Caring for someone with a disability brings both rewards and challenges. Families and carers play an essential role in supporting NDIS participants, yet often need support themselves. Understanding available resources helps carers maintain their wellbeing whilst providing quality care.
Understanding Your Role as a Carer
Family members and carers often fill multiple roles — advocate, coordinator, support person, and emotional anchor. The NDIS recognises this contribution and provides various supports to help carers maintain their wellbeing whilst supporting their loved one. However, many carers don't realise what resources are available or feel guilty accessing support for themselves.
Remember: supporting your own wellbeing directly benefits the person you care for. You can't pour from an empty cup. Accessing carer support isn't selfish — it's essential for sustainable, quality care.
Respite and Carer Support in NDIS Plans
The NDIS can fund respite to give carers breaks from caring responsibilities. Respite care comes in several forms. In-home respite brings support workers to your home to care for your family member whilst you take a break. Centre-based respite takes your family member to a facility for a few hours or a day. Short-term accommodation (STA) provides overnight or weekend stays in supported accommodation. Emergency respite is available for unexpected situations requiring urgent carer relief.
Respite is funded in the participant's plan under Core Supports, not in a separate carer budget. Discuss respite needs openly during planning meetings — many participants and families underutilise respite because they don't request adequate funding initially.
Respite Benefits Everyone
Quality respite benefits both carers and participants. Carers return refreshed and more patient. Participants gain independence, try new activities, and build relationships with support workers. Regular respite prevents burnout and maintains caring relationships long-term.
Your Rights as a Carer
Carers have specific rights when supporting NDIS participants. You have the right to be involved in planning decisions if the participant wants your involvement. You have the right to receive information about the participant's supports and services with their consent. You have the right to request respite and support for your own wellbeing needs. You have the right to disagree with decisions and request plan reviews if you believe funding is inadequate.
However, the NDIS plan belongs to the participant, not the carer. If the participant is able to make their own decisions, their preferences take priority even if you disagree. This can be challenging, especially for parents of adult children with disability, but respecting autonomy is essential.
Involving Family in NDIS Planning
Family involvement in planning depends on the participant's wishes and decision-making capacity. Many participants want family present for planning meetings to provide input and support. For participants with impaired decision-making, families often take a more active role as nominees or advocates.
To be effective in planning meetings, prepare by listing current supports family provides, noting what's working well and what's challenging, identifying respite needs honestly, gathering evidence from therapists or doctors, and clarifying the participant's goals with their input. Being organised and bringing evidence strengthens requests for adequate funding.
Resources for Carers in Canberra
Canberra offers various carer support services beyond the NDIS. Carers ACT provides information, advocacy, counselling, and peer support groups for carers. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) offers information sessions for families and carers. Carer Gateway provides counselling, respite coordination, and practical assistance for all Australian carers. Mental health services through Medicare provide access to psychologists for carer stress and wellbeing. Local community centres run support groups where carers connect with others in similar situations.
Many of these services are free or low-cost and don't require NDIS funding. They complement NDIS supports by addressing carer needs directly.
Preventing Carer Burnout
Carer burnout is real and serious. Warning signs include chronic exhaustion, increased irritability, withdrawing from activities you once enjoyed, neglecting your own health, feeling resentful toward the person you care for, and struggling with depression or anxiety.
Prevent burnout by using respite regularly (not just in emergencies), maintaining social connections outside of caring, seeking counselling or support groups, accepting help from others when offered, setting realistic expectations for what you can do, and prioritising your own health appointments and needs.
Pro Tip
Schedule regular respite in advance rather than waiting until you're desperate. Monthly or fortnightly breaks, even short ones, prevent burnout more effectively than occasional longer breaks when you're already exhausted.
Financial Support for Carers
Centrelink offers Carer Payment (income support for full-time carers meeting strict criteria) and Carer Allowance (supplementary payment for anyone providing daily care). These payments are separate from NDIS funding and don't affect the participant's NDIS plan. Apply through Services Australia if you meet eligibility criteria.
NDIS funding can also reduce financial burden by funding supports you might otherwise pay for privately, such as personal care, domestic assistance, transport, and therapy.
Need Respite or Carer Support?
Life Assist Abilities Support provides quality respite care to give carers essential breaks whilst ensuring participants receive excellent support.
Get in TouchFrequently Asked Questions
Can I be paid to care for my family member under the NDIS?
Generally no. The NDIS doesn't fund family members to provide supports they'd normally provide. Exceptions exist in rare circumstances with specialist qualifications or market failure, but standard family care isn't NDIS-funded. However, NDIS funding can pay for external supports, reducing your caring load.
How much respite can we access?
Respite funding varies based on individual circumstances and carer needs. Discuss respite requirements honestly during planning meetings. Some plans include a few days monthly, others fund weekly breaks or longer periods. Adequate respite funding requires clear communication about carer needs and potential burnout risks.
What if the participant doesn't want family involved?
Adult participants have the right to exclude family from planning and decision-making if they have capacity to make their own decisions. This can be painful for families, but respecting autonomy is important. You can still support from a distance and maintain relationships whilst respecting their independence.
Where can I find other carers for support?
Carers ACT runs peer support groups where carers connect with others in similar situations. Online forums and Facebook groups also connect carers across Australia. Local community centres often host disability-specific support groups. Carer Gateway can help you find local support groups relevant to your situation.
What support is available outside the NDIS?
Carers ACT, Carer Gateway, mental health services through Medicare, Centrelink payments (Carer Payment and Allowance), community support groups, and local council services all support carers independently of NDIS. These complement NDIS supports by addressing carer wellbeing directly rather than through the participant's plan.