS uses updated terms. The NDIS now uses “short term respite” and explicitly states that if your plan uses the term “short term accommodation”, it has the same meaning as short term respite.

Second, families often use “respite” to mean any short break. But under NDIS guidelines, short term respite is specifically about time apart from primary informal supports (family/friends who provide most unpaid disability-related support) and sustaining the caring arrangement.

Third, people think “temporary accommodation” always means the NDIS will cover everything. In reality, both short term respite and MTA have clear limits. For example, the NDIS guideline is explicit that short term respite isn’t for holidays and can’t be used for cruises, tours, holiday accommodation or airfares.

Ray Foundation Group’s role is to help you interpret your plan, match the right option to your situation, and organise supports in a way that stays aligned with the NDIS rules (so you don’t face nasty surprises later).

The difference between STA and respite NDIS participants hear about

A lot of searches look like: “difference between STA and respite NDIS” — because people hear “STA” and “respite” used interchangeably. Here’s the clearer, NDIS-aligned explanation.

Under current NDIS guidance, the funded support is called Short Term Respite (STR). The NDIS describes STR as time apart (at least one night) from your primary informal supports, allowing you to be supported by someone else while those informal supports take a break.

The NDIS page also states:

STR is typically for participants who live with primary informal supports (or receive daily drop-in support from them)
and who receive disability-related support from those primary informal supports for more than 6 hours a day.

So where does “STA” fit?

“STA” (Short Term Accommodation) is an older label that many participants, carers, providers, and plans still use. The NDIS explicitly notes that if your plan uses the term short term accommodation, it has the same meaning as short term respite.

In practical terms:

Respite (everyday word) = a break and time apart
STA (older NDIS label) = commonly used term for the funded “short break” support
STR (current NDIS label) = the current term and guideline framework you should follow.

This matters because the label shapes how services should be planned, what can be included in the daily rate, and what cannot be charged to NDIS funding. Ray Foundation Group can help you treat “STA” language in your plan as “STR” in practice, so the support you receive matches current NDIS expectations.

A quick decision guide for participants and carers

If you only remember one thing from this article, make it this:

Short term respite (STR/STA) is mainly for a short break from informal supports, usually up to 28 days per year (generally no more than 14 days at a time).
Medium term accommodation (MTA) is mainly for a temporary place to live while you’re waiting for a confirmed long-term home, where you can’t move in because disability supports aren’t ready, and you can’t stay where you are. It is generally funded up to 90 days, and it covers accommodation costs only.

A practical way to decide is to ask these question sets.

If your goal is “a break” or “time apart”

You’re likely in short term respite (STR/STA) territory if:

The participant lives with family/carers, and those informal supports provide significant daily disability-related support.
The family/carer needs a break to sustain the caring role.
The participant benefits from being supported by someone else overnight for at least one night (for example, a short change of environment, different routines, and a supported break).

In Perth, Ray Foundation Group can help organise a short term respite stay that is safe, accessible, and planned around the participant’s support needs (not “just a getaway” that later fails an NDIS guideline test).

If your goal is “somewhere to live while we wait”

You’re likely in NDIS MTA accommodation explained territory if:

The participant has a confirmed long-term home they will move into after MTA.
They can’t move into that long-term home yet because disability supports aren’t ready (for example, home modifications aren’t finished, assistive technology isn’t installed, or an SDA tenancy isn’t available yet).
They can’t stay in their current accommodation while they wait (for example, they must move out during disability-related home modifications, there’s been a breakdown in supports, or they need to leave a facility/hospital/custodial setting).

If you’re in the Perth metro area, Ray Foundation Group can help you map these criteria to your real situation and support you to gather the evidence the NDIA often expects (such as evidence the long-term home is confirmed and when it will be ready).

If your goal is “urgent emergency housing now”

This is where families need careful clarity: short term respite doesn’t replace mainstream crisis accommodation, and MTA isn’t emergency housing.

In an urgent crisis (danger, homelessness risk, domestic violence, unsafe environment), you may need mainstream crisis/housing services immediately. The NDIS explicitly frames emergency housing as a responsibility of other government/community services, and notes MTA is not emergency housing.

Ray Foundation Group can still help in these situations by coordinating disability supports around the person (for example, support hours while the person is in housing provided by other services), but the “roof over head tonight” piece may sit outside the NDIS.

Short term respite (STR/STA) and NDIS respite care

If you’re searching “when to use NDIS respite care”, this section is for you. Short term respite is one of the most misunderstood NDIS supports because it can look like “short stay accommodation”, but it’s actually funded for a specific reason: supporting the sustainability of informal care arrangements and giving people time apart.

What short term respite is for

The NDIS guideline defines short term respite (STR) as time apart (for at least one night) from primary informal supports who give significant daily support, where someone else supports the participant while informal supports get a break.

The NDIS public page adds that STR should be planned together with you and your provider (how often, where, and what level of support is needed) and is generally expected to be within your home state/territory in Australia.

This is where Ray Foundation Group can be particularly helpful: you don’t have to guess what “planned together” should look like. A good provider helps you build a plan that matches your usual support needs (including overnight needs), documents what is being provided, and avoids accidental spending on items the NDIS won’t fund.

Who can use short term respite

The NDIS states short term respite is for participants who:

live with their primary informal supports (or receive daily drop-in support from them), and
receive disability-related support from primary informal supports for more than 6 hours a day.

It also states STR is not for people who don’t live with family or other informal supports, including people who already have a lot of paid support such as supported independent living (SIL) or individualised living options (ILO).

For children, the NDIS says STR is only funded in limited circumstances when the child’s disability support needs are beyond what is typical for their age, and the support helps the family continue in their caring role.

What STR may include

The NDIS page is very clear on what STR may include:

support to help with everyday activities
standard accommodation for the participant
standard accommodation for a support worker if overnight support is needed.

The STR guideline gives more detail, including that “standard accommodation” means clean and comfortable, with basic amenities and needed accessibility features, and that STR may be used in settings like hotels, motels, short stay rentals, cabins, cottages, hostels, or respite accommodation.

The guideline also explains STR may include supports to help you do everyday activities (getting ready, cooking/eating/drinking, cleaning and chores), and that STR can be used in a range of stationary accommodation settings — but it can’t be used for cruises or tours.

What STR does not replace

The NDIS also clarifies what STR does not replace, including:

“natural time apart” such as going to school or work, and
mainstream services like crisis accommodation services, child protection, and family support.

This distinction protects families from disappointment. If the main issue is “we need crisis housing”, STR is not designed as a replacement for that system response.

What STR cannot be used for

A common reason STR claims and invoices become problematic is misunderstanding what’s excluded. The STR guideline is explicit that:

STR isn’t for holidays, and you can’t use funding for holiday accommodation or airfares (including interstate/overseas travel), cruises, holiday packages, passports/visas, insurance, holiday activities, or meals.
STR funding can’t be used to pay for activities (tickets/entry fees/equipment/memberships).
Meals are not generally an NDIS support (food/groceries are everyday living costs), with specific rules about when meals may be included in a provider’s daily rate (discussed below).

The public NDIS page also lists examples of items not covered, such as holiday accommodation and tickets/entry fees to entertainment events, and reiterates that STR must be used in line with plan and guidelines.

Meals and “all-inclusive” stays

Meals are one of the biggest “grey areas” families ask about. The STR guideline explains:

In some cases, a provider may include meals in their daily rate as part of STR in a centre or group residence, as long as the total cost aligns with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.
Food and meals can’t be included in the daily rate if you stay in STR in an individual setting (for example, a hotel).
If you need to buy or provide your own meals while staying in STR, you can’t use NDIS funding for that — because food and groceries are day-to-day living costs for all Australians.

What this means practically is that “what’s included” depends on the type of STR setting and how the provider’s pricing aligns with NDIS rules. Ray Foundation Group can help you understand which type of STR arrangement is likely to fit your plan and how to avoid running into funding and invoicing issues.

How STR is funded and typical limits

The NDIS public page states STR:

is paid from your Core budget
is flexible but must be used in line with your plan and guidelines
should be similar to the support you usually receive at home
must not be used to double up on other funded supports.

In terms of typical quantity, the NDIS says most eligible participants receive funding for up to 28 days per year, with a maximum of 14 days at a time.

The guideline adds that in exceptional circumstances, the NDIA may fund more than 28 days per year, and if longer-term accommodation is needed the NDIA may consider other home and living supports such as MTA, ILO, or SIL.

The guideline also includes a specific note about children: in exceptional situations where a child is at risk of not being able to remain in the family home due to significant disability support needs, the NDIA may fund more than 28 days per year, but generally won’t fund more than 60 days per year.

Real-life “when to use NDIS respite care” scenarios

These scenarios translate the rules into everyday life and help you choose confidently.

Scenario: Carer burnout building over months
A parent provides nightly and early-morning care and hasn’t had uninterrupted sleep in a long time. In-home supports help during the day, but nights and early mornings still fall on the parent. This aligns strongly with the NDIS purpose of STR: time apart overnight from primary informal supports so they can sustain caring arrangements.

Scenario: A participant wants a supported break to reduce dependence
An adult participant wants to practise spending time away from family in a supported environment. STR can be used in group or individual settings, planned with the provider.

Scenario: A family needs predictable breaks to keep the household stable
The STR guideline gives examples of using STR in patterns such as “one weekend a month” to support the sustainability of informal supports.

In each scenario, Ray Foundation Group can help you plan the stay in a way that matches your usual support level, your accessibility needs, and the NDIS inclusions/exclusions — so the break feels like relief, not another administrative burden.

NDIS MTA accommodation explained

When people search “NDIS MTA accommodation explained”, they’re usually in a very different situation than STR. MTA is not “a break”. It’s a bridge — a temporary home while a confirmed long-term home is being prepared for disability support needs.

What MTA is for

The NDIS guideline says medium term accommodation:

is one of the home and living supports the NDIS may fund
is funding for somewhere to live if you can’t move into your long-term home because your disability supports aren’t ready
isn’t a standalone NDIS support and is included as part of other home and living support needs.

The NDIA generally funds MTA for up to 90 days, with possible extensions in limited situations.

What MTA covers and what it does not cover

The guideline is very clear: MTA funding only covers the cost of the accommodation for the time you stay there.

It also states MTA does not include:

day-to-day living costs like food, internet, or electricity
personal care supports
or other supports you get in your home (these may be funded separately through other NDIS supports).

In other words, MTA is “rent for a short period because disability supports aren’t ready”, not “a fully supported package”. This is a key difference from STR/STA for many families.

What MTA is not

The guideline also includes an important boundary: MTA is usually funded as a once-off support and isn’t short term respite or emergency housing. It notes there are other mainstream and community supports that provide general housing and accommodation support.

This boundary matters for crisis planning. If the primary issue is “we’re homeless tonight”, MTA is not designed as the emergency response.

Eligibility criteria for MTA

For the “standard” pathway, the guideline states you must meet all three criteria:

You have a long-term home you’ll move into after MTA
You can’t move into your long-term home yet because your disability supports aren’t ready
You can’t stay in your current accommodation while you wait for your long-term home.

The guideline also notes eligibility criteria differ if you’re being discharged from hospital or from a justice setting.

Evidence the NDIA may expect

The guideline explains that the NDIA needs evidence your long-term home is confirmed, and gives examples such as:

a letter confirming an offer of accommodation and support
evidence home modifications are in progress (for example, a tradesperson report or negotiations over quotes)
a tenancy offer, or proof of mortgage.

For many families, this evidence-gathering is the hardest part — especially when you’re already stressed by moving, renovations, or changes in support. This is where Ray Foundation Group can help by organising the steps, liaising with providers, and ensuring the NDIA request is supported by the right documentation.

Funding amounts and price limits

The guideline explains the NDIA will fund MTA for the number of days that meet the NDIS funding criteria, generally up to 90 days, and that you should check the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits for the maximum daily amount.

It also states that if you choose accommodation that costs more than the maximum daily amount, you can only claim the maximum daily amount and you’ll need to pay the extra yourself.

Real-life MTA scenarios that fit the criteria

Scenario: Home modifications are underway
A participant can’t live at home while disability-related modifications are completed, and the plan is to return to the home once modifications are done. The guideline explicitly gives waiting for home modifications as an example of when MTA may be needed.

Scenario: Hospital discharge and a wheelchair transition
A participant is ready to be discharged but needs home modifications or additional disability supports organised before returning home; the guideline includes examples where MTA supports discharge while waiting for disability supports/modifications.

Scenario: Waiting for SDA vacancy or a supported living placement
The guideline references confirmed tenancy offers for SDA (but waiting for vacancy) as a situation where MTA may be extended beyond 90 days with evidence, and notes long-term homes may include places where you’ll start receiving SIL or ILO.

For Perth families, these situations often feel urgent. Ray Foundation Group can help you stabilise the “in the meantime” period, while also coordinating the supports you’ll need when your long-term home becomes available.

Emergency respite and unexpected care breakdowns

Families often use the term “emergency respite” to mean “we need help right now because something has changed suddenly.” The NDIS does not treat every crisis as an STR or MTA situation, so the best approach is to use a layered response: immediate safety first, then NDIS-aligned accommodation/support planning second.

When STR can help at short notice

If you already have STR (STA) funding in your plan and you meet the eligibility conditions (informal supports providing significant daily support), STR may be used as the “short break” support — even if the need arises quickly. The STR guideline also notes you can ask for a change to your plan if your situation has changed or if your current plan doesn’t have STR support you now need.

However, STR still doesn’t replace mainstream crisis accommodation services and still can’t be used for non-NDIS supports like holiday accommodation or entertainment tickets.

When MTA is not the emergency answer

The MTA guideline states MTA isn’t emergency housing and points to other mainstream/community supports for emergency housing if someone is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

This is an important reality-check for families: if immediate housing is the issue, there may be a period where mainstream services provide the housing response, while NDIS supports focus on disability-related supports around the participant during that time.

Plan changes and timeframes

If your supports no longer match your situation, you can tell the NDIA your circumstances have changed and request a plan reassessment or changes. The NDIA lists multiple ways to contact them (phone, contact page, forms, email, visiting an office).

The NDIA also states that if it agrees to a plan reassessment, it will be actioned within 28 days, and that small plan changes can take up to 28 days to action.

The Participant Service Guarantee provides published maximum timeframes for actions such as completing an agreed plan reassessment (28 days) and making changes to a plan (28 days).

If you’re in a fast-moving situation, Ray Foundation Group can help by:

clarifying what can be done immediately using existing plan supports, and
helping you document the change, gather evidence, and request a plan change where required.

How Ray Foundation Group can help in Perth

Ray Foundation Group is an NDIS-registered provider in Perth offering accommodation-related supports including Respite / STA / MTA, alongside supports that often wrap around these stays (such as transport and community participation supports).

Their Respite/STA/MTA service is positioned around giving participants and families the freedom to take a break or access a comfortable temporary home, with expert care and support.

Because the NDIS has clear rules about what STR and MTA can and can’t include, the practical value Ray Foundation Group offers is not only “a place to stay.” It’s helping you choose the right support type for your situation, plan it correctly, and coordinate the supports you’ll need around it — particularly when your circumstances are changing quickly.

If you’re unsure about:

the difference between STA and respite NDIS rules,
when to use NDIS respite care,
or NDIS MTA accommodation explained for a temporary living transition,

Ray Foundation Group can help you map your real situation to the correct NDIS support pathway and organise the next steps.

To contact Ray Foundation Group:

Phone: 08 6249 8066 or 0425 156 654
Email: info@rayfg.com.au
Address: 3/12 Burton St, Cannington WA 6107
Provider ID shown on their site: 4050132902