Key Takeaways
- STA, or Short Term Respite, is used for short, supported stays that provide participants with care and carers’ time to rest.
- MTA is used when a participant needs temporary housing while waiting for long-term accommodation or disability supports.
- STA often includes support workers, meals, routines, and activities, whereas MTA usually covers only accommodation.
- Basic Home Care helps participants and families plan safe, flexible, and person-centred accommodation support across South East Queensland.
Understanding NDIS short-term accommodation and medium-term accommodation can feel confusing, especially when similar terms are used in different ways. You may hear people talk about Short Term Accommodation, STA, Short Term Respite, STR, Medium Term Accommodation, or MTA. While these supports can all relate to temporary accommodation, they are designed for different needs.
This guide explains what STA and MTA mean, how they differ, what they may include, and when each option may be suitable for NDIS participants, families, carers, support coordinators, and plan nominees.
What Are STA and MTA Under the NDIS?
Short-term and medium-term accommodation are both temporary accommodation-related supports under the NDIS, but they do not serve the same purpose.
Short-term accommodation, often called STA, has traditionally referred to short-term supported stays away from home. The NDIS now commonly describes this support as Short Term Respite, or STR, because it is often used to give participants and their primary informal supports time apart. Many families, participants, and providers still use the term STA, so both terms are important to understand.
Medium Term Accommodation, or MTA, is different. It is generally used when a participant needs temporary housing while waiting for their long-term home or disability-related supports to be ready. This might happen when a participant is waiting for home modifications, Specialist Disability Accommodation, Supported Independent Living, or another approved home and living arrangement.
In simple terms, STA is usually for a short supported break, while MTA is usually for a housing transition.
What is Short-Term Accommodation or Short-Term Respite?
Short-term accommodation, now commonly called short-term respite, is support for a short stay away from a participant’s usual home. It can help participants receive care in a safe and supportive setting while giving family members or carers time to rest, manage other responsibilities, or sustain their caring role.
STA is not simply a holiday. It should relate to the participant’s disability support needs and NDIS goals. For some participants, a short stay can help them practise independence, build confidence, try new routines, meet new people, or participate in social and community activities with support.
For families and carers, STA can provide reassurance that their loved one is being supported while they take a planned break. This can be important for maintaining long-term informal support arrangements, especially when carers provide daily assistance at home.
Basic Home Care’s approach to Short Term Accommodation focuses on creating a calm, practical, and person-centred experience where participants feel safe, respected, and supported.
What Does STA Usually Include?
The specific inclusions for Short Term Accommodation may depend on the participant’s NDIS plan, goals, support needs, provider availability, and the agreed support ratio. In many cases, STA may combine accommodation with day-to-day disability support during the stay.
STA may include:
- Accommodation in a safe and supported setting
- Personal care, daily living support, meals, and routines
- Community access, social activities, transport, or companionship
- Support workers, overnight support, or higher-intensity assistance where required
For example, a participant may need help with showering, dressing, meal routines, mobility, medication prompts, communication, or attending activities. Another participant may use a short stay to build confidence, spending time away from home with the right support in place.
Before arranging STA, it is important to confirm what is included, what funding will be used, and whether the stay aligns with the participant’s plan. A support coordinator, plan manager, or provider can help clarify these details before booking.
What Is Medium Term Accommodation?
Medium Term Accommodation is temporary accommodation for NDIS participants who cannot move into their long-term home yet because their disability supports are not ready. It is not the same as respite, and it is not designed as emergency housing.
MTA may be suitable when there is a clear transition underway. For example, a participant may be waiting for approved home modifications to be completed, waiting for a Supported Independent Living arrangement to begin, or waiting for a Specialist Disability Accommodation property to become available.
It can also be relevant in some discharge situations, such as when a participant is leaving the hospital, but their long-term disability-related housing arrangement is not ready. In these cases, MTA can help bridge the gap and reduce the risk of someone staying in an unsuitable environment while they wait.
If you are comparing longer-term accommodation and respite options, Basic Home Care’s guide on SIL vs respite care can help explain how supported living and short-term care arrangements differ.
What Does MTA Cover and Not Cover?
MTA is usually focused on the accommodation cost only. This is one of the biggest differences between MTA and STA.
MTA may cover:
- Temporary accommodation while a long-term home or support arrangement is being prepared
- Accommodation-related costs approved by the NDIS
- A safe place to stay during a recognised transition period
MTA usually does not cover:
- Food, internet, electricity, or everyday living expenses
- Personal care or support worker costs unless funded separately
- Permanent housing, rent, or general emergency accommodation
This means a participant may still use other approved NDIS supports during an MTA stay, such as personal care, community access, or daily living assistance. These supports are generally funded separately from the accommodation component.
Because MTA can be more specific and approval-dependent, participants should speak with their support coordinator, Local Area Coordinator, my NDIS contact, or plan manager before making arrangements.
STA vs MTA: What Is the Difference?
Although STA and MTA both involve temporary accommodation, their purposes, funding uses, and support inclusions differ.
| Factor | STA / Short Term Respite | MTA / Medium Term Accommodation |
| Main purpose | Short supported break, respite, skill building, or temporary care | Temporary housing during a transition |
| Common use | Carer respite, independence building, social participation, short stays | Waiting for SIL, SDA, home modifications, or long-term housing |
| Duration | Short stays, often used flexibly across the year | Usually up to 90 days, depending on circumstances |
| Inclusions | May include accommodation, support, meals, and agreed activities | Usually accommodation only |
| Support workers | Often included as part of the STA arrangement | Usually funded separately if needed |
| Best suited for | Participants and carers needing short-term support or a break | Participants waiting for a long-term home or disability supports |
The easiest way to remember the difference is this: STA supports a short break or temporary care need, while MTA supports a housing transition.
When Might Someone Use STA?
STA may be helpful when a participant needs temporary care away from home or when their informal supports need time to rest. It may also support personal development when a participant is ready to practise new skills in a supported setting.
A participant might use STA to build independence, spend time in a new environment, access community activities, or experience support outside their usual home routine. For younger adults, it may also support gradual preparation for more independent living in the future.
Families may consider STA when a carer is experiencing fatigue, has personal commitments, needs to travel, or simply needs a planned break to continue providing sustainable support. This can be especially important when informal carers provide significant daily assistance.
STA should be planned around the participant’s comfort, communication preferences, support needs, and goals. A good provider will take time to understand routines, personal care requirements, mobility needs, meal preferences, medication prompts, and any behavioural or sensory considerations.
When Might Someone Use MTA?
MTA may be suitable when a participant has a longer-term housing plan, but there is a temporary gap before they can move in. It is not intended for general short breaks or carer respite.
For example, a participant may be approved for home modifications but cannot safely remain at home while the work is being completed. Another participant may be waiting for a Supported Independent Living vacancy or a Specialist Disability Accommodation property that is not yet ready.
MTA can also help in certain hospital discharge situations where the participant no longer needs to remain in the hospital, but their long-term home and disability supports are not ready. In this situation, MTA can provide a temporary place to stay while the longer-term arrangement is finalised.
The key point is that MTA should be connected to a genuine home and living transition. It is usually considered when there is a clear reason the participant cannot stay where they are and cannot yet move into their intended long-term home.
How Funding and Eligibility Usually Work
NDIS funding for STA and MTA depends on the participant’s individual plan, disability-related needs, goals, and whether the support is considered reasonable and necessary.
STA may be funded when it helps sustain informal supports, provides disability-related respite, or supports the participant’s goals. It may also support skill building, independence, and community participation when planned appropriately.
MTA usually requires a clearer housing transition reason. The participant may need evidence that their long-term accommodation or disability supports are being arranged, but are not ready yet. This is why support coordinators often play an important role in preparing information and helping participants understand the process.
It is also helpful to understand how different funding systems work. For older Australians or families comparing care pathways, the Basic Home Care article on Home Care Packages vs NDIS can help explain the difference between aged care funding and disability support funding.
Before booking accommodation or agreeing to services, participants should confirm the funding category, service agreement, inclusions, out-of-pocket costs, and support arrangements.
How Families, Carers and Support Coordinators Can Prepare
Good preparation can make STA or MTA safer, smoother, and more reassuring for everyone involved. This is especially important when the participant has complex support needs, communication preferences, medication routines, mobility requirements, or anxiety about staying somewhere new.
Before arranging STA or MTA, prepare:
- NDIS plan details, funding information, and relevant goals
- Personal care needs, routines, medication prompts, mobility needs, and communication preferences
- Accessibility requirements, transport needs, emergency contacts, and risk information
- The purpose of the stay, such as respite, skill building, community access, or housing transition
Families and carers should also discuss what will help the participant feel comfortable. This may include familiar routines, preferred foods, sensory needs, cultural preferences, communication tools, or regular updates during the stay.
For MTA, preparation may also involve documentation about the long-term housing pathway, expected move-in timeframes, home modifications, discharge planning, or connection with other home and living supports.
Choosing the Right NDIS Accommodation Provider
The right provider can make a significant difference to the quality of a participant’s accommodation experience. Families and participants should look for a provider that communicates clearly, listens carefully, and respects the participant’s choices, routines, and goals.
A good NDIS accommodation provider should offer person-centred care, experienced support workers, safe environments, flexible planning, and clear service agreements. They should also be able to explain what is included, what is not included, and how the support will be tailored to the participant.
For STA, this may mean creating a calm and supportive short stay where the participant feels comfortable while families and carers have peace of mind. For MTA, it may mean helping the participant maintain routines and support while they wait for their long-term home to be ready.
Local knowledge also matters. A provider that understands Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and South East Queensland can help participants access familiar communities, services, and supports where possible.
Get Support with STA and MTA Through Basic Home Care
STA and MTA can both provide valuable temporary accommodation support, but they are used for different reasons. NDIS short-term accommodation is generally suited to respite, short supported stays, carer relief, and independence building. Medium-term accommodation is more suited to temporary housing while a participant waits for their long-term home or disability supports to be ready.
Basic Home Care provides compassionate, flexible, and person-centred support for NDIS participants and families across South East Queensland, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast. Our team can help you understand your support needs, explore accommodation options, and plan care around the participant’s comfort, safety, routine, and goals.
If you are considering STA or MTA, contact Basic Home Care to discuss your NDIS plan, funding, eligibility, and the type of support that may suit your situation.
