What is an NDIS Supported Holiday?
Yes, your NDIS plan can fund a real holiday. Here's how it works, what's covered, and how to plan one.
4titude Team
Published May 2026 · 10 min read
Yes, NDIS can fund holidays
One of the most common questions we get is: “Can I use my NDIS funding for a holiday?” The answer is yes, provided your plan includes Short Term Accommodation (STA) funding. A supported holiday is a real trip, interstate or overseas, where a trained support worker accompanies you to help with the personal support you need while you enjoy the travel experience.
This isn't a clinical trip or a day program. It's a genuine holiday, with activities, sightseeing, meals out, and time to relax and explore. The difference is that your support comes with you, so you can participate fully and safely.
What makes a holiday ‘supported’?
A supported holiday means that NDIS-funded support workers travel with the group and provide the same personal supports you receive at home, assistance with personal care, mobility, communication, medication management, and community participation. The support is built into the trip structure, not bolted on as an afterthought.
Good supported holidays are designed around the group's abilities and interests, not a compromise between what participants want to do and what's logistically easy for staff. At 4titude, we plan itineraries collaboratively, with participants and families involved in the process.
How is it funded? (Short Term Accommodation)
Supported holidays are funded through Short Term Accommodation and Assistance (STA) a line item in the Core Supports budget. STA is designed for overnight or multi-day stays away from home that include support, and it covers:
- Support worker costs for the duration of the trip
- Accommodation costs for participants
- A daily living component that covers meals, transport during the trip, and activity costs (up to the NDIS STA daily rate)
The NDIS STA daily rate is a fixed amount per day,check the current rate at ndis.gov.au. The NDIS allows up to 28 days of STA per year. A typical supported holiday uses between 4 and 10 days.
Important: STA funding needs to be included in your plan. If it's not there yet, you can request it at your next plan review. Your support coordinator can help you make the case.
What does a typical supported holiday include?
At 4titude, a supported holiday typically includes:
- Return flights or ground transport (paid from your STA budget)
- Accommodation, accessible rooms, planned and booked in advance based on the group's needs
- All meals during the trip
- A full activity program, sightseeing, cultural experiences, leisure activities suited to the group
- 24/7 support worker coverage, with appropriate staffing ratios
- Pre-travel planning meetings with participants and families
- Detailed risk management and emergency plans
Where can you go?
Supported holidays can go interstate or overseas, the destination doesn't limit the NDIS funding (though flight costs are factored into the STA budget). Popular destinations for supported travel include beach destinations, cities with cultural attractions, theme parks, and international destinations in Asia and the Pacific.
The key factor isn't the destination, it's the planning. A well-planned supported holiday to Vietnam can be more accessible and enjoyable than a poorly planned one somewhere domestic.
4titude's holiday destinations
We run supported holidays to carefully selected destinations, planned in detail with accessibility and participant experience front of mind:
Frequently asked questions
Ready to plan your first supported holiday?
Browse our upcoming holiday programs and find a destination that excites you. Our team handles all the planning.