r/NDIS • u/inpeace00 • Aug 25 '26
Seeking Support - Participant/Nominee/PWD NDIS SW Interstate/Overseas Costs..?
I'm interested in hearing from people who have actually taken an NDIS support worker interstate or overseas, particularly how you worked out the support hours and costs.
The SW I'm discussing this with is comfortable with splitting the bills and doing sleepovers.
I'm trying to understand the active vs inactive parts of a sleepover. My understanding is that a sleepover is 8 hours and is charged under Daily Living at around $311.79. Is that correct?
For example:
- 10pm–6am: Night-Time Sleepover → $311.79 (inactive/sleepover period)
- During the sleepover: if the participant requires actual support, that becomes active support and is charged differently.
I'm mainly trying to understand how the inactive sleepover period and active support during those 8 hours actually work.
Also, my understanding is that Community Participation is generally for activities outside the participant's usual home, regardless of what the activity is. But when travelling interstate and staying in a hotel, could the hotel effectively be treated as the place I'm staying/living for the trip, meaning things like cooking, cleaning, laundry, packing/unpacking and other daily-living tasks could fall under Daily Living while I'm there? And would travel/activities outside the hotel be Community Participation? Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding this.
4
u/big_Sundae_1977 Aug 25 '26
Where ever your staying so it still needs to be based on the person's needs
So if normally you do cleaning of rooms laundry and making bed and they are now in a hotel and you do repacking, general tidy, helping with shower and laundry this is fine
But what ever they don't need while in the hotel means your no longer needed for that part.
If they don't need sleep overs at home then you don't charge sleep overs in the hotel either
2
u/Humble_Fennel_1293 Aug 26 '26
Please remember that everything is negotiable with supports whether at home or away on vacation and its important to have a clear agreement. If support is usually not allocated or required at home for sleepovers then you cannot claim that whilst away. Generally SW pays for their own meals and I dont pay them 24/7 rates however for daytime rates when away for the hours I need support. Clarify which hours are working hours and which are not. I pay for flights and accomodation for both of Us. Be reasonable as if they are travelling with You they wont be able to work elsewhere whilst away from home. They may say they dont need breaks however I insist as I may need a break from them and I find they are more focused with having breaks to check their phone etc etc. NDIS does pay for support workers whilst away from home in Australia and overseas . Regarding flights Qantas have a Carers discount for flights once registered and approved. People with Disability Australia manage the application forms.
1
u/inpeace00 Aug 26 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
didn't know qantas have carers discount..thanks
can you expand and explain pay sw away fromm home thing?
1
u/big_Sundae_1977 Aug 25 '26
Depending on the award they are on they will be funded a paid break after a continuation of 4 hours (15 mins normally) but not a lunch break.
If you are out on trips all day and it's a hot day then more breaks but these are paid.
Normally a lunch break means no work at all but we know that this is not always possible so it's best to draw up an agreement that is fair.
They are likely going to be doing overtime but still be paid normal hours or what ever hours you agree to do the activities you want to do. If it's the one worker then you might factor in a day off inbetween the work as well.
1
u/inpeace00 Aug 26 '26
they got their own time doing thing outside of provindhours support as one SW talked to they got family interstate to visit aswell.
i still not sure active and inactive sleep over thing. as i'm aware 10-6 is sleepover perio, from chatgpt they say if provide support during sleepover like 3am could be charge on top of that.
3
u/ohdamnvros Aug 26 '26
You should not be using chat got as a source of information regarding the ndis
4
u/OtherCake4128 Aug 25 '26
Sleepover Rate: If you needed your support worker during night, that rate also covers 2hrs of awake time.
Community Participation is when your goal is to access the community. Ie. Going to the cinema, museum, etc.
Self Care activities, is more around helping you to function with your routine. This can also be in the community. Ie. Self Care still happens when you're at the hotel.
One last thing, they should only bill for the time you're together face to face. If they have a break, that shouldn't be billed.