NDIS Short Term Accommodation in Brisbane: What It Is, What It Covers, and How to Access It
If you’re supporting a loved one on the NDIS, you may have come across the term “short term accommodation” — or STA — and wondered how it actually works. It’s one of the most useful supports available, yet it’s also one of the most misunderstood.
STA gives NDIS participants a chance to stay somewhere safe and supported for a short period, while giving their primary carer a genuine break. It’s not a holiday. It’s not a hospital stay. It’s purpose-built care in a home-like setting, and it can make a real difference to both the participant and the people around them.
Here’s what you need to know about accessing NDIS short term accommodation in Brisbane.
What is short term accommodation under the NDIS?
Short term accommodation (STA) is an NDIS-funded support that covers temporary stays away from a participant’s usual home. It’s sometimes called respite care, though the NDIS specifically uses the term STA.
During an STA stay, the participant receives personal care, meals, activities, and 24-hour support from trained staff. The accommodation itself is typically a purpose-built or adapted home — not a facility, not a ward, and not a group home in the traditional sense. The goal is a comfortable environment where someone can build skills, try new things, and enjoy a change of pace, all while being properly looked after.
The NDIS generally funds up to 28 days of STA per year, and that time can be used flexibly. You might book a weekend every month, a full week once a quarter, or use it as needed when your regular support arrangements change.
How is STA funded in your NDIS plan?
STA falls under the Core Supports budget in your NDIS plan, specifically within the “Assistance with Daily Life” category. One of the advantages of Core funding is its flexibility — in many cases, you can use your Core budget for STA without it being specifically listed as a line item in your plan.
STA is funded on a per-day basis. The daily rate is designed to cover accommodation, personal care, meals, activities, and transport during the stay. You don’t need to pay separately for these — they’re all included in the funded amount.
If you’re unsure whether your plan has enough capacity for STA, talk to your support coordinator or contact the NDIA directly. They can walk you through what’s available.
What happens during an STA stay?
Every STA stay is different, because every participant is different. A good provider will work with you to plan the stay around the participant’s goals, preferences, and support needs.
That might include:
- Building daily living skills like cooking, personal care, or household tasks
- Getting out into the community — visiting local cafes, parks, shops, or events
- Trying new activities they wouldn’t normally access from home
- Socialising with other people in a relaxed setting
- Simply having a break from routine in a safe, supported environment
At Easy Community Services, we plan every STA stay around the individual. We don’t run a one-size-fits-all program. Your loved one’s stay is built around their goals, their interests, and what they actually enjoy — not just what’s convenient for us.
How is STA different from Supported Independent Living (SIL)?
This is a common question, and it’s worth understanding the difference.
STA is short-term. Stays are temporary — a few days to a couple of weeks. The participant returns to their usual home afterwards. STA gives carers a break and gives participants a supported change of scenery.
SIL (Supported Independent Living) is long-term. It’s ongoing, daily support for participants who live in shared or individual accommodation permanently. SIL is about building a life in a home of your own with the help you need, every day.
Both are valuable. Some participants use STA before transitioning to SIL, as a way to experience living away from their primary carer in a supported setting. Others use STA regularly alongside their existing arrangements at home.
We offer both STA and SIL in Brisbane, so if you’re exploring your options, we can help you work out which is the right fit.
How to access NDIS short term accommodation in Brisbane
Getting started with STA is more straightforward than many families expect. Here’s the general process:
- Check your NDIS plan for available Core Supports funding under Assistance with Daily Life.
- Speak with your support coordinator (if you have one) about your options.
- Contact an STA provider directly. At Easy Community Services, you can call Jessica on 0474 559 083 or email jcurtis@easycommunityservices.com.
- We’ll work with you and the participant to plan a stay that suits their needs, preferences, and goals.
There’s no pressure and no obligation. If you just want to have a conversation about what STA could look like for your family, we’re happy to talk it through.
Why families in Brisbane choose Easy Community Services for STA
We’re a Brisbane-based provider with homes in Morayfield and Capalaba, and we serve participants across the wider Brisbane region. Our team is led by Jessica and Andrea Curtis, who founded Easy Community Services because they saw too many providers cutting corners and too many participants not getting the quality of care they deserved.
Here’s what sets us apart:
- We don’t offer Support Coordination. That’s a deliberate choice — it means there’s no conflict of interest in how your funding is directed.
- Every stay is tailored to the individual. We plan with you, not for you.
- We treat every dollar of NDIS funding as a resource to be managed with integrity.
- Safety is non-negotiable. Our participants and their families know that their wellbeing comes first.
If your loved one would benefit from a supported break — or if you need one yourself — we’d love to hear from you.
Ready to find out more?
Call us on 0474 559 083, email jcurtis@easycommunityservices.com, or use the contact form on our website. No pressure, no jargon — just a real conversation about what’s possible.
Visit: easycommunityservices.com