Short/Medium Term Disability Accommodation
Short-Term Accommodation (STA) & Respite and Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA), delivered by Caring Hearts Home Care
When your long-term home isn't ready, or you simply need a supported break away from your usual routine, Caring Hearts provides safe, fully staffed accommodation across Melbourne. Every stay is arranged around your goals, your funding and the people you're comfortable living alongside.
A Steady Base While Your Next Step Comes Together
Short/Medium Term Disability Accommodation exists for the moments in between: after a hospital stay, ahead of a confirmed Supported Independent Living (SIL) or Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) placement, or simply when you and your family need a planned break. Caring Hearts staffs every home 24/7, matches participants thoughtfully with housemates and support workers, and keeps the focus on comfort, routine and independence throughout the stay.
Both pathways sit under the one roof at Caring Hearts. Short-Term Accommodation (STA), formerly known as STR, covers brief, planned or respite-style stays, while Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA) bridges longer gaps while permanent housing is finalised. Where a participant needs more individual attention than a shared-ratio home allows, 1:1 support can be arranged as well.
Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA)
MTA funding covers the cost of accommodation and support while a long-term housing outcome, typically SIL or SDA, is being confirmed. It's designed to remove the pressure of finding somewhere to live at short notice, so the focus can stay on getting the right home rather than any home.
What MTA Covers
- Funded through your NDIS Core Supports budget
- Available for stays of up to 90 days as a general guide
- Extensions can be requested where circumstances warrant it
- Support and accommodation costs are covered together, not billed separately
- Staff on-site around the clock, with clinical oversight where needed
- A stable, home-like setting rather than temporary or clinical housing
- Continuity of daily routines, meals and community access
- Regular updates for participants, families and support coordinators
The MTA Timeline
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Referral & Assessment
We confirm funding, discuss goals and any support needs, and identify a suitable interim home, often within days of the first call.
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Interim Accommodation Begins
The participant moves in, support routines are established, and Caring Hearts starts working alongside the support coordinator on the long-term housing search.
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Long-Term Housing Progresses
We keep the participant, family and coordinator informed as SIL or SDA options are shortlisted, viewed and confirmed.
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Transition to a Permanent Home
Once long-term housing is ready, we support a considered handover so the move feels settled rather than rushed.
Short-Term Accommodation (STA) & Respite
Short-Term Accommodation (STA), formerly called STR and often known as respite, provides funding for both support and accommodation for a brief stay away from your usual home. Stays are generally arranged in blocks of up to 14 days, with up to 28 days a year as a common guide (your plan sets your actual limit), giving participants a genuine change of scenery and giving carers or family members a proper break.
STA Stay Types
Planned Stays
Booked ahead around a holiday, family event or a scheduled carer break, so everyone can prepare with confidence.
Emergency & Crisis Stays
Arranged at short notice when a usual support arrangement falls through unexpectedly, available every day of the year.
Carer Respite Stays
A short, supported break for the participant that gives family carers time to rest, travel or attend to other commitments.
What's Included in Every STA Stay
- Qualified, friendly staff rostered on 24 hours a day
- Thoughtful matching with housemates and support workers for compatibility
- A comfortable, home-like setting rather than institutional accommodation
- Opportunities to build daily living skills and try new activities
- Social connection with other participants, where that's a good fit
- Availability across Metro Melbourne
How Funding Works
Who Is Eligible
- You're an NDIS participant with STA or MTA included in your plan
- You need interim housing while SIL or SDA is finalised
- You or your family need a planned or emergency respite break
- You're transitioning from hospital and need supported housing first
Budgets & Duration
- Both STA and MTA are drawn from your Core Supports budget
- STA is generally short, individual stays rather than an ongoing arrangement
- MTA covers a longer bridge, typically measured in weeks or months
- Your support coordinator or planner can confirm what's in your current plan
Why Families Choose Caring Hearts
24/7 On-Site Support
Every home is staffed around the clock by trained support workers.
Compatibility-Led Placements
We consider personality, needs and household fit before confirming a stay.
Seamless Transitions
Smooth handovers from hospital, and into confirmed SIL or SDA homes.
A Provider You Can Reach
A direct line to our team whenever you call.
Where We Provide STA & MTA
Caring Hearts operates from three Melbourne offices (plus Perth) and coordinates STA and MTA placements across the western and south-eastern suburbs.
Offices: 6.18/101 Overton Rd, Williams Landing VIC 3027 · Level 10, 440 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 · Level 10, 14 Mason St, Dandenong VIC 3175 · 34 Welshpool Rd, Welshpool WA 6106
“I just wanted to say a big thank you to all the staff at Caring Hearts who took such great care of my dad at their home. The care home was clean with a lovely movie area which was both comfortable and homely. The staff act more like a caring member of the family and really listen to the needs of the individual while being respectful & dignifying them. A special thanks to Adam who was fantastic at managing his respite stay, he responded to every call, question and message quickly and efficient…”
Family member of a respite guest · Google review
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can a stay be arranged?
Planned STA and MTA stays are usually confirmed within a few days once funding is verified. Emergency STA stays can often be arranged on the same day, depending on availability.
Can I choose who I stay with?
We take compatibility seriously and consider personality, support needs and household dynamics before confirming any placement, whether it's a single stay or a longer MTA arrangement.
What happens if my long-term home isn't ready after 90 days?
Extensions can be requested and are assessed on individual circumstances. Our team works with your support coordinator well before the 90-day mark to avoid any gap in accommodation.
Is STA the same as respite? (And what happened to STR?)
Respite sits under the Short-Term Accommodation (STA) funding category, which was briefly renamed STR by the NDIA before the original name was kept. The terms are often used interchangeably, and all describe a brief, supported stay away from your usual home.
Do I need a support coordinator to access STA or MTA?
It isn't essential, but a support coordinator can make funding checks and bookings faster. If you don't have one, our team can guide you through the process directly.
Which areas do you cover?
Our core coverage runs across Melbourne's western and south-eastern suburbs, from our Williams Landing, Melbourne CBD and Dandenong offices, with other locations considered on enquiry.
Arrange Your Stay With Caring Hearts
Whether it's a planned respite break or an urgent bridge into long-term housing, our team can talk you through funding, availability and next steps today.