Luxury NDIS respite care lets Australian families stay for free

Families are being allowed to join relatives on their respite breaks funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme — and the costs are eye watering. See what’s included.

Exclusive: Taxpayers are funding $15,000 luxury beachside ‘holidays’ for those on the National Disability Insurance Scheme and their families.

NDIS participants can book respite care in plush apartments in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and the Gold Coast – and their families can stay for free.

The package includes tickets to theme parks, zoos, mini golf and dinner and a show for those on the NDIS and one other.

One company Complete Care Accommodation boasts “luxury respite packages for NDIS participants! 100% funded by the NDIS”.

News Corp was quoted $15,640.77 for a three-bed apartment for an NDIS participant, their sibling and parents, for a week on the Gold Coast in April staying at the Meriton Suites Surfers Paradise, with no mobility accessible modifications or support carers.

A screen grab from Complete Care Accommodation website, a company selling luxury respite for NDIS participants.

As a non-NDIS participant we found a three-bed ocean suite in the same building on booking.com for $6670.

A screen shot of a direct quote for a family booking, for a 3 Bedroom Ocean Suite. at the Meriton Suites in Surfers Paradise.

Pricing up the extras ourselves – $50 of groceries a day for the NDIS participant, and tickets for them and a carer to mini golf, Dracula’s Cabaret Dinner Show, the Australian Outback Spectacular, and three days unlimited entry to Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild – our total bill came to $8000.

That is $7000 cheaper than the quote from Complete Care Accommodation which would be picked up by the NDIS.

The only other additional cost included in Complete Care Accommodation’s quote was a co-ordinator responsible for organising the “cleaning services, groceries, public transport, mobility equipment, parking and community engagement activities”.

Waterslide at Wet n Wild, Gold Coast, Queensland Image Supplied.

The disability scheme has tried to crack down on people using their respite funding for holidays with families and friends. An information campaign on social media states it is meant to give the NDIS participant and their carers “mutually beneficial” time apart.

A disclaimer on Complete Care Accommodation’s quote stated “this service is not a holiday for family and friends”.

An employee from Complete Care Accommodation said they only charged for the NDIS participant and they did not have control over who the participant asked to join them.

The employee said the quote was based on NDIS rates.

A screenshot of a Facebook post from the NDIS, with advice on the NDIS Short Term Accommodation (STA) funding scheme. Picture: Facebook

“The rates are set by the NDIS, not our company,” the employee said.

The company’s Facebook page also features a review from a happy customer called Kriss who said, “Our first family respite package was superb, with not a single need left unattended …”

Another from ‘Angie and Hubby’ said, “Our holiday was actually our honeymoon and it was perfect.”

Another company, See Change – The Retreat – located south west of Melbourne, is offering NDIS funded country retreats with couples rooms with a Queen sized bed and spa bath and options to include family members.

A spokeswoman from See Change Retreat said family or partners can stay for free.

“Sometimes people with a disability, they are in a relationship and they have not been able to have a holiday with their partner because of the needs they require for their personal care,” they said.

Tickets for Dracula's Cabaret Gold Coast, cast members pictured, are included for the NDIS particpant and a carer. Picture:Jerad Williams

Minister for the NDIS Bill Shorten said “there is a lot of inappropriate, unfair, and absolutely undesirable activity targeting participants which is simply wrong and un-Australian”.

A support co-ordinator, who did not want to be named, said the NDIS was an amazing scheme when used properly “but, as with all parts of this sector, big funding is open to abuse.”

“Participants are being ripped off,” he said.

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission chief Michael Phelan has said that up to 15-20 per cent of the NDIS expenditure is rorted.

A spokeswoman for the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission said it is “aware of the concerns raised in relation to the accommodation provider, Complete Care Accommodation, and we are investigating”.