By
Haisey Home Care
Updated on: April 10, 2025
•
x min read
Respite care provides short-term relief for caregivers, allowing them a much-needed break. It can last for a few hours, days, or even weeks.
It can be accessed in various ways, from My Aged Care to the NDIS and Carer Gateway.
The idea is that your loved ones are taken care of by professionals while you take a step back.
But who pays for respite care in Australia?
The cost of respite care depends on the person's situation.
Are they an elderly person who needs help with daily living? Do they have a disability that prevents them from completing everyday tasks? Are they recovering from a surgery?
The answer depends on your age, needs, and support plan.
Read on to find out more.
Different Respite Care Options
The first thing you have to know is that respite care is not free.
The cost of respite care depends on the type of care, location, and provider. It's usually charged on a daily basis.
However, you do not have to cover the entire cost of respite care. You can instead apply for government subsidies.
To know which program to apply for, first answer these questions:
- Are you an older Australian (65+ or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)
- Do you have a disability?
- Are you recovering from a surgery or illness?
Respite Care for Older Australians
If you're an older Australian, you can apply for respite care through My Aged Care.
When we say older, we're referring to people over the age of 65. The age limit is reduced to 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
My Aged Care covers government-subsidised respite through:
- The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)
- Home Care Packages
The CHSP is for older people who just need a little bit of help at home. It can cover occasional respite, like a few hours or a day.
You might still have to pay a small fee, depending on your income.
Home Care Packages are for elderly people who need more regular, ongoing help. If you're eligible, you will get a Home Care Package budget.
You can use your HCP budget to cover the costs of respite care. There are some fees you have to pay yourself, but we'll get to that later.
Respite Care for People with a Disability
People with disabilities can apply for respite care through the NDIS.
The NDIS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
If you're an NDIS participant, respite care can be included in your plan. In that case, it's often referred to as Short-Term Accommodation and Assistance.
The NDIS covers up to 28 days of respite care a year. It might include things like overnight stays, support workers, meals, etc.
To access respite care through the NDIS, you need an NDIS plan.
Your plan's support category must also include respite/short-term accommodation.
Respite Care for People Recovering from an Illness or Surgery
Some people may need short-term care after surgery, injury, or illness.
Respite care is especially helpful if they're not ready to return home alone.
In this case, it can be accessed through in-home support or a temporary stay in a care facility.
Funding options may include:
- Private payment
- Private health insurance (some policies may cover part of the cost)
- Hospital discharge planning teams may help arrange short-term respite through government or charity services
Even if you're not elderly or on NDIS, you may still be able to get help. Speak to your hospital or GP for referrals.
Who Pays for Respite Care?
Respite care can be funded in different ways.
You, as the care recipient, can pay for respite care. But you can also have the government cover a large portion of the total cost.
Respite care can be covered by:
- Government subsidy programs
- Individual contributions
- Private payment options
Government Subsidy Programs
In Australia, the government makes respite care accessible through subsidies.
However, you have to be eligible for this type of funding.
The subsidies are paid directly to respite aged care providers. They cover the costs for each day a person is in respite care.
Government subsidy programs that can cover respite care include:
- The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
- My Aged Care
- Carer Gateway
- Home and Community Care (HACC)
- Veterans' Affairs Respite Care
Older people can apply for My Aged Care's programs. These include the CHSP and Home Care Packages.
The government covers most of the cost, but you may still have to pay a small fee.
This can also apply to residential respite care.
People with disabilities can apply for government funding through the NDIS. If it's in your NDIS plan, the cost will be fully or partly covered.
Individual Contributions
Even with government help, most people are asked to make a small personal payment.
This is called a co-contribution or daily fee.
The amount depends on your income and type of care.
If you stay in an aged care home for respite, you might pay a basic daily fee.
It's currently set at 85% of the full Age Pension. This equals to around $60–$80 per day.
These contributions cover:
- Meals and snacks
- Cleaning and laundry
- Social programs and activities
- General services
In most cases, these contributions are affordable for people on the Age Pension.
If you're struggling to pay, some providers may offer fee relief or lower the amount.
Private Payment Options
If you're not eligible for government subsidies or want extra services, you can pay privately.
You can contact respite care providers directly and pay out of pocket. You don't need to go through My Aged Care or NDIS if you're paying privately.
Costs may vary for different types of services:
- In-home respite: $20–$50 per hour
- Day programs: $160–$400 per day
- Overnight stays: $300–$800 per night
Some people may also use private health insurance. But, it may have limited coverage depending on the plan.
Superannuation, savings, or family support are other options.
This gives you more flexibility when choosing providers, care times, and types of service.
How to Apply for Respite Care Through a Home Care Package
Home Care Packages are government-funded programs for eligible elderly Australians.
These packages are designed to be flexible and tailored to the individual's needs.
You will receive a budget to spend on care services, including respite care. The package level determines the amount of funding you receive.
The four packages include:
- Level 1 - Basic care needs
- Level 2 - Low-level care needs
- Level 3 - Intermediate needs
- Level 4 - High-level care needs
Each level comes with a yearly subsidy. The higher the level, the more funding you get.
You can use your Home Care Package to arrange respite care in the way that suits you best. This may include:
- In-home respite: A care worker visits your home to take over care duties for a few hours or days.
- Centre-based respite: You (or your loved one) go to a local respite centre for social activities, meals, and supervision.
- Overnight or weekend respite: In some cases, you can use the package to pay for short overnight stays in respite accommodation.
Even if this program is covered by the government, there are still some fees you have to cover.
These include the basic daily fee and the income-tested fee.
The basic daily fee is optional and often waived by providers. It's set by the government.
The income-tested care fee is based on your income, not assets.
Take Advantage of the Aged Care Respite Subsidy
In Australia, the cost of respite care can be covered in different ways. Government programs like My Aged Care and the NDIS can help.
Some people may also pay a small fee or cover the full cost privately.
Home Care Packages are another way to pay for respite care, especially for older people who need ongoing support.
If you're looking for a trusted provider, Haisey Home Care is here to help.
We offer high-quality respite care through Home Care Packages with services that suit your needs.
Contact Haisey Home Care today to find out how we can support you and your family.
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