The 10 Best Features of the STAA Program

All About You Supports provides short term accommodation for NDIS participants under the Short Term Accommodation and Assistance (STAA) program.

We host multiple accommodation locations and clients are assessed for suitability based upon their goals, behaviour and capability.

Here are the top ten best features of the STAA program with AAYS:

1) The pricing model is easy to understand

We know how important it is for participants to understand how and where their NDIS funding is being used. The pricing model for STAA is very user friendly, and a full outline is available on the NDIS website.

Pricing is capped by the NDIS based upon location, carer ratio and when the STAA is accessed (weekday, weekends & holidays).

While providers can set different prices between properties, they cannot exceed these maximums.

Before booking in any accommodation, AAYS will provide a detailed quote, detailed description of services, and can answer any questions the participant may have.

2) Pay-as-you-go without lock-in contracts

The fees for STAA are paid after the services have taken place.

As an example, a participant may book 14 days of respite, yet experiences homesickness and wants to return home early, in this case, they should not incur the full costs of the 14 days.

At AAYS our clients are our priority so if something happens that changes a planned stay, we work with the client and their carers to find a solution.

This may involve postponing or cancelling STAA around the client’s needs. In most cases, assuming we receive 24 hours notice, the remaining time is not billable.

We find this structure allows for greater peace of mind, and is particularly helpful for NDIS participants that want to trial STAA before committing to longer stays.

3) Itemised billing

Itemised billing that lists all of the days a participant has stayed in STAA so they know exactly where the money has been spent.

For example, for a 10-day STAA visit, there will be 10 separate items on their invoice.

There are no hidden charges, the daily rate covers all supports, such as day trips, equipment hire, transport, food and more.

For AAYS clients, this information is listed in our software app Careview Advantage.

4) Access STAA as much or as little as you want

Clients can book in for an unlimited number of stays based on what their funding allows and approval from the NDIS.

NDIS regulations stipulate that the longest a stay can be is 14 days. In rare events, STAA can be migrated into medium-term accommodation and Supported Independent Living (long term).

For carers and family, STAA can provide meaningful respite. For participants, it can also provide an opportunity to experience independent living before exploring other accommodation options.

While STAA is not available as part of early intervention programs, it can be accessed by participants who are 13 years and older.

For new NDIS participants, there is no ‘waiting period’ and they can apply for STAA immediately.

5) STAA upholds appropriate carer to participant ratios

Each NDIS participant has a carer ratio that stipulates how many carers they require. For example, a participant may have a 1:2 ratio, indicating that they need the support of two carers at all times.

The ratios range from 1:1 to 1:4 for STAA.

It should be noted that the NDIS does support ratios of up to 1:5, however, we do not believe STAA is available for 1:5 ratio.

It is important to note that support workers cannot serve multiple participants simultaneously.

As an example, if two participants with a 1:4 ratio were accessing accommodation, there would be 8 carers in the house.

STAA facilitates these ratios so that all participants have the care and support they need at all times across a stay.

6) Receive healthcare services whilst in STAA

External healthcare providers can be authorised to visit and deliver services within the STAA setting. This is very significant as it ensures that a participant’s ongoing care needs are met.

Additionally, healthcare providers can play an important role in helping people achieve their NDIS goals. AAYS will always facilitate our clients to access healthcare as they wish.

7) Flexibility to move between multiple properties

NDIS participants can access different accommodation across Australia. The NDIS is a National Insurance Scheme, meaning that STAA can be accessed all throughout the nation.

AAYS has a number of sites available for STAA. This gives clients important flexibility when planning a stay.

Each of our sites is compliant with regard to:

Relevant Australian building codes
Fire safety standards
Workplace Health and Safety considerations

As with all NDIS services, the participants are never locked into their current providers and could move to other Disability Support organisations to access their accommodation.

We take a great deal of pride to ensure our accommodation is high-quality.

AAYS is also able to negotiate with partner organisations to arrange accommodation and care. An example of this may be arranging an appropriate third-party site to facilitate a family holiday.

8) Trying new activities

When a participant arranges STAA we begin the process by establishing the purpose behind their stay. It may be to facilitate respite, it may be to provide a holiday. This informs how we may organise activities.

Our holistic approach includes:

Being mindful of how a participant typically likes to spend their time
Suggesting new and stimulating experiences as appropriate
Providing choice and control to the participant around activities they would like to engage in
Input from the participant’s treating clinicians (such as Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists)
Any goals that the client may have for their time (for example, to undertake exercise each day)

We were recently able to provide equine therapy (horse riding) in Maitland for one of our STAA participants. This was a new and rewarding experience for them, demonstrating the value of a tailored STAA program for participants.

9) Daily routines can be optimised

We gain an understanding of each participant’s normal routine so that we can implement a similar routine in care. This avoids unnecessary disruption for the client.

For example, if they usually shower in the evening, we can make sure that is part of their evening routine.

In many cases we are provided with a booklet of key information about each client from families or carers, we also work with people to develop optimised daily routines.

In the event a client expressed “I would like to exercise for 30 minutes and play guitar for 30 minutes everyday, can you motivate or support me?” this information would be communicated to our care staff.

10) Soaring towards NDIS goals

Short term accommodation is a superb option for NDIS participants to utilise and remain in the care of their loved ones.

The program has provided many with the opportunity to live their best life with numerous supports around them.

We have seen short term accommodation help participants and their families in many different ways.

STAA can:

Provide new experiences
Provide an opportunity to explore independence
Help participants soar towards goals they may not have been able to reach before
Enable families and carers to have respite
Enable high quality, multidisciplinary care

Short Term Care can also play a key role in enabling participants to remain living with their family for longer.

Families considering Supported Independent Living have realised that, with the support of the Short Term Accommodation and Assistance program, the participant can continue to live at home while all parties get the support and respite they need.