NDIS STR vs NDIS Respite Care: Are They Different?

Kirsty Savage
Mar 28
7 min read

Hearing "NDIS STR" and "NDIS respite care" used interchangeably can feel confusing when you're trying to understand whether you're talking about the same thing or different support types. Many families and support coordinators ask: "Are NDIS STR and respite care the same?" The answer is nuanced, and it matters for planning and understanding what the participant will access. This guide clarifies the terminology and explains what the difference (if any) is.

Quick Answer

In most contexts, NDIS STR (Short Term Respite) and NDIS respite care refer to the same thing. However, there are subtle distinctions in terminology that are worth understanding.

NDIS Respite Care is the broad category covering all types of temporary respite support funded by the NDIS (in-home, residential, day programs, community-based)
NDIS Short Term Respite (STR) is one specific type of respite care—specifically, residential respite where the participant stays at a facility

Simply put: All NDIS STR is respite care, but not all NDIS respite care is STR.

Understanding the Terminology Landscape

NDIS Respite Care (Umbrella Term)

"NDIS respite care" is the broad category encompassing all temporary respite support funded through NDIS plans. It includes:

NDIS Short Term Respite (STR/Residential Respite)

Participant stays in residential facility overnight. Also called:

Short Term Respite
STR
Residential respite
Respite accommodation

In-Home Respite

Support worker visits the home. Also called:

In-home support
Home-based respite
Respite at home

Day Program Respite

Participant attends day program or activities. Also called:

Day respite
Community day programs
Activity-based respite

Community-Based Respite

Participant attends community activities or groups. Also called:

Community respite
Social and recreational respite

All four of these are "NDIS respite care." The NDIS plan might say "respite funding" and include any or all of these types.

Why You Might Hear Different Terms

When people say "NDIS STR" and "NDIS respite care," they may actually mean:

Scenario 1: Using "Respite Care" to Mean All Types

"We're planning NDIS respite care for participant."

This could mean any of the four types above. The speaker is using the broad umbrella term.

Scenario 2: Using "STR" When They Really Mean Respite Care

"Is participant approved for STR?"

The speaker may be using "STR" loosely to mean "any respite," when they might actually be asking about the entire respite category, not just residential respite.

Scenario 3: Using "STR" to Mean Specifically Residential Respite

"The participant will do a week of STR next month."

The speaker is clearly referring to a multi-night residential respite stay—residential respite specifically, not in-home or day programs.

The Official NDIS Terminology

In NDIS plan documents, you'll see:

"Respite Care" as the funding line (umbrella term)
"Short Term Respite" or "STR" when referring to residential respite specifically
Variants like "In-Home Support" or "Community Participation" when those types are separately funded

The plan document should clarify which types are included in the participant's plan.

Why This Distinction Matters

Understanding the terminology prevents confusion:

For Planning

If someone says "respite care," don't assume they mean residential; clarify what type
If you want residential specifically, say "NDIS Short Term Respite" or "residential respite," not just "respite"

For Funding Discussions

A plan might include "respite funding," but you need to know whether that's for in-home, residential, day programs, or all three
"How much respite funding do we have?" is answered by "What type? In-home per hour, or residential per night?"

For Provider Discussions

When contacting providers, specifying "residential NDIS STR" vs. "in-home respite" ensures you're talking about the same service
A provider might offer NDIS respite but not all types

Step-by-Step: Understanding Your Plan

When you're looking at the participant's NDIS plan:

Step 1: Find the Respite Section

Look for headings like:

"Respite Care"
"Short Term Respite"
"Community Participation"
"Assistive Technology and Home Modification"

Respite might be listed under different headings depending on how the plan is structured.

Step 2: Read the Funding Description

The plan should specify:

"Respite funding: $amount for Short Term Respite" (residential STR)
"Respite funding: $amount for in-home respite care" (in-home support)
Or, simply: "Respite funding: $amount" (may be flexible for any type)

Step 3: Ask Your Support Coordinator to Clarify

If the plan isn't clear, ask:

"The plan says 'respite funding of $amount.' What types of respite can this cover?"

Your support coordinator will clarify whether the funding is for:

NDIS Short Term Respite (residential only)
In-home respite only
Multiple respite types (flexible)
Specific types with restrictions

Step 4: Confirm Provider Options

Ask:

"Which NDIS respite providers in our area offer in-home respite / NDIS STR / day programs?"

Not all providers offer all types. Confirming what's available in your area helps with planning.

Common Terminology Confusion

Confusion 1: Broad Respite vs. Residential Respite

Sometimes people use "respite" as a broad term for temporary support, while others use "NDIS STR" to mean a residential respite stay specifically. That difference in scope is often what creates confusion.

Confusion 2: Respite vs. In-Home Support

Respite is temporary support (days, weeks, specific periods)
In-home support is support at home (can be respite or ongoing)

When the plan says "in-home support," check whether it's:

Respite (temporary in-home support)
Ongoing regular support
Both

Confusion 3: SIL vs. STR

Supported Independent Living (SIL)

Participants live in supported accommodation on an ongoing basis. It's a long-term living arrangement.

Short Term Respite (STR)

Temporary stay in residential respite. The participant returns home after.

SIL ≠ STR. They sound similar but are very different support types.

Planning Respite When Terminology Is Unclear

If you're confused about what respite type the plan includes:

Ask the support coordinator directly: "I want to plan NDIS-funded residential respite. Is that covered in the plan?"
Ask respite providers: "I have NDIS respite funding. Can this cover type respite for participant?"
Read the plan multiple times: Sometimes the language becomes clearer on second reading
Get written confirmation: Have the support coordinator confirm in writing what types of respite are funded

Example: Reading Your Plan

Example Plan Language:

"Support plan section includes funding for Short Term Respite. Funding amount: $4,500 per year. Participant goal: Develop independence, community access. Support type: Residential respite, participant stays at facility with support worker."

What This Means:

The plan includes $4,500 per year
It's specifically for residential (NDIS STR)
Not flexible for in-home respite
Focused on residential respite stays

Example Plan Language 2:

"Support plan section includes funding for Respite Care. Funding amount: $5,000 per year. Support types: In-home support, community day programs, short-term respite residential (as appropriate to participant goals)."

What This Means:

The plan includes $5,000 per year
Flexible—can be used for any respite type
The family can choose in-home, day programs, or residential as suits the participant
Not restricted to one type

Terminology Moving Forward

Best Practice Language:

Instead of ambiguous terms, use specific language:

❌ "We're doing respite this month" → ✅ "We're doing a 5-night NDIS Short Term Respite stay this month"
❌ "How much respite do we have?" → ✅ "How much in-home respite funding do we have per year?"
❌ "The participant needs STR" → ✅ "The participant needs residential respite or home-based respite?"

Clarity prevents confusion later.

Next Steps

If you're confused about what respite type your plan includes, or you're trying to determine whether "respite care" means "residential STR" or something broader, explore our respite care services or contact us at Visionary Respite and Care. We can:

Review your plan language and clarify what types of respite are funded
Discuss which respite type (or combination) would suit the participant's goals
Help you connect with providers offering the specific respite type you need
Ensure you're accessing respite according to your plan and the participant's needs

How NDIS Funding Usually Applies

Terminology by itself does not create or remove funding. What matters is what kind of support the participant's plan is actually describing, whether that support aligns with the participant's goals, and whether a provider can deliver it safely.

When wording feels unclear, the most useful next step is usually confirming whether the plan is referring to respite broadly, residential STR specifically, or a more flexible mix of support types.

What Quality Support Usually Looks Like

When plans or conversations use mixed terminology, quality support usually includes:

clear explanation of what service type is actually being discussed, without jargon doing all the work
planning that connects the wording back to participant goals and support needs
practical discussion of whether support is in-home, residential, day-based, or mixed
communication that reduces confusion for families, coordinators, and providers
follow-up so future planning uses consistent language and clearer service requests

When It May Help to Speak With Visionary Respite and Care

If you are trying to turn mixed plan wording into a clear next step, Visionary Respite and Care can help discuss respite types, participant suitability, and what questions to ask before choosing a provider or support model.

You can review respite care services, explore supported independent living, or contact us to discuss your situation.

FAQ

If the plan just says "respite" without specifying STR, what does that mean?

Not necessarily. It may mean the wording is broad, but you still need to confirm what support types the plan is intended to cover and how the funding can be used in practice.

Can we change from residential STR to in-home respite mid-year if we want to?

Usually, yes. As long as the plan allows flexible respite and you're using plan funding, you can use different types. Confirm with your support coordinator.

What if our provider says they offer "respite" but we want NDIS STR specifically?

Ask the provider directly: "Do you offer NDIS Short Term Respite (residential respite stays)?" They'll clarify what types they provide.

Is there a difference in quality between "respite care" and "NDIS STR"?

No. The terminology difference is just about classification. Quality depends on the provider, not the terminology labels.

Can we have multiple types of respite in the same year?

If the plan allows it, yes. You could use some funding for in-home respite and some for NDIS STR in the same year.