School holiday programs & the NDIS
Ten weeks of school holidays a year is a lot of days to fill. Here's how the NDIS can help, what it won't cover, and how to get a place before the good programs fill.
What a holiday program can be, in NDIS terms
- A group program — A disability-specific day program during the holidays, funded as group community participation from the Core budget. Billed per day at a staff ratio — one worker to two or three children is common.
- A support worker at a mainstream activity — Your child goes to the same holiday camp or sports clinic as everyone else, with a one-to-one support worker funded from Core. Often the best fit for a child who wants to be with their friends.
- Short-term accommodation (respite) — Overnight camps or a few days of respite care, funded from Core as short-term accommodation. Legitimately for your child's development and legitimately for your rest.
What the NDIS pays for and what you pay for
The plan pays for the support: staff time at the agreed ratio, the support worker's hours, the short-term accommodation package. It doesn't pay for the ordinary costs every family carries — entry tickets, food, the mainstream camp's own fee. A simple test: would every parent pay this cost? Then it's not an NDIS cost. Good providers itemise the two clearly on the quote.
Within the rules, providers can also claim certain other costs — transport during the activity, some non-face-to-face time, and a capital contribution for centre-based programs. Ask for the quote to show each line so you can see how much of the day's budget is support and how much is the rest.
Book six to eight weeks out
Good programs fill well before the term ends, and the ones with the best ratios fill first. Have your child's plan details and a one-page “about my child” ready — likes, dislikes, what a hard moment looks like, what helps — and ask whether the program accepts a behaviour support plan if your child has one. If a program is full, ask for the waitlist and the cancellation list; holiday bookings change constantly.
The questions that separate good from fine
- Ratios and transitions — What's the staff ratio, and how do they handle arrivals, departures and moving between activities — the moments most children find hardest?
- Training and checks — Autism awareness, positive behaviour support, first aid, NDIS worker screening and Working With Children Checks for every staff member, not just the coordinator.
- A hard day — What happens if your child can't cope? A program that answers “we'd call you to collect them” has told you something. One that describes a quiet space and a plan has told you something better.
- Communication — Will you hear from them during the day, and how? A photo and two lines at lunchtime is worth a lot.
- Billing — Ratio, cancellation terms, transport and any capital or non-face-to-face charges — in writing, before the first day.
Holidays as respite
If your child is funded for short-term accommodation, the holidays are the natural time to use it. A planned break for the parents is not a luxury the scheme tolerates; it's one of the things the funding is for, because a family that gets to rest is a family that keeps going. Plan it like you'd plan anything else for your child — early, with the one-pager, and with a provider who's confirmed they have a place.
Who's confirmed they have places right now
Programs fill weeks out, so start with providers who've said they have room. Every provider counted here confirmed their own availability in the last 60 days. Set your suburb to see who's close — and if nobody is, we'll tell you the moment that changes.
- Support Coordinators4 confirmed
- Respite & STA Providers2 confirmed
- Community Participation Providers3 confirmed
9 confirmed across these 3 support types nationally, counting providers who work with children or haven't said.
Common questions
Can I use Core funding for a holiday program if the plan doesn't mention one?
Usually yes. Core is flexible across its categories unless the plan specifically states otherwise, so community participation can be funded from the overall Core budget. Your plan manager can confirm for your plan.
Will the NDIS pay for the excursion ticket or the camp fee?
Generally no. Those are ordinary costs every family pays. The NDIS funds the support that lets your child take part — the worker's time, the program's staff ratio, or the short-term accommodation.
Can my child's support worker take them to a mainstream holiday camp?
Yes. The worker's hours are funded from Core; the camp fee is yours. Check that the camp is happy to have a support worker present and that the worker holds a current Working With Children Check.
What about teenagers who've outgrown kids' programs?
Look for teen social groups, work-experience style programs and recreation groups that run through the holidays. For older teens, school leaver employment supports can also include holiday-period activities — ask your LAC or support coordinator.
This is general information to help you get oriented — not official advice, and everyone’s situation is different. The NDIS is changing, so for the current rules always check ndis.gov.au or talk to your planner, Local Area Coordinator, or support coordinator.