Your Informative Guide to NDIS Short Term Accommodation in Newcastle
Everyone needs a change of pace every now and then. For NDIS participants, families and carers in Newcastle, that change of pace has a name: Short Term Accommodation, or STA.
It’s sometimes called respite, but that word only tells half the story. It isn’t just time away, it’s time well spent. A few nights somewhere new, a bit of extra support, a chance to try something different. For the person going, and for the people who usually support them at home, it can make a real difference.
What is Short Term Accommodation?
STA is NDIS funded support that allows a participant to stay away from their usual home for a short period, with support included. It might be a weekend, it might be a week or two. The stay includes accommodation and the day to day help someone needs, so nothing falls through the cracks just because the setting has changed. You can read more about how this support is funded on the NDIS website.
It can be used in a few different ways:
- A planned break. Regular carers or family members need rest too, and a short stay gives everyone breathing room.
- A chance to build independence. Staying somewhere new, with support, is a low pressure way to practise new skills and build confidence.
- A trial run. For participants considering a move to Supported Independent Living, a stay like this can be a useful way to experience shared living before making a bigger decision.
What does NDIS Short Term Accommodation look like with Songbird?
At Songbird, every stay starts with the person, their routines, their preferences, what they’re hoping to get out of the time away. It’s about making sure it still feels like Songbird, warm, personal and centred on what the participant actually wants.
Our properties vary depending on what’s available at the time, but the standard doesn’t change. Staff on hand are trained across a comprehensive range of skill sets, including person-centred support, behaviour support, bowel care, peg feeding, epilepsy and manual handling, so families can feel confident that whatever’s needed, it’s there. Pick-up and drop-off in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle can also be arranged, and it runs year-round, with options available for participants under 18.
What a typical stay includes
Every stay looks a little different, because it’s shaped around the person having it, but most follow a similar rhythm.
Before the stay, our team spends time getting to know the participant, their routines, their preferences and what they’re hoping to get out of the break. That might be a conversation with the participant themselves, their family, or their support coordinator.
During the stay, support is there around the clock if needed, covering personal care, meals, and whatever daily help is written into the plan, including more specialised needs like behaviour support, epilepsy management or manual handling where required. Activities are shaped around what the person actually enjoys, whether that’s a quiet few days with familiar routines kept in place, or something more social with outings and new experiences built in.
Afterwards, we check in with the participant and their support network to see how it went, and whether it’s something worth building into a regular rhythm.
STA vs respite care, what’s the difference?
The two terms get used interchangeably, and in a lot of ways they overlap. Respite is really the purpose, giving families a break. This support is what makes that break possible under the NDIS, covering both the stay and the help that goes with it.
So when people search for “respite,” they’re often really asking about this. The main thing to know is that it’s specifically funded and structured, with its own category and its own set of rules around how it’s used.
Frequently asked questions
Is this funded under my plan? It’s typically funded under Core Supports in an NDIS plan, though funding varies from person to person. If you’re not sure what’s included in your plan, your support coordinator or planner can help confirm this, or you’re welcome to give our team a call and we can talk it through together.
How long can a stay go for? Stays are generally short, anywhere from a couple of nights to a couple of weeks, depending on what’s funded in the plan and what suits the participant.
Can I try this before committing to Supported Independent Living? Yes. It’s a common and low pressure way to experience shared, supported living before making a longer term decision, and it’s something our team is happy to talk through with you.
Thinking about a short stay in Newcastle?
Whether it’s a one off break or something you’d like to build into a regular rhythm, we’ll be there with you every step of the way, from the first conversation through to the stay itself.
Get in touch with the Songbird team on (02) 4048 4220 to chat about NDIS Short Term Accommodation options across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and the Hunter Valley.