1. What is Respite Care?

Caring for an ageing spouse, parent, or family member is deeply rewarding, but it can also be physically exhausting and emotionally draining. Respite care is designed to support the caring relationship by providing high-quality, temporary care for an older individual, allowing primary family carers time to rest, attend medical appointments, take a holiday, or manage an acute crisis.

In Australia, respite care is heavily subsidised by the Commonwealth Government. It can range from a few hours of support in your own home to several weeks in an accredited residential aged care facility.

2. The 4 Types of Respite Care in Australia

1. Residential Respite Care

Short stays inside an accredited aged care home (typically 2 to 4 weeks at a time).

Includes 24/7 registered nursing, private bedroom, meals, laundry, and all facility social activities. Requires ACAT approval.

2. In-Home Respite Care

A qualified care worker visits your home for several hours or overnight.

The care worker assists with personal care, meal preparation, or companionship while the primary carer takes a break.

3. Centre-Based Day Respite

Daytime clubs and community centres operating from 9am to 3pm.

Offers supervised group outings, morning tea, lunch, and cognitive stimulation activities for seniors with mild-to-moderate dementia.

4. Emergency Respite

Rapid 24-to-48 hour placement arranged during sudden family crises.

Used when a primary carer is abruptly hospitalised, experiences a cardiac event, or suffers an emergency. Coordinated via the Carer Gateway.

3. The 63-Day Subsidised Respite Allowance

Under the Aged Care Act, every eligible older Australian with an approved respite assessment is granted 63 subsidised days of residential respite care per financial year (1 July to 30 June).

  • Flexible Usage: You do not need to use all 63 days in one stay. Stays can be broken into several 1-week or 2-week blocks throughout the year.
  • Extensions Available: If a family carer undergoes surgery or experiences prolonged exhaustion, your provider or assessor can request an extension of up to 21 additional days at a time.

4. Respite Care Costs at a Glance

One of the major financial advantages of residential respite care is that you do not pay a room accommodation deposit (RAD or DAP). The Australian Government pays an accommodation subsidy directly to the care home.

Residential Respite Basic Daily Fee: $61.96 / day ($433.72 / week)

For an itemised breakdown of daily fees, booking deposits, and potential extra service charges, read our complete guide on Respite Care Cost Per Week.

5. How to Book a Respite Stay Step-by-Step

  1. Ensure You Have Respite Approval: Check your My Aged Care Support Plan to verify you have an approved "Residential Respite" referral code.
  2. Contact Facilities Directly: Many nursing homes reserve 1 to 3 rooms specifically for respite. Call local homes 4 to 8 weeks in advance for planned holidays.
  3. Pay the Booking Fee: Facilities may legally request a booking fee of up to 25% of your total stay fee (maximum of one week's fee) to hold the room.
  4. Sign the Respite Agreement: Complete a simple short-term resident agreement before moving in.

6. What to Do in an Emergency (Carer Crisis)

Need Emergency Respite Today?
If the primary caregiver has been rushed to hospital or cannot safely continue care right now, do not wait for standard My Aged Care triage. Call the Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 (available 24 hours, 7 days a week) for urgent emergency respite coordination.