If you have seen this support called both Short Term Accommodation and Short Term Respite and felt genuinely confused, you are not alone. What many people still search for as short-term respite NDIS support has actually gone through two name changes in less than a year, and the terminology you will encounter depends heavily on how recently a document, plan, or provider updated their materials. Even experienced support coordinators have found the pace of change hard to keep up with.

This guide explains what the support is actually called now, what it covers, and the practical details worth knowing regardless of which name you have seen it under. Whether you know it as STA, STR, or simply short-term respite NDIS funding, the underlying support and how it works is what actually matters day to day.

A Quick Look: STA, Then STR, Then STA Again

Short Term Accommodation, commonly shortened to STA, has been the long-standing name for this support. In October 2025, the NDIA renamed it Short Term Respite, or STR, to better emphasise its role in supporting family carers. The change was intended to clarify the purpose of the support, focusing on giving informal carers a genuine break rather than framing it purely around a physical stay somewhere else.

Following further feedback and changes introduced with the 2026-27 NDIS Pricing Schedule, the NDIA reverted the name back to Short Term Accommodation. Some of the concern with “respite” was that it framed the support around the needs of carers rather than participants themselves, and that it echoed older, less person-centred language some in the sector had been trying to move away from. For now, STA is the correct term, though you will likely still see short-term respite NDIS language in older plans, provider websites, and search results for some time.

Expect some ongoing inconsistency here. Government terminology changes rarely update everywhere at once, and plans written under the old name remain perfectly valid; the name attached to a support does not change what it actually funds. If your plan or paperwork still says “Short Term Respite,” there is no need to panic or assume something has gone wrong.

Is STA a Core Support?

Is STA a core support is one of the most common questions families ask, and the answer is yes. STA sits within a participant’s Core Supports budget, meaning it draws from the same flexible funding pool as other everyday, disability-related supports, rather than needing its own separate category entirely.

Because it comes from Core, STA funding can generally be used flexibly alongside other Core categories, though it is worth checking with your plan manager or support coordinator about how much of your specific budget has been allocated toward it. This flexibility is genuinely useful, since it means STA does not require its own separate, rigidly ring-fenced approval process the way some other support types do.

What Does STA Funding Cover?

What does STA funding cover is worth understanding clearly, since recent changes have made this more precise than before. STA generally includes accommodation, personal care and support, meals, and structured activities during the stay.

From 1 July 2026, STA billing has also become itemised rather than bundled into a single daily rate. Support hours are now claimed separately from the accommodation cost, giving participants a clearer picture of what they are paying for. Holiday costs, entertainment, and general tourist activities are not covered, since STA funding is specifically for the disability-related support delivered during the stay, not the trip itself.

This itemised approach can take some adjustment for families used to the old bundled daily rate, but it generally makes invoices easier to understand, since you can see exactly how much went toward support hours versus the accommodation itself. If anything on an invoice looks unclear, it is worth asking your provider to walk through it line by line rather than assuming it is correct.

28 Days STA Per Year: What This Means

28 days STA per year is a commonly cited guideline, representing the amount of STA support many participants can access annually, though the actual figure depends entirely on individual assessed needs and what is included in a specific plan. This funding can generally be used flexibly, whether that is several separate weekend stays or one longer block.

It is worth checking your own plan directly for the specific allocation, since assuming a standard figure applies to everyone can lead to booking more than your plan actually supports. If your needs have changed since your last plan review, whether that means needing more STA or less, this is worth raising directly rather than working around an allocation that no longer fits your actual situation.

What an Overnight Respite Stay Looks Like

An overnight respite stay under STA typically means a participant staying away from their usual home, with a support worker or care team providing personal care, meals, and support with daily activities throughout. Settings vary from a dedicated respite house to other supported accommodation arranged by a provider.

The goal is genuine, quality support in a different environment, not simply a change of scenery with reduced care. A good STA stay should feel like a positive experience for the participant, not just a practical arrangement for everyone else involved. Consistency in staffing across a stay also matters more than families sometimes expect, since a participant settling in with one worker only to be handed to someone new partway through can undo a lot of that initial comfort.

Finding NDIS Short-Term Accommodation and Respite in Melbourne

NDIS short-term accommodation and respite in Melbourne is available through a range of registered providers, and it is worth comparing options rather than booking with the first available vacancy. Ask how participants are matched with staff, what a typical day looks like during a stay, and how far in advance you need to book.

It is also worth asking directly about staffing consistency, meal and dietary arrangements, and how a provider handles unexpected changes to a stay, since these practical details often matter more to how a stay actually goes than the accommodation itself. 

How The Jovials Can Help

At The Jovials, we deliver Short Term Accommodation with the same care and consistency participants expect from their regular support, regardless of what the funding is currently being called. Our team can help you understand what your plan allows and book a stay that genuinely suits the participant, whether you are calling it STA, STR, or simply short-term respite NDIS support out of habit.

If you would like to explore short-term accommodation options, get in touch with our team today, and we can walk you through what your current plan actually allows before you book anything.