Spinal Cord Injury and Short Term Accommodation (STA)

What is Short Term Accommodation (STA)?

Short Term Accommodation is funding allocated to an NDIS participant to live out of home for a short period of time. It is often described as respite.

The purpose of short term accommodation is to:

• Provide a break for the participant from their day-to-day activities and responsibilities
• Give their family and carers a break from their care-giving role

Accessing short term accommodation can ensure your care needs can be met if your usual support network is not available for a short period of time

The goal of short term accommodation is to:

• Give you a chance to try new activities
• Develop new skills
• Form new relationships with others
• Maintain your current living situation by allowing your informal supports to have a break

What kind of support is included in Short Term Accommodation?

The following supports are included in short term accomodation funding:

• Personal care
• Accommodation
• Food
• Activities of your choosing, in alignment with your NDIS goals

The model of support you receive in short term accommodation is built around your individual needs.

How long is Short Term Accommodation funded for?

The NDIS typically funds up to 28 days of short term accommodation per year. 

This can be used flexibility in line with your personal needs. You may wish to use it in a block, at up to 14 days at a time, or across multiple weekends.

The NDIS funds standard rates for short term accommodation in line with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.

Can I access Short Term Accommodation alone or do I have to share with others?

The NDIS generally fund short term accommodation at a group price, where support is shared across multiple participants.

If you require individual supports due to your disability, you will need to provide evidence of this.

How is Short Term Accommodation funded in my NDIS Plan?

Funding for short term accommodation is allocated in the Core Support Budget of your NDIS Plan. There are 5 budgets within Core Support.

Specifically, you will need to look for Category 1: Assistance with Daily Life, where funding for short term accommodation is allocated.

However, the NDIS have stated you can use your Core Support budget flexibly and can choose to use Core funding that is not necessarily allocated in Assistance with Daily Life for short term accommodation, so long as this is deemed the best way to use your budget to pursue the goals in your NDIS plan.

How do I get Short Term Accommodation funding in my NDIS plan? 

If you’d like funding for short term accommodation included in your plan, you will need to request it in your plan reassessment or plan review meeting.

It is important to provide evidence of the following:

• Your need for STA is related to your disability
• You need for STA will help you to pursue your NDIS goals
• Accessing STA will increase opportunities to participate in the community and build your capacity where possible

How do I know how much support I will need for short term accommodation?

Typically, the amount of support you receive at home will be similar to the support you require at short term accommodation.

You should explore the opportunity to meet with prospective STA providers to discuss your specific support needs before agreeing to and paying for a service.

Completing a Functional Capacity Assessment with an Occupational Therapist is helpful in identifying your level of independence and support needs across your activities of daily living. This provides guidance to yourself and potential STA providers on how to allocate support.

Find an OT for a Functional Capacity Assessment

Short Term Accommodation for Spinal Cord Injury

If you don’t have funding for short term accommodation in your NDIS plan, you should consider requesting it by the following methods:

• Discuss STA as a goal at your next NDIS plan reassessment (review) meeting
• Submitting a Change of Situation to the NDIS describing why STA is required

It is important to find an STA property that aligns with your accessibility needs and is equipped with support staff with the right training and experience related to your injury.

Consider what assistive technology you require to be set up at the accommodation setting to cater to your needs, such as:

• Hi-lo adjustable bed
• Pressure relieving mattress
• Mobile shower commode
• Mobile hoist and sling
• Alternate seating, such as a recliner chair

Learn more about Spinal Cord Injury and Assistive Technology in the NDIS

Not all STA providers will have the equipment set up that you need. You may need to consider hiring assistive technology or transporting your own to the accommodation setting to ensure your needs are met.

Do I have to access Short Term Accommodation specific for Spinal Cord Injury?

You can access any short term accommodation you would like and it does not have to be specific to spinal cord injury. It is important for you to ensure the accessibility features and supports available meet your needs. You may also decide on the right STA for you based on:

• Location to home (you can decide to stay and close or far to home as you would like)
• Accessibility to community features, such as shops, beach, park etc.
• Familiarity with support staff or service provider

Alternatively, if you would like to access spinal cord injury specific accommodation for a short term stay, here are some options below.

Check out Sargood on Collaroy based in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Sargood is a specialist accommodation and respite provider.

It is a purpose built facility for people with spinal cord injury with rooms and suites featuring assistive technology, home automation, adaptive equipment and daily living aids.

Sargood on Collaroy

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia also offers a real life modified home environment setting for short term stays.

This is particularly beneficial for a person with an injury and their family, by providing them the opportunity to become familiar with activities of daily living outside of hospital, identify levels of independence across these activities and support needs present and explore home modification solutions that may be beneficial in their home environment setting.

SCIA Short Term Accommodation
 

How do I find short term accommodation?

For other mainstream short term accommodation providers, the MyCareSpace Connections Team can help you find the right STA provider for you.

Get Started