The importance of Respite Camps for Carers
Oct 13, 2026 | emmaodell | Quality Programs, Respite Camps, Carers | Disability Support, Respite Camps, Respite for Carers
Every carer needs time to rest. For families supporting a young person or adult with disability, that time is rare, and it matters a great deal. Respite gives carers the space to sleep, reconnect with partners and other children, look after their own health, and return to caring with energy and heart.
Inclusion Services by the Y runs Respite Camps across Victoria for children from 7 years of age through to adults. This post explains why respite matters, how our camps work, and how to find out whether a camp could work for your family.
Why respite matters
Caring for someone you love is meaningful, and it is also demanding. Many carers spend years managing routines, appointments and paperwork, often without a regular day off. Tiredness builds slowly, and it can strain the whole household.
Respite is a necessary part of caring well over the long term. A break gives carers time to rest, and it gives partners and other children time together. It also gives the person being supported time to try something that is theirs alone.
Respite camps at the Y
Our camps are designed with two people in mind: the carer who needs a real break, and the participant who deserves an experience that is theirs alone. They are open to all abilities and they are held at various locations across Victoria.
Dates and locations change through the year, so the best way to find out what is coming up is to look at our Calendar or call our team.
Respite that families can trust
Handing over the care of someone you love is a big step, and trust comes first. Families need to know their family member is safe, understood and respected from the moment they arrive.
As a QIP Safeguarding Accredited organisation, the safety of every participant is non-negotiable at the Y. Every camp is planned around each participant's individual needs, including communication preferences, routines, health and support requirements, and the things that help them feel calm and confident.
Families are partners in that planning, because you know your family member best. Our team listens first, so that a first night away feels welcoming.
Getting ready for a first camp
A first camp is a big moment for the whole family, and a little preparation helps. Talk with our team about what helps your family member feel calm, such as routines, communication preferences, favourite things and what has worked at other times away from home. A one page summary of what helps is a useful thing to share.
It can also help to talk through what camp will be like beforehand, and to plan something for yourself while your family member is away, whether that is sleep, time with other children or an appointment you have been putting off.
Camp should be fun
Safety comes first, and camp is also a chance to have fun. Participants try new activities, laugh with friends, build independence and join a group where everyone belongs. Whether it is games, creative sessions, time outdoors or simply sleeping somewhere new, these experiences can build confidence and create memories to share at home.
The benefits flow both ways
Carers can return rested and reassured. Partners and other children get time with a rested carer, and the whole family gets space to enjoy each other. Participants can return with stories, new skills and a sense of achievement. Over time, regular respite can make caring more sustainable and family life stronger.
How camps can be funded
Whether a camp can be funded depends on what is in your plan, so it is worth checking before you book. The NDIS can fund short term accommodation, a support that gives you time apart from your usual care arrangements so that family members or carers can keep supporting you afterwards. It is generally funded up to 28 days a year, for up to 14 days at a time.
The NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) decides based on your support needs. It generally looks at whether the people you live with, or who visit every day, provide disability related support for more than six hours a day on a long-term basis, along with other factors. Your funding has to last the whole length of your plan, so it helps to map out when your breaks might happen.
Raise respite early, in your planning conversation or plan reassessment, and tell the NDIA how much support your family provides each day. If you have funding for Support Coordination, your coordinator can help you work out which supports to use.
Speak to our team
If you are a carer wondering whether camp could work for your family, we would love to talk with you. Every participant is welcome, and every family deserves a break they can feel good about.
Call us on 1300 699 622, email info@yinclusion.org.au or get in touch to find out about upcoming camps. Family members, carers and support coordinators are welcome to join the conversation. Carers can also get support in their own right. Carer Gateway is a national Australian Government service that provides free support for carers, including counselling and peer support, on 1800 422 737.
Current as at October 2026. The NDIS is changing how plans are structured and funded, so check your own plan or call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 for anything specific to you.