NDIS Registered Provider — Registration Number: 405 016 1543
Core Supports · NDIS Funded

Respite Care — time to rest and recharge

In-home and community respite, planned and emergency — same-day response for urgent situations. Consistent workers, activity-focused support, genuine rest for carers.

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Emergency respite — same-day response
Emergency Same-Day
In-Home & Community
Consistent Workers
NDIS Reg. No: 405 016 1543
Who respite care is for

Respite that works for everyone

For Participants
Respite that you actually look forward to.

Respite should be a positive experience — not just time away from home while your family gets a break. GenCare respite is built around participant interests, activities and enjoyment. Whether it is in your home or in the community, our workers are there to support a good time, not just supervise.

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For Families & Carers
Real rest. Not guilt.

Carer burnout is real and it happens faster than most families expect. Regular respite — even a few hours each week — is not a luxury. It is what makes long-term caring sustainable. GenCare respite gives carers the space to genuinely rest, knowing their family member is with someone skilled, safe and engaged.

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For Support Coordinators
Flexible, fast and available for emergencies.

GenCare respite includes both planned and emergency options — in-home or community-based. Same-day emergency response for urgent situations. Refer participants at any point in their plan cycle.

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What we offer

Respite options to suit every situation

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Emergency Respite — Same Day

Carer unwell, hospitalised or a situation has broken down? GenCare responds to emergency respite requests the same day — providing immediate in-home or community support while you stabilise.

In-Home Respite

A support worker comes to the participant's home for a set number of hours — giving the carer time to rest, run errands, attend appointments or simply have time to themselves.

Community-Based Respite

Participant and worker go out into the community — shopping, activities, parks, community events. A positive outing for the participant and meaningful time off for the carer.

Planned Respite Programs

Regular rostered respite sessions — weekly, fortnightly or as scheduled — planned in advance and delivered consistently by the same worker to build familiarity and trust.

Overnight Respite

A support worker stays overnight with the participant at home — giving carers a full night of uninterrupted rest. Available as a regular roster or for specific overnight needs.

Holiday & School Holiday Respite

Additional respite support during school holidays and public holiday periods — when carers often have increased support demands and less access to their usual networks.

For Families & Carers

You cannot pour from an empty cup.

Carer burnout is not a weakness — it is a predictable outcome of caring without adequate support. Regular respite breaks the cycle. GenCare respite is not just about filling time while you are away — it is about your family member having a genuinely positive experience with someone who knows them and engages them well. When respite works for the participant, it works for the carer too. You come back rested. They come back happy. That is what respite is supposed to do.

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For Participants

Respite that feels like a highlight, not a handoff.

Too many participants experience respite as being managed — supervised while their family gets time off. GenCare respite is designed differently. Our workers are matched to the participant, engage with their interests and make sessions genuinely enjoyable. Whether it is a walk, a café visit, a game or just a great conversation — the participant should come away from respite looking forward to the next one.

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Getting started

Respite care in 4 simple steps

01
Tell us what you need

Contact GenCare and tell us the type of respite needed, the hours, the frequency and any specific requirements — planned, emergency, in-home or community.

02
We match a worker

We match a support worker based on the participant's interests, support needs and communication preferences — building a relationship, not just filling a shift.

03
Trial and confirm

The first session is treated as a trial. We check in with the participant and carer immediately after to confirm the match feels right.

04
Ongoing respite, consistently delivered

Regular respite sessions delivered by the same worker where possible — with flexibility to adjust when life changes.

Why GenCare

Respite that both sides look forward to

The measure of good respite is simple: do carers come back rested, and does the participant come back happy? GenCare respite is built around both outcomes. We match workers carefully, build relationships over time and focus sessions on participant engagement — not just presence. The result is respite that carers trust completely and participants genuinely enjoy.

Same-day emergency respite response
In-home and community-based respite options
Consistent workers — same person every session
Planned and emergency respite under one provider
Respite focused on participant enjoyment, not just supervision
1 business day response to all planned respite enquiries
★★★★★
Respite Care — In-Home

I had not had a full day to myself in three years before we started using GenCare respite. My daughter loves her support worker — she talks about her all week and asks when she is coming next. That is the difference. I actually leave the house without guilt now because I know my daughter is genuinely happy and engaged, not just waiting for me to come back. It has changed everything for our family.

K
Karen S.
Carer, Melton VIC
Emergency Respite

Carer unwell, in hospital or situation has broken down? Call us now — we respond to emergency respite requests the same day.

Call 1300-247-788 →
Support Coordinators
Refer a participant for respite

Planned respite: respond within 1 business day. Emergency respite: call 1300-247-788 directly for same-day response.

FAQs

Respite care questions answered

Covering in-home vs community respite, emergency response, funding and how to get started.

NDIS Respite Care provides planned breaks for carers by arranging support for the participant — either in their home or in the community. Respite is funded under the Core Supports (Assistance with Daily Life) category of an NDIS plan and can be used for in-home support, community outings or overnight support.
Respite care typically refers to in-home or community-based support arranged to give carers a break. Short-Term Accommodation (STA) is funded separately and involves the participant staying away from home in a supported facility or home. Both serve the same goal — carer relief — but through different support types. GenCare provides both. See our STA page for more information on stays away from home.
Yes. Emergency respite is a priority service at GenCare. If a carer is unwell, hospitalised or a caring situation has broken down, call 1300-247-788 immediately. We respond to emergency respite requests the same day and can arrange in-home support at short notice in most cases.
Both options are available. In-home respite means a support worker comes to the participant's home for a set number of hours, allowing the carer to leave or rest within the home. Community respite means the participant and worker go out to activities, events or appointments. Many carers use a mix of both.
Yes. GenCare operates on a consistent worker model for respite. Where possible, the same worker attends every session — building familiarity, trust and a genuine relationship with the participant. This also means the worker knows the participant's preferences and routine, making every session run more smoothly.
Respite hours vary between plans — the NDIS allocates support based on assessed need. If you feel your current respite funding is insufficient, speak to your Support Coordinator about requesting additional hours at your plan review, supported by evidence of carer need. GenCare can help with this documentation if needed.
Yes. Community-based respite specifically involves the participant going out with a support worker — to shops, parks, events, cafes, community activities and more. This is often the most enjoyable form of respite for participants and provides carers with genuine time at home to rest.
Yes. GenCare provides overnight in-home respite — where a support worker stays overnight at the participant's home, giving carers an uninterrupted night of sleep. This is separate from Short-Term Accommodation (where the participant stays away from home). Call 1300-247-788 to discuss overnight respite options in your area.
GenCare respite is available across Melbourne's western suburbs (Melton, Werribee, Deanside, Tarneit, Albion and surrounds) and Sydney's western suburbs. Emergency respite is handled on a case-by-case basis across our service areas. Call 1300-247-788 to confirm availability in your area.
Call 1300-247-788 for urgent or emergency respite — we will respond the same day. For planned respite referrals, use our online form at /make-a-referral or call us directly. Tell us the participant's location, type of respite needed (in-home, community, overnight), hours and any specific support requirements.

Need respite care — planned or urgent?

Same-day emergency response. Consistent workers. Respite carers and participants both look forward to.

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