Most accommodation categories receive fewer misunderstandings than short-term accommodation under the NDIS. More often than not, when the crisis strikes, families who believed the rules applied find out that the rules are a bit stricter than they thought once they start looking. Often, when it comes time to look, families in Adelaide, Murray Bridge, Hobart, and across regional South Australia will find that the rules are more detailed than they thought. When you're not yet receiving STA Accommodation NDIS, it's never too early to do some planning, so if you have this impulse, that's what you need to do.
The part nobody explains clearly
Short-Term Accommodation (STA). The NDIS pays for it as a Core Support, which includes up to 28 days per year at a registered or suitable provider. It was intended for two purposes: to provide a change of environment for one participant and to provide a rest period for the usual carers (family or informal).
The money will be used for housing, food, activities, and keeping them comfortable during their stay. Travel is NOT included. It surprises folks when the provider or plan manager explains that it's part of the package, even though participants think it's not part of the picture. Don't just look at the number of occupied beds; the provider's time is included in the daily hours, too.
Who this is actually for
The STA Accommodation NDIS funding needs to be included in the core supports section of the NDIS support plan as “Short-Term Accommodation and Assistance”. It is funded by the NDIS for participants who require CP support while accessing an overnight or multi-night accommodation service and whose usual informal support networks (e.g., partner, parent, flatmate) are not available or cannot reasonably provide the same level of support.
STA is frequently used by participants when one needs to have surgery or wants time out due to recovery, at school holiday times when they are not receiving regular care, or when they wish to move to a different place for care. When support documents are submitted by a support coordinator or allied health professional, these requests will be given more weight in reviews.
STA vs emergency accommodation: not the same budget
This is a different discussion altogether – this is about NDIS Emergency Accommodation. Planned STA funding and emergency housing are different and are processed differently. Emergency accommodation includes places where urgent care is needed following an emergency discharge from the hospital, a carer breakdown, or a safety concern at home. It can be accessed through a direct decision with the NDIS at 1800 800 110, and an urgent plan review is required before approval can be granted.
The most commonly used specific wording for 'STA Respite' when carers are initiating the request. The goal is the same as for funded STA (break), but carer fatigue should be recorded before the meeting, not during it. Respite Services Australia operates nationally and can assist families in collecting evidence that can ultimately strengthen these requests. People in Whyalla, Port Augusta, Mount Gambier, and Mount Barker tend to begin the process there for the first time.
Inside a typical STA stay
Each STA stay will be individual to the provider and participant's support needs. A large proportion of STA providers in Adelaide and Hobart are registered with the NDIS and provide a structured or unstructured program and/or housing with mobility supports, sensory supports, staff, evening and overnight support, meals, and a combination of structured activities and supports.
Some facilities will offer group programs. Others are in-house, sharing individualized support hours per participant; there is no "standard" model for the provider. When booking, check whether the provider offers specific support hours in your plan, whether the facility meets your access needs, and whether a signed service agreement will be in place between your plan and the provider before traveling here. There must be real immersion in the subject matter for verbal confirmations to be adequate when public funds are used.
Your NDIS plan manager - How they fit in
If STA has been included in your plan, the amount is confirmed by an NDIS Plan Manager Adelaide within minutes. Where there are fewer service providers (such as parts of regional South Australia or Hobart), plan-managed participants can find service providers that are registered for participation with the NDIS but not necessarily searchable by providers (public provider finder).
Unregistered providers may be used by self-managed participants, who will administer payment. Only registered providers are eligible to participate in an agency-managed STA. This is a thing you might want to keep in mind. If you're in, say, Murray Bridge or Mount Barker, searching for a registered STA provider may yield relatively few results if the management type is known, as providers may be limited.
Covered areas: SA and Hobart
STA Accommodation NDIS providers can be found throughout the metro area around Adelaide, including Salisbury, Morphett Vale, Blair Athol, Kilkenny, Hillcrest, and Melrose Park. There are fewer providers, but STA funding is valid and available in regional South Australia (including Murray Bridge, Port Augusta, Whyalla, Mount Gambier and Mount Barker).
Hobart has STAs, but they are as readily available as in the metro area. When you check a provider's support types, make sure you confirm that they provide the support type called Short-Term Accommodation (STA), rather than disability accommodation in general. The inclusion of a provider on the NDIS provider register does not mean that the provider provides STA.
Straight answers to the questions worth asking
STA defined: Respite Care is not STA?
STA is a funding category in the NDIS, and respite is the purpose of the stay. STA Respite stays may be planned respite or respite (or both), but there is the option to use different elements of a plan for STA Respite and planned respite under other programs. Respite Services Australia can help you determine which funding line is relevant to a giyour circumstancesore booking.
What do you do if you require emergency housing on the NDIS?
NDIS Emergency Accommodation is unrelated to planned STA funding. Contact the NDIS directly on 1800 800 110. To have a plan reviewed urgently, request an interim support agreement. Planned STA budget does not cover an emergency situation.
Check if STA is in my NDIS plan?
Under Core Supports in your plan document, there is a line item called "Short-Term Accommodation and Assistance. If it is not there and you need it, please consult with your NDIS Plan Manager Adelaide or your support coordinator early in your plan, before the review.
Is it possible to extend the STA funding period beyond 28 days?
A typical NDIS plan will cover 28 days of STA within a 12-month plan period. If there is a written recommendation from a support coordinator and he/she believes that more is required, additional days can be requested. This is determined on a case-by-case basis by the NDIS and is not guaranteed to be extended beyond its duration.
Before you make the call
The most common error is to reserve an STA stay before it is approved in the plan. This is because providers are not eligible to pre-sell their prices to offset the costs. Get control of the line item, check if the service provider is registered, and sign a contract. This happens to no participants, as they take those steps across South Australia and Hobart that end up in disputes with your invoice or out-of-pocket expenses.
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