Is a Holiday Covered by NDIS?
Short answer: yes. NDIS can fund supported holidays. Here's how it works.
How NDIS funds supported holidays
Supported holidays are funded under Short Term Accommodation (STA)which sits within the Core Supports budget of your NDIS plan. STA is designed to give participants a break from their usual environment, and to give carers and families a break too.
When a participant goes on a supported holiday with a registered provider like 4titude, the NDIS funding covers the support worker's wages for the duration of the trip. It can also contribute to accommodation costs, though the participant pays their own share.
What NDIS typically covers
- Support worker wages during the holiday
- Contribution to shared accommodation costs
- Transport to and from the destination (support component)
- Activity support during the trip
What NDIS does NOT cover
- Participant's own flights or travel costs
- Participant's personal share of accommodation
- Shopping, personal spending, souvenirs
- Activities not directly related to disability support
Conditions and requirements
To access NDIS-funded supported holidays, you need Short Term Accommodation included in your NDIS plan. If it's not currently in your plan, you can request it be added at your next plan review, or request an unscheduled review if there's a genuine change in your support needs.
You must book through a registered NDIS provider if your plan is Agency-Managed. Plan-managed and self-managed participants have more flexibility, though most choose to use a registered provider for the quality and safety assurances.
Tips for getting a holiday funded
Talk to your LAC or Support Coordinator early
Mention holidays at your planning meeting or well before your plan review. It's much harder to add STA funding mid-plan.
Get a quote from a registered provider
Bring a provider quote to your planning meeting, it gives the planner concrete numbers to work with and demonstrates the support is reasonable and necessary.
Be specific about your goals
NDIS funding is goal-directed. Frame the holiday around your plan goals, e.g. increasing social participation, building independence, improving wellbeing. Don't just say 'I want a holiday.'
Book as early as possible
Popular supported holiday programs, especially during school holidays and Christmas, fill up fast. Once you know you have STA, don't wait.
Related resources
- Our supported holiday programsSee where 4titude goes and how to book
- What is an NDIS supported holiday?A deeper guide to how STA works
- NDIS funding categories explainedCore Supports, Capital, and Capacity Building
Frequently asked questions
Ready to plan a supported holiday?
4titude runs NDIS-funded supported holidays to destinations across Australia. Find a trip that suits you and start planning.