Respite Options for Carers of Children with Special Needs

Wanting a break from caring is ordinary, and it says nothing about how well you’re coping. A break is part of caring well, not a step away from it.

If you’ve been putting the question off because it feels big, you might find it helps to know that the first move is small. It’s one phone call. Everything else in this article can wait until after you’ve made it.

The one step: ring Carer Gateway

Carer Gateway’s number is 1800 422 737. The Carer Gateway page on planned and emergency respite lists the contact line as open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and says to call at any time if you need emergency respite. Hours can change, so check the page when you’re ready to ring.

There are two kinds of respite to know about, and you don’t have to decide between them today.

• Planned respite is for when you aren’t sick or injured but need a break. As part of a tailored support package, it may be free.
• Emergency respite is for when the carer becomes sick or injured, where it’s available.

It’s also a good idea to make an emergency care plan, which is a short note of who looks after your child, what they need and who to contact if you suddenly can’t. It’s okay to do that in small pieces over a few weeks.

If your child is on the NDIS

If your child has an NDIS plan, there’s a second route. Short term accommodation, which the NDIA now calls short term respite (NDIS news, 20 October 2025), gives a participant time apart from their usual care arrangements while the family takes a short break. It has to be in your child’s plan, so the person to ask is your child’s planner or support coordinator.

The NDIS website carries a banner saying its content is being updated for new NDIS legislation. That’s worth knowing, because the wording and the rules can change. The rename above is stated as at 20 October 2025, so please confirm the current position on the NDIS website, or with your planner, before you rely on it.

The kinds of respite, in four lines

The main respite options take a few forms, and one may suit your family better than the others:

• in-home support, where someone comes to your house
• centre-based care, where your child spends time at a service
• short stays away from home
• community activities, where your child joins an outing or group

No one form is the right one. It depends on your child, your family and what you need the break for.

Questions to ask any provider about your child

Whether the respite comes through Carer Gateway, the NDIS or a service you’ve found yourself, it’s fair to ask the provider a few things. You might find it helps to keep them in a note on your phone:

• Who will be with my child, and what experience do they have with my child’s needs?
• How will they handle my child’s routines, communication and medication?
• Can we start with a short trial before committing to more?
• Who do I call if something goes wrong while I’m away?

Asking doesn’t make you difficult, and the answers will help you decide whether the arrangement feels right.

Getting your child ready

A little preparation can help the first visit go more smoothly. It’s okay if you only manage some of this.

• Share your child’s routines, likes and dislikes, and emergency contacts with whoever will be caring for them.
• Pack familiar items, such as a favourite toy or blanket.
• Talk through the visit beforehand, in whatever way your child understands best.
• Afterwards, take a moment to review how it went, and tell the provider what worked and what didn’t.

If the first attempt feels bumpy, that doesn’t mean respite won’t work for your family. It’s fine to say so to the provider and ask to adjust things.

Breaks that fit your week

Think about when the break would help you most. Respite is time for the carer, so evenings or weekends, rather than school hours, often give a real rest. Some families, though, want respite during school hours so they can get to appointments, and a provider can usually arrange that too. Neither choice is wrong.

A small first step

One call this week is plenty. Write down the number, 1800 422 737, and the hours, and ring when you have ten quiet minutes. If your child is on the NDIS, you could also mention short term respite to your planner at your next conversation.

The rest can wait.

Sources: Carer Gateway, “Planned and emergency respite” (https://www.carergateway.gov.au/help-and-support/caring-me/available-support-carers/planned-emergency-respite); NDIS, “Short term accommodation is now called short term respite”, 20 October 2025 (https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10967-short-term-accommodation-now-called-short-term-respite)