Short Term Accommodation (STA) for Participants of the NDIS

Is Respite or Transition to Independent Living right for you?

MediStays provides Short Term Accommodation (STA) for Participants of the NDIS, working with individuals to find the right solution for their situation. MediStays has flexible options for participants either looking for a short term or respite stay.

Our variety of fit-for-purpose accommodation choices can make your stay more comfortable and successful. The MediStays team has comprehensive funding knowledge to support your journey to get there.

The NDIS funds three streams of accommodation:

• Short Term Accommodation (STA)
• Medium Term Accommodation (MTA)
• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

MediStays provides all three accommodation types to best support your individual needs. For this blog post we will focus on Short Term Accommodation (STA).

The MediStays accommodation options are very flexible. They offer a range of prices, locations and accessibility features.

We support participants to understand their STA funding to access short term stays when they need it most.

Depending on the type and levels of supports, the MediStays solution often proves more cost-effective for NDIS Participants than referrer or alternative accommodation options

Many NDIS Short Term Accommodation properties offer accommodation, support workers and meals as a package.

MediStays also supports participants to stay with their own NDIS support workers. Bringing their regular NDIS support workers from home can boost participants’ confidence to stay somewhere new. This continuity of the same people, yet in a new environment, can foster a smoother transition. Whereas, a new environment and new supports all at once could be overwhelming for the participant.

What situations are best for a Short Term Stay?

We all like to take a break from our home environment and everyday routines at times. It’s a normal and healthy thing to do in our modern lifestyles.

Sometimes a short stay away from home:

• Gives us a chance to try new things
• Is an opportunity to develop new skills
• Creates a break from our usual routines
• Allows a respite from home life responsibilities

There are two broad categories for why people book STA with MediStays:

Taking a respite break:

Participants of the NDIS reside in a variety of living situations and have a diverse range of desires and needs.

Current living arrangements could be their family home. However, a respite break in a STA solution could be just what they need to recharge their batteries. A fresh perspective can help people feel inspired to try new things for themselves.

The added benefit is, informal supports get time to rest and recharge their batteries too. A respite break for everyone helps sustain the permanent living situation.

Growing independent living skills:

For some participants of the NDIS, transitioning to a more independent living is a very important goal to them.

The most realistic way to achieve this goal is to have a good plan with the right supports. A key aspect of this is developing core life skills before taking any big leaps.

• Empowering participants in decision making processes

What motivates participants of the NDIS to pursue Short Term Accommodation? Empowering participants to make their own choices is key to independent living success.

Some motivating factors include:

• The possibilities to try new things
• Increasing social and joyful experiences
• Choosing preferences for their lifestyle

We firmly believe that participants should have choices and agency around their own wellbeing, progress and growth. However, empowering participants with more choices in STA differs from the status quo.

MediStays’ flexible accommodation options allow participants to be included in decision-making processes.

We also work closely with you, your NDIS Support Coordinator and Plan Manager to take the stress out of managing NDIS Short Term Accommodation payments.

What might an effective Short Term Stay look like in practice?

Let’s imagine an example scenario together…

Greg* is an adult with an intellectual disability. This affects his ability to manage living independently at home. His strength is his passion for cars. It motivates his biggest dream, which is to visit a car race like the Grand Prix one day.

Greg lives with his ageing parents, *Robert and *Gill. Greg is a participant of the NDIS and wants a chance to live more independently. Meanwhile, Robert and Gill have been the core supports for Greg for over four decades. Both parents would really benefit from a break in support responsibilities.

MediStays can support Greg’s plan to grow his independence, and allow his parents to relax while he stretches his wings.

Our Care Navigators are experts in matching the goals of NDIS participants to short term accommodation and opportunities that align. They focus on finding Greg flexible and pragmatic options for his plan, including opportunities to try new things.Their recommendation to book a two bedroom, fully self-contained property proves the best solution. Greg is able to book a short term stay as a guest for eight nights.

Greater options for rural and regional participants of the NDIS

Now let’s meet *Amanda.

Amanda is a participant of the NDIS that has lived rurally with her parents, *Ann and *Shane, her whole life.

In recent years, Amanda has grown more and more passionate about experiencing life in the city. Last year she made this one of her big goals.

In the past, it has been difficult for Ann and Shane to get enough time away from their farm to go on longer trips and holidays with their daughter.

Thankfully, by booking STA with MediStays, Amanda can spend a whole fortnight in the city with formal NDIS support workers.

MediStays recommended a self-contained property, quiet location, close to public transport with 24-hour onsite support workers. Amanda also opted for a walk-in shower to support some mobility limitations she lives with.

With many pet friendly options now available, Amanda was able to take her small dog with her.

Amanda’s parents are able to take a few days off from the farm and visit their daughter. Taking a few days off is much more realistic and achievable for them than an entire fortnight away from the farm and their other children.

Amanda may decide a permanent move to the city is not her thing after all. Yet she feels more confident since getting outside of her comfort zone. She gained experience in navigating the train system, being among big crowds of strangers, and got used to a level of noisy busyness the farm never has.

Now, she feels like she can tackle other big goals in her life too.

For Ann and Shane, they felt a renewed sense of connection in their relationship with Amanda. Between the farm and providing informal support to Amanda, they don’t get as many opportunities to just laugh and have fun together.

Their goal now is to organise more periods of formal respite through STA every few months, to enjoy free time together as a family.

What a Participant shared about booking NDIS funded STA through MediStays

Our Care Navigator, Melissa, received this email from the grateful mother and full-time informal carer for her daughter, a participant of the NDIS.

She shared with us:

“I have been using STA for a while but was limited to one destination. I googled NDIS STA and MediStays popped up. 

MediStays supported us by making it easy to book, modify or ask questions. 

MediStays have accommodation in many locations for us to choose from. I have described MediStays to friends and family as a trusted option that is reliable and supports my daughter achieve her plan goals.”

To learn more, please head over to our STA Accommodation page.