Blog

07 Mar 2022

Xavier: Providing Overnight Respite Care

Xavier has been supporting children living with disabilities, their families, and their carers for over 70 years. We do this by providing access to specialised services and supports including overnight respite care services in Brisbane. Helping children and young people with disability to live happier, healthier lives.

Respite care gives children living with disabilities the opportunity to experience new things, to explore their community, and to partake in social activities, all while providing them with short, out of home stays from as little as one night away to up to two weeks. It also gives their families and usual support teams some much needed time off from their usual care responsibilities which they can also use to explore new pursuits, or just take some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Xavier has its own specialised respite care centre in Yeerongpilly, which is known as Xavier Place. From here our team work together to help create more active lives for children living with disabilities, and more restful lives for their families and carers.

Introducing Xavier Place

Xavier Place was created specifically to provide access to the highest quality respite care for children living with disability and their care teams in Brisbane. From here, our team assist children living with disability with their needs for however long they are in respite care, be it just for an overnight stay or longer.    

The team at Xavier Place have all been trained by registered nurses and therapists, ensuring they will always deliver the best possible respite care. Activities and support provided by the team at Xavier Place includes the following:

  • A fantastic range of fun activities, both indoors and outdoors, and appropriate for children and young people of all ages
  • Hi-lo beds and ceiling hoists in each and every bedroom
  • An on-call nurse for 24-hour support if needed for your child
  • Relaxation rooms to assist children with regulating their emotions and behaviour
  • Top notch security

Can my child stay for more than one night?

Respite care suits quick, overnight stays and longer stays as well. However, many people pay for their respite care through funding received from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and this only allows for short-term or medium term stays, lasting no longer than two weeks. Any stay longer than a fortnight is considered to be long-term and will not likely be deemed reasonable or necessary under the NDIS.

Can my child stay get overnight respite care through NDIS funding?

Overnight stays in respite care can be paid for through funding received as part of your child’s NDIS plan. For this to be the case, respite care must be considered reasonable and necessary for supporting your child. Reasonable activities are those which all people should have fair access to regardless of ability or health, and necessary activities are those which are absolutely necessary to manage the disability your child lives with.

Alongside our sister organisation InFocus, Xavier can help you navigate the NDIS process to ensure you receive the funding you need for your child’s stay in respite care. The following aspects of respite care are fundable by the NDIS:

  • Short or medium length stays out of home for your child or their carer, allowing them to explore new activities and accommodation during this time
  • A food allowance during your child’s stay
  • Support for individuals or groups depending on your child’s needs

Find out more

Xavier’s team is always here to support you and your child through respite care. Simply call 1800 XAVIER or email intake@xavier.org.au for further information on respite care or to see if Xavier Place might be right for your child.