Short Term Accommodation criteria

All NDIS supports must meet the reasonable and necessary criteria, for the NDIS to consider funding for Short Term Accommodation they need to know:

• the need for Short Term Accommodation is related to your disability
• it helps you pursue your goals
• it helps you to participate in the community
• it’s value for money
• how much support your family and other informal supports provide

Funding for STA in your plan?

You can choose to use your Core budget on supports like Short Term Accommodation if it helps you pursue your goals.

If you’d like to learn more about Short Term Accommodation, ask your Support Coordinator or planner at your planning meeting.

If your circumstances change and you need Short Term Accommodation you can ask for a plan reassessment (review) if there isn’t enough funding in your plan. NDIS will include additional funding in your plan to cover STA if it’s reasonable and necessary.

It is important to know that the STA is not for housing crisis situations. Short Term Accommodation can only be funded where the need relates directly to your disability.

Short-Term Accommodation for Children?

NDIS can fund Short Term Accommodation for children if it meets the reasonable and necessary criteria. It depends on the child’s needs and their family, or carers. NDIS will consider the whole family situation. NDIS will also talk to parents and children about other funded supports that may also be available to help.

NDIS might fund Short Term Accommodation for children who need much more support than other children their age. For example, parents usually help young children with toileting, but NDIS don’t expect this for a teenager or adult without a disability.

NDSI can provide funding for other supports as well as Short Term Accommodation. This may help families to:

• support a child in the long term
• maintain your family situation.

Other supports might include:

• support in your home
• training to implement a behaviour support plan or build capacity in other areas. For example, this might help parents support their child in creating a sleep routine
• community access to help you socialise and interact with your community
• help to supervise behaviours of concern or support positive behaviour strategies.

What about supports for children at risk of needing accommodation outside the family home?

NDIS may fund more than 28 days per year if children are at risk of going to residential care. NDIS will not fund more than 30 days at a time or more than 60 days per year.

You may be able to get help from the child protection service as well as the support through NDIS.