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NDIS Respite Cost Calculator 2026-27
Pick your check-in and check-out times and we'll estimate the stay under the new hourly pricing: support hours, sleepover and accommodation, with weekends and public holidays detected automatically.
Respite pricing changed on 1 July 2026
The old flat daily STA rates were retired. A stay is now priced from three parts: hourly support while your Happy Human is awake, a sleepover charge overnight, and a daily accommodation amount. This calculator is built on the new structure.
Why the ratio matters
Support hours and the sleepover are shared between guests. A weekend at a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio in a group respite house costs far less per night than 1:1 — and it's more fun, too.
⚠️ Estimates only.Actual cost depends on assessed support needs and your service agreement. We'll always give you a clear written quote before a stay.
When is the stay?
| Active support (6am-10pm, at 1:1) | $2,647.10 |
| Overnight sleepover ($311.79/night) | $623.58 |
| Accommodation ($162.85/night) | $325.70 |
| Fri, 17 July | Weekday · 6 hrs support | $456.46 |
| Sat, 18 July | Saturday · 16 hrs support | $1,656.64 |
| Sun, 19 July | Sunday · 4 hrs support | $534.00 |
Estimate uses the 2026-27 NDIS Short Term Accommodation price limits (hourly support codes 01_200-01_204, sleepover 01_206 at $311.79, participant accommodation 01_250 at $162.85, national non-remote). Assumes active support 6am-10pm and a sleepover overnight; weekends and NSW public holidays are detected from your dates. Actual cost depends on your support needs and service agreement.
What respite (STR) actually buys
Short Term Accommodation gives your Happy Human a supported stay away from home — and gives the rest of the family a genuine break. It covers the support workers around the clock, the accommodation itself, meals and activities, for up to 14 days at a time. Families use it for regular weekend stays, school-holiday blocks, or emergency cover when the usual carer can't be there.
Under the 2026-27pricing, a weekend stay (check in Friday 4pm, home Sunday 10am) at a 1:1 ratio comes to roughly $3,600 at the price caps, while the same stay shared 1:3 with two other guests is closer to $1,400. That's the single biggest lever on respite cost, and it's why group respite houses exist.
Budgeting respite into your plan
STR is normally claimed from the Core Supports budget, which means every respite night trades off against other daily supports. A practical approach: decide the rhythm your family needs (say, one weekend a month), estimate it with this calculator, and check it against your Core budget with our budget planner. If the numbers don't fit, that's strong evidence to bring to your next plan reassessment — carer sustainability is exactly what STR funding is for.
Frequently asked questions
How is NDIS respite priced in 2026-27?+
From 1 July 2026 the NDIS restructured Short Term Accommodation pricing. The old all-inclusive daily rates (around $2,178 for a 1:1 weekday) were retired and replaced with separate components: hourly support (weekday $73.58, Saturday $103.54, Sunday $133.50, public holiday $163.46), a sleepover charge of $311.79 per night, and a participant accommodation rate of $162.85 per day. Your total now reflects the actual support hours and ratio, not a flat day rate.
How many days of respite will the NDIS fund?+
It depends on your plan, but the NDIS commonly funds up to 28 days of Short Term Accommodation per year. Many families use it as one weekend a month, a block during school holidays, or a mix of both. STR is usually paid from the Core Supports budget, so it shares that budget with your other daily supports.
What's included in a respite stay?+
Short Term Accommodation covers the support workers, accommodation, meals and activities for the stay, for up to 14 days at a time. At a dedicated respite house the price also reflects shared support: staying alongside one or two other guests at a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio costs significantly less per night than 1:1 support.
Does respite come out of my Core budget?+
Yes, in most plans Short Term Accommodation is claimed from Core Supports, and Core is flexible between its line items. Some plans include a specific STR allocation following a plan reassessment. If respite matters to your family, it's worth raising directly at your next plan meeting so the funding reflects it.
Do you offer respite stays?+
Yes. The Happy Human Hub runs a dedicated, wheelchair-accessible respite house in Boolaroo (Lake Macquarie) with overnight, weekend and school-holiday stays for children, teens and young adults, including high physical-support needs. Plan-managed and self-managed participants are welcome.
See our respite house in Boolaroo
A real house, not a facility: wheelchair accessible throughout with an on-site hoist, sleepovers with mates, home-cooked meals and big weekend adventures, while you get a real break. Call (02) 4965 8554or enquire online and we'll walk you through availability and a written quote.