Taking a break is essential for both NDIS participants and their informal supports. But for a long time, “respite” meant staying in a clinical, facility-based center that felt more like a hospital than a holiday.

Today, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) offers Short-Term Accommodation (STA), a flexible funding category designed to give participants a supportive change of scenery while providing families with a much-needed rest.

If you are navigating an NDIS plan in South Australia, here is everything you need to know about STA, how it is funded, and how to build a respite experience that actually promotes growth, independence, and joy.