Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim hotel accommodation on NDIS?
Short Term Accommodation, including respite, is funding for support and accommodation for a short time away from your usual home. It covers the cost of your care in another place for up to 14 days at a time.
Short Term Accommodation includes:
• personal care
• accommodation
• food
• activities you and the provider agree to.
Does it cost me to use your service?
We are reimbursed for the support that you receive from your NDIS plan. Any out of pocket expenses will be negotiated with the participant and outlined in your schedule of support.
What costs are covered by the NDIS under STA?
STA includes: personal care supports, accommodation, food and the activities you as a NDIS participant and the provider agree to.
How is STA funded or how can I use the NDIS funding?
Then NDIS funds standard rates for Short-Term Accommodation. You can find the rates in the https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/price-guides-and-pricing
You can choose to use your Core budget on a range of supports like STA to suit your needs.
If you already have funding in your Core budget, you can use this for STA.
Generally funding is for a group price, unless there is evidence you require individual support
because of your disability.
Is NDIS support available in all locations across Australia?
The NDIS is a national scheme and is available in every state and territory.
If not my Support worker, who else can accompany me to my Livability STA?
You can choose to stay independently on your own, if you believe this assists you in achieving your goals for developing social skills etc.
Other than your usual carer, a family member or trusted informal support can attend with you who has the relevant skills to provide you with support during your Livability STA.
What is Livability’s STA model?
Livability’s Short term accommodation model is an innovative STA model allowing NDIS participants more flexibility to enjoy a premium experience of STA within their existing NDIS budgets and capacity and more control over their funds. Livability’s STA model will work with you to create new opportunities to learn and explore new things, increase your social connections, enhance your confidence to participate independently in the community, maintain healthy family relationships as well as offer a short break to your informal supports.
You can bring your own Support worker, informal supports or attend STA independently on your own to offer a break to your usual carers. Livability STA quotes do not include the wages of your support worker and you will negotiate their wages directly with them and they will invoice you based on the number of hours of support you require during your STA.
During your Livability STA, you can choose to consider participating in a range of activities. This is where Livability encourages a NDIS participant to be as creative as possible to achieve their goals. You can organise the activities yourself or through your support coordinator or even request to quote it under the Livability STA. Livability can assist you in organising these activities of choice. Livability offers pre-paid meal vouchers which covers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
What is the maximum and minimum number of days I can book with Livability STA?
Usually, the NDIS funds up to 28 days of Short-Term Accommodation per year.As a NDIS participant you can use your Short-Term Accommodation funding flexibly. For example, you might want to use it in a block of up to 14 days at a time or for one weekend a month. Livability STA has a minimum 3 night stay.
Will my Livability STA quote include the cost of my accommodation, meals, activities and any other associated costs?
Yes. All the above costs will be negotiated with you as each NDIS participant has unique requests, choices and goals to achieve from the Livability STA. Our model provides flexibility of choice and control to NDIS participants. We work with the NDIS participant, their Support-Coordinator, Plan-Manager and the family member to create a value for money STA quote within the NDIS price limits.
Will my Livability STA quote include the cost of my support worker, family member, informal support worker’s costs of accommodation, meals, activities and any other associated costs?
There may be Out of Pocket expenses. All the above costs will be negotiated with you as each NDIS participant has unique requests, choices and goals to achieve from Livability STA. Our model provides flexibility of choice and control to NDIS participants. We work with the NDIS participant, their Support-Coordinator, Plan-Manager and the family member to create a value for money STA quote within the NDIS price limits.
I have my child (children) as NDIS participants. Can I book Livability STA for my child (children) as a parent?
NDIS can fund Short-Term Accommodation for children if it meets the reasonable and
necessary criteria. It depends on the child’s needs and their family or carers. The NDIS considers the whole family situation.
NDIS might fund Short-Term Accommodation for children who need much more support than other children their age. For example, parents usually help young children with toileting, but NDIS don’t expect this for a teenager or adult without a disability.
NDIS can provide funding for other supports as well as Short-Term Accommodation.
What are the benefits of working with the Livability STA?
* Individualised care and support to help you reach your goals * Trusted presence so you can travel anywhere and reach our services * Dedicated Care Coordinator to ensure your care and support is delivered your way
What are some examples of activities I can consider during my Livability stay?
Be as creative as you like to achieve your goals. Examples might include: Horse riding, cruises, adventure parks, bowling, hot air balloon rides, driving range, Jet Flight simulator, swim with dolphins, dancing class, zoo, beach, game rooms, etc.
Are there any additional fees and costs I need to be aware of with Livability STA?
Yes. Livability STA Admin fees are negotiated based on the length of STA. These admin fees cover all our operational costs, ensuring Livability can offer you a prompt response within 12-24 hours, fast approval process and an innovative model of STA where your choice and control matters most.
What is the line item relevant for my Livability STA quote?
0115. Refer to the NDIS price guide
Who can assist me to ensure that Livability STA is value for money or is the best choice of STA for me?
As a NDIS participant, we always encourage NDIS participants to speak and consult with your Support-Coordinator, LAC, Plan-Manager, Planner and Family members to seek support and guidance around your STA.
Livability’s STA quote is developed in consultation with you and your Support-Coordinator, LAC, Plan-Manager, Planner and Family member.
A Service Agreement is only developed after the Livability STA quote is reviewed and approved by you and your representative such as your Support-Coordinator, LAC, Plan-Manager, Planner and/or Family member.
A STA service booking commences only after a Service Agreement is signed.
How do I know if as a NDIS participant, I have sufficient funds to cover my Livability STA? Can Livability advise and assist me?
Each NDIS participant should speak to their Plan-Manager, Support-Coordinator, LAC or Family member to ensure they have sufficient funds to cover Livability STA.
As a NDIS participant, you have access to the NDIS portal where you can access your NDIS funds.
If you are Plan-Managed, then your Plan-Manager is your first point of contact to enquire about your NDIS funds.
Livability has no authority or access to a NDIS participant’s funding and Livability does not assist or advise NDIS participants of their NDIS funding.
Your Plan-Manager, Support-Coordinator, LAC or Family member will not speak to Livability staff, until you provide them consent to share information with Livability.
Livability DOES NOT provide any financial advice to NDIS participants on how to use your NDIS funding.
What is the Livability STA Cancellation policy?
Livability requires as early a cancellation as possible. Cancellation policy will be tailored to each booking and the booking expectation upon booking.
When do I or my Plan-Manager have to pay for my Livability STA?
All Livability STA invoices are processed within 7 days of the completion of the STA service.
Livability invoices will be sent to the Plan-Manager after the Service Agreement is signed.
How many rooms can I book with Habitability STA?
You can book 2 rooms if attending with a Support Worker/Carer. It’s best if you discuss this with all relevant stakeholders and be included in the consultation to ensure its value for money as per the NDIS guidelines. To get further clarification, contact your Support-Coordinator, Plan-Manager, LAC or NDIA and then notify us at Livability.
If I am ready to book my STA with Livability, what is the process?
Read the STA FAQ’s prior to proceeding with the NDIS STA Referral request. Complete the STA Booking Enquiry Form on our website.
STA care coordinator will get in touch with you within 12-48 hours via email/phone.
Once our care coordinator receives all the information from you, a quote will be prepared and sent to you and your Support-Coordinator/ Plan-Manager to approve.
After the quote is approved, a Service Agreement will be sent to you to sign. After the Service Agreement is signed, the STA Coordinator will commence all the STA arrangements and send you confirmation of your itinerary. Dependant on your availability during this process, your STA can be confirmed within 24-48 hours.
On your scheduled STA commencement date, you will commence STA services.
An invoice will be sent after the completion of the STA services to your Plan-Manager. A STA quality and Compliance officer will contact you for some feedback about STA services
Can I use STA as Holidays?
No, Short-Term Accommodation is not for holidays. NDIS only fund STA when the need for this is related to your disability, such as for respite or skill building. Talk to your Support-Coordinator, LAC, Early Childhood Partner or planner if you’re going on holiday and need your disability support delivered in another location.
How do I get STA in my NDIS plan?
You do not need funding for Short-Term Accommodation put into your plan. You can choose to use your Core budget on supports like Short-Term Accommodation if it helps you pursue your goals.
If you’d like to learn more about Short-Term Accommodation, ask your Support-Coordinator, LAC, Early Childhood Partner or planner at your planning meeting.
If your circumstances change and you need Short-Term Accommodation, you can ask for a plan reassessment (review) if there isn’t enough funding in your plan. NDIS can include additional funding in your plan to cover Short-Term Accommodation if it’s reasonable and necessary.
Additional resources and information:
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https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-arrangements
https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/
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The team at Livability values Feedback from all and would appreciate any comments, suggestions, ideas, feedback. If you wish to be a part of the Livability team or wish to contribute in any ways in designing an innovative Livability model to be of better value to the community and its members, we would love to hear from you!