Providing care day in and day out in a regional community takes a real toll, often without the respite options families in larger cities can take for granted. If you’re reaching the point of exhaustion and wondering whether a genuine break is even possible here, it is. LPS provides local respite support across Bundaberg and the Fraser Coast, delivered by a team that’s actually based in this region.
This guide covers what NDIS respite actually involves, how it’s funded, and how to access it locally.
What Is NDIS Respite Care?
NDIS respite care is temporary support that gives carers a genuine break from their caregiving role, while ensuring their loved one remains safe, supported, and engaged. It can be delivered in the participant’s home or in a supported setting away from home, depending on what suits the family.
Types of Respite LPS Provides
Respite isn’t one-size-fits-all, and LPS offers two main approaches across Bundaberg and the Fraser Coast.
- In-home respite — A support worker comes to your home, so your loved one stays in a familiar environment while you take time away, whether that’s a few hours, a day, or longer.
- Centre-based respite — Your loved one takes part in supervised activities and social engagement away from home, connected to LPS’s existing day programs in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, giving them a change of environment and social connection while you get a genuine break.
Which option suits your family depends on your loved one’s needs and what kind of break you need most. We talk this through with every family before setting anything up.
Why Respite Matters — For Carers and Participants
Respite isn’t a luxury. For carers, sustained caregiving without breaks is a genuine health risk, not just a source of tiredness. Rest, time to attend to your own health, and space to simply be yourself outside the caregiving role all matter, and they’re part of what keeps a caregiving arrangement sustainable long-term.
For participants, respite isn’t just something that happens to free up their carer. Time in a centre-based program or with a different support worker offers real social connection, a change of routine, and opportunities to build independence in a supported setting. Done well, respite benefits both people in the relationship, not just one.
How NDIS Respite Is Funded
Respite is generally funded through the Core Supports budget in your NDIS plan, under the Assistance with Daily Life category (respite is officially known as Short Term Respite, previously called Short Term Accommodation). Because Core Supports funding is flexible, respite doesn’t sit in a completely separate, walled-off category the way some other supports do, but it does need to be included in your plan and assessed as reasonable and necessary for your circumstances.
If respite isn’t currently reflected in your plan, it’s something you can raise directly at your planning meeting or plan review, explaining your caregiving circumstances so it can be properly assessed and included. You can read more about how Short Term Respite works on the official NDIS website.
Ready for a Genuine Break?
You don’t have to keep pushing through without support. A real break is available, close to home.
[Contact Your Local LPS Team — 1300 221 492 →]
Want to understand your options first? Learn About Our Services.
How to Access Respite Through LPS in Bundaberg or Hervey Bay
- Raise respite at your planning meeting or review. Tell your planner or Local Area Coordinator about your caregiving circumstances so respite can be assessed and included in your plan.
- Contact LPS. Call 1300 221 492 to talk through what type of respite suits your family, whether that’s in-home support or a centre-based option through our Bundaberg or Hervey Bay locations.
- Book your first respite session. Once we understand your family’s needs, we’ll set up a session that works for your schedule and your loved one’s routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible for NDIS respite care?
Respite is generally intended for participants who live with their primary informal carer, or who receive more than six hours of disability-related support from that carer each day. It needs to be assessed as reasonable and necessary based on your specific circumstances, which is why raising it at your planning meeting matters.
How often can I use respite?
Most eligible participants are funded for up to 28 days of respite per year, generally used in blocks of up to 14 days at a time, though this can also be used more flexibly, such as single days or weekends, depending on your plan.
Is emergency respite available?
Availability for short-notice or emergency respite depends on your plan and current provider capacity. If you’re facing an urgent situation, call us directly on 1300 221 492 and we’ll talk through what’s possible as quickly as we can.
Can carers choose where respite is delivered?
Yes. You can choose between in-home respite or a centre-based option, and you can choose your provider. That choice belongs to you and your family, not to a case manager assigning it for you.