Respite care in Sutherland Shire is short-term support that lets a family carer take a break while a trained support worker looks after their loved one. St Anastasia's Care is a family-owned, NDIS-registered provider, and our respite is home-based: in-home, overnight and weekend support, arranged around your routine.
Many families pay for respite through NDIS Core Supports, Support at Home or private funding. Below we explain the types of respite, how funding works, and what to look for in a provider. You can also call us on 1300 055 918 and we will reply within 24 hours.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care is temporary, short-term support provided to an NDIS participant or older person — specifically to give their primary carer a break. It can be planned in advance or arranged at short notice in an emergency.
Respite isn't a luxury. It's a recognised need, and both the NDIS and Support at Home can fund it, because carers who never get a rest can become exhausted, and that affects everyone in the family.
Types of Respite Care Available in Sutherland Shire
1. In-Home Respite
A support worker comes to your home while you take a break. This is the most common form of home-based respite, and it's the least disruptive for the participant, who stays in their familiar environment. It can be a few hours, a full day, or a regular weekly arrangement.
2. Overnight Respite
A support worker stays overnight — either awake through the night (active overnight) or on call in a sleeping arrangement (sleepover). Overnight respite gives carers a full night's sleep, which can make an enormous difference to their wellbeing and capacity to care.
3. Weekend and Holiday Respite
Extended cover over a weekend or longer period, allowing carers to take a proper break, travel, or attend to personal commitments. The same high-quality support continues in your absence.
4. Emergency Respite
When a carer is suddenly unwell, has a family emergency, or is simply in crisis, emergency respite steps in at short notice. Ask any provider, before you sign up, how they handle short-notice requests and how quickly they can realistically respond. If it is a medical emergency, call 000.
How Respite Care is Funded
Through NDIS
NDIS respite is funded under Core Supports — specifically the "Assistance with Daily Life" and "Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation" categories. It can also be included in Short Term Respite (previously called Short-Term Accommodation), which can fund a short break for participants and their carers. Our short-term accommodation guide explains the difference. For more on how plans work, see how NDIS funding works.
Respite support must be included in the participant's NDIS plan. If it's not currently in your plan, raise it at your next plan review or ask your Support Coordinator about requesting a plan review. You don't have to wait for the next review if your needs have genuinely changed. New to the NDIS? Start with our guide to getting started, or see our NDIS support services.
Through Support at Home (for older Australians)
If you're caring for an older family member (generally 65+), respite may be available through the Support at Home program, which replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. An assessment through My Aged Care is needed to work out eligibility and the level of support. The My Aged Care website (myagedcare.gov.au) or a call to 1800 200 422 is the starting point. Read our Support at Home guide for more.
Private Funding
If you're not yet funded through NDIS or My Aged Care, or if you need additional hours beyond your funded allocation, private respite is available. We agree rates with you upfront, in writing, before support starts.
What to Look for in a Respite Provider
Not all respite care is equal. Here's what matters:
- Consistency of workers: The person you love should see the same familiar face for respite — not a different stranger every time. Ask providers whether they can guarantee consistent worker allocation.
- No subcontracting: Some agencies send workers they don't directly employ. This creates a gap in accountability and quality. Directly employed staff are trained to the provider's standards and are fully accountable to them.
- Emergency availability: Can they genuinely step in at short notice? Ask for specific examples of how they've handled emergency respite requests.
- Cultural and personal matching: Good providers take the time to understand the participant's personality, preferences, and background, then match them with a worker who is genuinely compatible.
- NDIS registered: If your loved one is agency-managed, you must use a registered NDIS provider. You can check the NDIS provider register at ndis.gov.au. St Anastasia's Care is a family-owned, NDIS-registered provider (NDIS Registration ID 4050169615).
Respite Care in Sutherland Shire — What's Available Locally
St Anastasia's Care provides home-based respite support across the Sutherland Shire — including Sutherland, Miranda, Caringbah, Cronulla, Engadine and Menai — as well as the St George region.
We offer in-home respite, overnight support (awake or sleepover), and weekend cover, all delivered in your own home. See our respite care services for the full picture. All of our support workers are directly employed — we don't use subcontractors. Wherever possible, we match the same worker to the same participant so respite always feels familiar and safe, not disruptive.
“We understand how much trust it takes to hand over the care of someone you love, even for a little while. That's why we take the time to understand your loved one's needs and routines, and wherever possible we provide the same familiar carers, so both of you feel completely at ease.”
— St Anastasia's Care
Getting Started
If you're a carer in Sutherland Shire or St George and you're not sure where to start, the simplest step is to reach out. You don't need to have everything figured out — just tell us your situation and we'll help you understand your options.
If you already have respite funding, we will talk through your needs and agree a service agreement before support begins. If you're still building your NDIS plan, we can help you understand how to raise respite at your next plan review. You can also browse our frequently asked questions.
Ready for a break? Talk to a real person.
Call 1300 055 918 or send us an enquiry. We respond to every enquiry within 24 hours.
Last updated 8 November 2026. Written by St Anastasia's Care, a family-owned, NDIS-registered provider (NDIS Registration ID 4050169615). This guide is general information only; check current rules at ndis.gov.au.