Respite Care

Last amended: 8 September 2026

Respite Care 

Overview 

Respite Care gives a break to a Carer by temporarily relieving them of their caring responsibilities. 

A Carer for the purposes of Respite Care is someone who provides: 

• ongoing care to a person who is Severely Incapacitated or Frail; and 
• unpaid support and may receive the carer payment or carer allowance from Centrelink. 

A Carer is not required to live with the Care Recipient. 

Respite Care operates within the Statement for Australia’s Carers, which responds to the needs of carers, recognising their rights, choices, opportunities and capabilities to participate in economic, social and community life. 

There are three types of Respite Care available through the VHC Program and they are: 

• In-Home Respite; 
• Residential Respite; and 
• ESTHR.  

The maximum days/hours available to each Entitled Person in a financial year is: 

• 196 hours of In-Home Respite; or 
• 28 days of Residential Respite*; or 
• a combination of In-Home Respite and Residential Respite not exceeding an overall total of 196 hours or 28 days*; and 
• 72 hours per episode, up to a maximum of 216 hours of ESTHR in addition to any of the above. 

The yearly limits are specified in the Treatment Principles and there is no authority for the VHC assessment agency or DVA to approve hours above the yearly limit. 

*One day of Residential Respite is equivalent to seven hours of In-Home Respite. 

In-Home Respite 

Purpose 

In-Home Respite is available for Entitled Persons who are: 

• being cared for and their Carer needs a break from the caring role; or 
• caring for someone and they need a break from the caring role. 

Self-carers are not eligible for In-Home Respite. 

In-Home Respite allows a Carer to have a break while a Care Worker comes into the home to take over the caring role. In-Home Respite can be for regular visits or for one-off situations, from one hour to an overnight stay. It gives the Carer the opportunity to attend to everyday activities and supports Carers who have other work/education commitments or those re-entering the workforce. For example, In-Home Respite helps a Carer to: 

• attend a medical appointment; 
• receive planned surgery or treatment; 
• attend an event, show, movie, sport; 
• attend to self-care activities, relaxation; 
• go on a weekend short break; 
• recover from an illness or a stress-related event; or 
• attend to work/employment or school/education commitments. 

The provision of In-Home Respite may occur while the Carer is absent from the home or while they are at home, but it must enable the Carer to be relieved of the caring tasks. 

In-Scope Activities 

Activities undertaken by the Care Worker are those that will assist in reducing Carer stress and burden and should generally be a current activity, undertaken by the Entitled Person with their normal carer and not something arranged specifically for the In-Home Respite. 

Activities can include, but not are not limited to: 

• supervision;  
• companionship (e.g. social engagement); 
• Personal Care activities; 
• household chores but not complete cleaning services (household chores cannot be the primary focus of In-Home Respite); 
• meal preparation*; and/or 
• social activities, if they are normally part of the Carer’s role**. 

*Assistance with meal preparation should only be for those meals consumed during the In-Home Respite period. 

**Activity costs and transport to attend social activities; 

• Travel costs and the cost of the activity are the responsibility of the Entitled Person and must be negotiated between the service provider and the Entitled Person prior to the commencement of the activity; 
• The form of transport used (private/carer’s car or public transport) must be suitable for the Entitled Person’s mobility needs; 
• If the Care Worker uses their own car for social outings, the Care Worker needs to have appropriate insurances, registration and a licence. 
• It is the service provider’s responsibility to ensure the care worker and their vehicle have the appropriate insurance, licence, and registration. 
• If a taxi or other public transport is used for social outings, the Entitled Person is responsible for paying the fare. In addition, a co-payment cannot be charged for the purposes of providing transport for social outings. 

Exceptions to the above can be considered in circumstances such as rural/remote locations or limited availability of activities in the local area. 

Out-of-Scope Activities 

Complete household cleaning is not the primary focus of In-Home Respite. This service can be provided under Domestic Assistance. 

Equipment and Consumables 

The Entitled Person or Carer provides the necessary equipment for the activities, including personal hygiene products (e.g. soap, shampoo, skin care creams and lotions), aids/appliances, medication and ingredients for meal preparation. 

Frequencies 

VHC Service Plans for In-Home Respite can be made for a weekly, fortnightly, four weekly or 13-weekly basis. 

A maximum of 196 hours in any financial year can be provided under In-Home Respite. If Residential Respite is used in the same financial year, the available In-Home Respite hours will be reduced. The maximum of 196 hours is a legislative limit under the Treatment Principles. DVA and the VHC assessment agency do not have authority to approve hours above this legislated limit. Unused hours of In-Home Respite will not carry over to the next financial year. 

Residential Respite 

Purpose 

Residential Respite provides short-term care in an Australian Government-funded aged care facility, or other appropriate residential setting, for Entitled Persons who: 

• are being cared for and whose Carer is in need of a temporary break from the caring role; or 
• are self-carers, but are in need of Respite Care; and 
• intend to return to the community. 

Residential Respite may be used on a planned or emergency basis. The Carer might use Residential Respite to attend a wedding or other event or go on a holiday. Additionally, the Carer may need help if they are unwell or unable to provide care for any reason. 

VHC service providers do not deliver Residential Respite. VHC assessment agencies manage the approval process for DVA to fund the fee for Entitled Persons receiving respite in an appropriate residential setting for up to 28 days. 

Residential Settings 

Residential Respite is approved in Australian Government-funded aged care facilities. 

Where there is not an Australian Government-funded aged care facility available or the facility’s services may not meet the Entitled Person’s care needs (e.g. the Entitled Person is under 65 years old, the Entitled Person has dementia, etc.), Residential Respite may also be approved in other appropriate residential settings, including a: 

• hospital;  
• Multi-Purpose Service (MPS); 
• Supported Residential Services (SRS) in Victoria; 
• Cottage Respite under the CHSP; or 
• another appropriate facility (e.g. disability-specific service for younger people). 

For Entitled Persons under 65 years old, Residential Respite in facilities that primarily provide aged care services should only be seen as the last option. All reasonable efforts must be made to locate a suitable facility that provides services appropriate to the Eligible Person’s age and care needs. 

DVA Funding 

Residential Respite in Australian Government-funded Aged Care Facilities 

The Australian Government funds the subsidy for respite in an Australian Government-funded aged care facility for up 63 days in any financial year for any Australian assessed as needing respite in a residential setting. The Australian Government may extend this subsidy in lots of 21 days if the ACAT or ACAS assessment finds that extra time is necessary. 

Any Australian accessing respite in an Australian Government-funded aged care facility is required to pay the basic daily care fee for up to 63 days in any financial year. However, this is not the case for Entitled Persons. DVA will pay the basic daily care fee for: 

• Entitled Persons for up to 28* days of the 63 days in any financial year. If more than 28* days is required, the Entitled Person has to pay the basic daily care fee; or 
• Entitled Persons who are Australian former Prisoners of War (POW) or Victoria Cross (VC) recipients for up to 63 days in any financial year. 

*If In-Home Respite is used in the same financial year, the available Residential Respite days will be reduced. Unused days cannot be carried over to the next financial year. 

DVA will not pay the basic daily care fee for Carers who are not an Entitled Person in their own right. 

The basic daily care fee is an indexed amount that is adjusted in March and September each year to coincide with changes to the pension. The basic daily care fee contributes to an Entitled Person’s day-to-day living costs such as meals, cleaning, laundry, heating and cooling. The Aged Care Fees and Charges list, which includes the basic daily care fee amount, is located on the Department of Health website at: Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care/Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. 

DVA will not pay for any extra service fees that may be applicable in the aged care facility. 

Some Australian Government-funded aged care facilities may charge an Entitled Person a booking fee to secure a period of Respite Care. It is a prepayment and not an additional payment. Section 10 of the Fees and Payments Principles 2014 limits the booking fee charged by Australian Government-funded aged care facilities. The booking fee must not exceed the equivalent of the fee for one week’s respite care, or 25 per cent of the fee for the proposed period of respite care, whichever is less. DVA is unable to pay this booking fee. The Australian Government-funded aged care facility is responsible for refunding this booking fee to the Entitled Person after the respite stay. When the proposed period of respite care is cancelled within seven days before the start day for reasons other than hospitalisation or the death of an Entitled Person, the booking fee can be retained by the Australian Government-funded aged care facility. DVA will not reimburse the booking fee where Residential Respite was not provided in this circumstance. 

If an Australian Government-funded aged care facility is charging an Entitled Person a booking fee that exceeds the legislated limit in section 10 of the Fees and Payments Principles 2014, the Entitled Person or their nominated representative can lodge a complaint with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission can be contacted directly on 1800 951 822 or by visiting the website at: www.agedcarequality.gov.au.

Residential Respite in other Appropriate Residential Settings 

For Residential Respite provided in one of the other appropriate residential settings outlined at section 3.4.3.2 of the VHC Manual [General], DVA will pay an amount that is an appropriate and cost-effective alternative to an Australian Government-funded aged care facility. This amount may be higher than the basic daily care fee. 

DVA will pay an amount for: 

• Entitled Persons for up to 28* days in any financial year. If more than 28* days is required, the Entitled Person has to pay the amount; or 
• Entitled Persons who are Australian former POW or VC recipients for up to 63* days in any financial year. 

*If In-Home Respite is used in the same financial year, the available Residential Respite days will be reduced. Unused days cannot be carried over to the next financial year. 

DVA will not pay an amount for Carers who are not an Entitled Person in their own right. 

Access to DVA-funded Residential Respite 

Residential Respite in Australian Government-funded Aged Care Facilities 

To organise Residential Respite in an Australian Government-funded aged care facility, Entitled Persons must be assessed by an ACAT or ACAS before booking their respite stay. Entitled Persons (or their Carer or family) will need to organise an ACAT or ACAS assessment by contacting the My Aged Care national contact centre on 1800 200 422 or visiting the My Aged Care website at: www.myagedcare.gov.au.

After receiving an ACAT or ACAS approval for Residential Respite, the Entitled Person (or their Carer or family) will need to locate and book an Australian Government-funded aged care facility with an available respite bed. This information can be found on the My Aged Care website at: www.myagedcare.gov.au/find-a-provider/search.

Once a respite bed has been booked, the Entitled Person or their nominated representative contacts the VHC assessment agency to organise DVA approval for the respite stay. The VHC assessment agency will arrange for DVA to fund the respite stay within the balance of the Entitled Person’s Residential Respite days. 

VHC assessment agencies must check for any notices of non-compliance or sanctions applied to Australian Government-funded aged care facilities where Entitled Persons are intending to undertake Residential Respite. 

Should the facility have a current sanction do not approve Residential Respite. DVA is unable to approve Entitled Persons to stay in the facility and another appropriate facility must be sourced. 

In cases where a notice of non-compliance has been issued to the proposed facility by the Department of Health, DVA is able to approve Entitled Persons to stay in the facility. 

Notices of non-compliance and sanctions applied to Australian Government-funded aged care facilities can be checked on the My Aged Care website at: www.myagedcare.gov.au/quality/compliance.

How can I check if a provider has non-compliance decisions? 

You can find any current or historic non-compliance decisions for both aged care homes and Home Care Packages Program providers in the find a provider tool: www.myagedcare.gov.au/compliance.

You can search either by provider name or location to find the aged care home or service provider you are interested in. Once you’re on their profile page, go to the “compliance” tab. 

A provider may have no compliance information and/or no rating due to a recent ownership change. You can see how they performed under the previous owners by viewing the archived “compliance” page for that service provider or aged care home in find a provider. On the provider’s “overview” tab, scroll down to “business information”. You can also find this information using “find a provider’s name” search function. 

Types of non-compliance decisions 

If a provider is not meeting regulations and standards, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will issue a non-compliance decision. Different actions can be taken depending on the nature of the issues and how serious they are. Where there is more than one non-compliance decision currently in place the compliance rating will reflect the most serious decision. The non-compliance decisions are listed in order of increasing seriousness. 

Residential Respite in other Appropriate Residential Settings 

To organise Residential Respite in one of the other appropriate residential settings outlined at section 3.4.3.2 of the VHC Manual [General], the Entitled Person (or their Carer or family) will need to locate and book an available respite bed. An ACAT or ACAS assessment is not required for respite stays in these other residential settings. However, DVA recommends that an ACAT or ACAS assessment is undertaken for older Entitled Persons so that their care needs are identified and the accommodation meets their required level of care. Additionally, the assessment also identifies any requirement for future aged care services. 

Once a respite bed has been booked, the Entitled Person or their nominated representative contacts the VHC assessment agency to organise DVA approval for the respite stay. The VHC assessment agency will arrange for DVA to fund the respite stay within the balance of the Entitled Person’s Residential Respite days. 

Emergency Short-Term Home Relief (ESTHR) 

Purpose 

ESTHR is emergency care, which includes 24-hour care. When an Entitled Person’s Carer is unable to continue the caring role due to sudden and unforeseen circumstances, ESTHR is provided to the Entitled Person at home so they are not left without adequate care. For example, ESTHR helps when an Entitled Person’s Carer: 

• is suddenly admitted into hospital; 
• suddenly requires long-term hospital treatment (unplanned surgery and Transition Care/rehabilitation); 
• has had to leave to attend to another family emergency and are unsure when they will return; 
• has deceased; or 
• cannot continue the caring role due to Carer stress/breakdown. 

If the only alternatives are admission to hospital or being left alone without the necessary care, ESTHR provides emergency care to the Entitled Person in the home until the Carer returns to the caring role or other arrangements are put in place (e.g. general community services, residential aged care, etc.). 

Self-carers are not eligible for ESTHR. 

If the Entitled Person is the Carer and the person they are caring for is not an Entitled Person in their own right, ESTHR cannot be provided. In this situation, In-Home Respite may be provided. 

In-Scope Activities 

Activities undertaken by the Care Worker are those that will provide adequate care to the Entitled Person, such as, but not limited to: 

• supervision;  
• companionship (e.g. social engagement); 
• Personal Care; 
• Domestic Assistance; 
• meal preparation*; and/or 

Social activities, if they are normally part of the Carer’s role. 

*Assistance with meal preparation should only be for those meals consumed during the ESTHR period. 

**Cost of activities and transport to attend social activities: 

• Travel costs and the cost of the activity are the responsibility of the Entitled Person and must be negotiated between the service provider and the Entitled Person prior to the commencement of the activity; 
• The form of transport used (private/carer’s car or public transport) must be suitable for the Entitled Person’s mobility needs; 
• If the Care Worker uses their own car for social outings, the Care Worker needs to have appropriate insurances, registration and a licence. 
• It is the service provider’s responsibility to ensure the care worker and their vehicle have the appropriate insurance, licence, registration. 
• If a taxi or other public transport is used for social outings, the Entitled Person is responsible for paying the fare. In addition, a co-payment cannot be charged for the purposes of providing transport for social outings. 

Exceptions to the above can be considered in circumstances such as rural/remote locations or limited availability of activities in the local area. 

Out-of-Scope Activities 

Clinical nursing interventions are not provided under ESTHR. These services are available from the DVA Community Nursing Program. 

Equipment and Consumables 

The Entitled Person or Carer provides the necessary equipment for the activities, including personal hygiene products (e.g. soap, shampoo, skin care creams and lotions), aids/appliances, medication and ingredients for meal preparation. 

However, the Entitled Person may not have all of the necessary equipment due to the sudden departure of the Carer. VHC service providers may arrange for or supply the necessary equipment and, if required, seek reimbursement of the cost from the Entitled Person or their nominated representative. 

Episodes of Care 

ESTHR is provided on an episode of care basis. One episode is up to 72 hours (three days) of continuous care per emergency. If further care is required within 24 hours after the end of the previous episode of care, another episode of care of up to 72 hours may be provided. The cumulative period of care provided to the Entitled Person cannot exceed 216 hours in any financial year. 

Unused hours cannot be carried over to the next financial year. 

Service hours for ESTHR are calculated according to actual number of hours utilised. This differs from In-Home Respite where respite for one day is calculated as seven hours. In contrast, respite provided for one day under ESTHR is counted as 24 hours. 

When approving episodes of care for ESTHR, only one episode of care, up to 72 hours, should be approved at once. The need for additional episodes of care should be re-assessed after the completion of the approved episode of care.