Skip to content

Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Respite Programs - Support for Carers of People with Disability

Respite programs

Respite services for people with disability including children, their families and carers, are principally funded through Australian Government initiatives such as the Commonwealth State and Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA), and the Home and Community Care (HACC) program which is jointly funded by the Australian Government and the State and Territory Governments

Commonwealth State and Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA).
The Australian State and Territory Governments fund specialist disability services through the CSTDA to provide short-term and time-limited respite services for families and carers of people with disabilities to assist and support them in their primary care role. Additional respite services may also be provided to people with disabilities who require significant ongoing and/or long term episodic support and who have a disability that manifests itself before the age of 65 years. Further information about respite services available under the CSTDA may be found under local government services in your local state and territory telephone book.

National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) is an Australian Government program that provides respite, information services and other support for the carers of frail older Australians, as well as carers of younger people with disabilities. It funds more than 600 community-based respite services across Australia, which deliver respite care in a wide range of settings including carers' own homes, day centres and overnight cottages.

Home and Community Care (HACC) This program is jointly funded by the Australian Government and the State and Territory Governments. The HACC program provides a range of basic maintenance and support services including respite, to frail older people, younger people with disabilities and their carers to prevent their inappropriate or premature admission to long term residential care. The Australian Government contributes approximately 60 per cent of funding and maintains a broad strategic role. The State and Territory Governments contribute the remaining funding and manage the day-to-day administration of the program.

What other respite programs are available?

In addition to the funding provided under the CSTDA, the NRCP and the HACC programs, the Australian Government funds a number of other respite initiatives to support the valuable work of carers, including children who are carers to help them with their caring responsibilities. These include the:

Veterans' Home Care - Respite services are funded by the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) and are accessed through the Veterans' Home Care (VHC) program. Respite care is designed to provide relief for a carer who has the responsibility for a person requiring ongoing care, attention and support. In any one financial year, DVA may pay for up to 28 days (196 hours) of in-home or residential respite care, or a combination of both. Seven hours of in-home respite is equivalent to one day in a residential respite facility. Access to services is based on assessed need. Eligible veterans and war widows/widowers or their carers should call their regional VHC Assessment Agency for an assessment by telephoning 1300 550 450.

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres

Respite services funded under the NRCP, HACC, Young Carers, RSCYP and MRH programs are coordinated though 55 Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres (CRCC) located around Australia.

The Centres coordinate access to respite services in your local area. They can give you advice about respite services and find the service closest to you. They can also help you get the right respite services.

The Centres work with carers to plan sensible approaches to respite and other support needs and also arrange 24 hour emergency respite care.

The Centres work closely with existing government and community agencies to assist families and can help when carers need to take a break from caring by organising, purchasing, or managing respite care assistance packages in a variety of settings such as, in-home, day centre, host family and residential overnight cottage-style accommodation.

The Centres provide a valuable source of information and advice for carers and can purchase appropriate respite care from local service providers to facilitate carer breaks or respite for emergency situations.

How can I find out more?

Information about respite services and assistance can be obtained on a 24-hour basis from anywhere in Australia by telephoning the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres (CRCC) on 1800 059 059 (free call).

Additional support

Family Relationship Services for Carers - a family mediation and counselling service, the Family Relationship Services for Carers (FRSC), has been established to help family members who are considering future arrangements for the care of their family member with disability. Specialist mediation and counselling services are available to support families as they consider decisions about the future, and to help resolve any conflicts that may arise. The service is Australia wide and free of charge. To find a provider in your local area, call the Family Relationship Advice Line on 1800 050 321 or visit Family Relationships online

Carer Counselling Services - the Australian Government funds Carers Australia to provide a range of services such as carer counselling to make carers' lives a little easier. If you would like to find out more about Carer Counselling which is offered through a network of caring associations around Australia, contact your nearest Carer Association by telephoning 1800 242 636 (free call) or talk to your nearest doctor so that they can refer you.