Respite for Carers of People With Disability
If you care for someone with disability, there are two places to look for a break. The NDIS can fund supports for the person you care for, like a support worker at home, which gives you time off. Carer Gateway is a separate free government service for carers themselves, with support, information and help to arrange respite, including in an emergency.
Why Does Respite Matter for Carers?
Because caring is a long-term commitment, and carers need time to rest and look after their own health. Carer Gateway says it's important for carers to regularly take time for themselves to rest and recharge.
The NDIA says the same thing from the other side: it knows the support families give is vital to participants' wellbeing, and how important it is they can keep supporting them. Respite is how that care stays sustainable.
Many carers find it hard to take the first break. It helps to start with something small and regular, like a few hours a week with the same support worker, so everyone gets used to it.
What Can the NDIS Fund for Carers?
Supports for the participant, not for the carer. A support worker who comes to the home, help to get out into the community, or a short stay away from home all give the carer time off.
The NDIS doesn't give carers their own plan or budget. Respite is funded in the participant's plan because it supports them while their family has a break. When the NDIA decides what to fund, it considers whether the family can keep supporting the person in the long term, and the risk to the family's wellbeing without a break.
So when you talk to the NDIA, describe your caring role honestly: the hours you give, the nights you're up, your own health, and your other responsibilities. That's part of the evidence.
Need a Break at Home?
We'll connect you with a registered NDIS provider who can send a support worker to your home.
What Does Carer Gateway Offer?
Free services and support just for carers, in person, online and over the phone, through a local Carer Gateway service provider in each region. Call 1800 422 737.
Carer Gateway can tell you about respite options and local services, and your local provider can organise support for you through another organisation, such as respite care. It can also help with emergency respite at any time on the same number.
Carer Gateway is for carers whoever they care for, so it's useful whether or not the person you care for is on the NDIS, and it's a good place to start if you're caring for an older person.
How Do the NDIS and Carer Gateway Work Together?
The NDIS pays for supports for the person you care for. Carer Gateway supports you as the carer. Most families can use both.
| NDIS | Carer Gateway | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | The participant with disability | The carer |
| What it gives | Funded supports in the participant's plan, like in-home respite | Free carer services, information and help to arrange respite |
| Emergencies | Ask for a change to the plan if circumstances change | Emergency respite help on 1800 422 737, any time |
| Who to talk to | Your my NDIS contact or support coordinator | Your local Carer Gateway service provider |
Caring for Someone Who Isn't on the NDIS?
Respite for older people is arranged through My Aged Care. For other carers, Carer Gateway is the place to start.
This site only covers NDIS respite in the person's home. If you care for an older person, My Aged Care explains respite at home, in the community and in aged care homes, and how to arrange it.
Questions People Ask
Can I get respite as a carer if I'm not on the NDIS?
Yes. Carers don't need to be on the NDIS. If the person you care for is a participant, their plan can fund supports that give you a break. Carer Gateway also supports carers directly.
What is the Carer Gateway phone number?
1800 422 737. Carer Gateway says you can call it at any time for help with emergency respite.
Do carers get their own NDIS plan?
No. NDIS funding is for the participant. Respite is funded as supports for the participant that also give their carers a break.
How often should a carer have respite?
There's no set rule. Carer Gateway says respite works best when it's planned in advance and regular, so you know when your next break is.
Keep Reading
- What is respite care?Respite care is when someone else looks after the person you care for so you can have a break.
- NDIS respiteHow NDIS respite works: support workers at home paid from Core funding, short stays away from home, who qualifies, and where carers fit into the plan.
- Emergency respiteWhat to do if you suddenly can't care for someone with disability: who to call for emergency respite, how to change an NDIS plan, and how to plan ahead.
- Respite for parentsRespite for parents of a child with disability: what the NDIS funds at home, what it treats as normal parenting, the tests for children, how to ask.
- Carer Gateway and the NDISHow Carer Gateway respite and NDIS respite fit together for families of people with disability: who each is for, what each offers, and when to call which.
- How it worksHow we connect you with a respite provider, and what happens to your details.
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