If you are searching for NDIS respite care in Melbourne, you are not alone — and the need is real. Australia has more than 3 million unpaid carers, according to Carers Australia. The 2024 Carer Wellbeing Survey found that 32.5% of carers experience high levels of psychological distress — nearly double the national rate of 16.9%. Without structured support, carer burnout is not a risk. It becomes inevitable.
Hi Five Community Services developed the Hub Model to change that. It is a residential NDIS respite model built around community, independence, and real life experiences — not just temporary supervision.
In this guide, you will learn:
- What the Hub Model is and how it differs from traditional respite
- The benefits it delivers for families and participants
- What Hub facilities include
- How to access Hub respite through your NDIS plan
- Why multilingual and culturally responsive respite matters
If you need residential respite care in Melbourne, Werribee, Point Cook, Tarneit, Wyndham, or Hoppers Crossing, this guide will help you make a confident decision.
What Is NDIS Short Term Respite?
The NDIS funds what was previously called Short Term Accommodation (STA). As of October 2025, the NDIS now refers to this support as Short Term Respite (STR). The name change reflects the primary purpose of the support — giving participants time apart from their usual care arrangements while their informal supports, such as family members, take a short break.
Key facts about NDIS Short Term Respite:
- Most eligible participants receive funding for up to 28 days per year
- Stays can be taken as a block of up to 14 days at a time, or spread across the year
- Funding covers standard accommodation and disability-related support during the stay
- Eligibility applies when a participant lives with, or receives daily support from, a primary informal carer for at least 6 hours a day
If your NDIS plan still uses the term “Short Term Accommodation,” it carries the same meaning. You retain choice and control over how you use it.
What Is the Hub Model?
The Hub Model is Hi Five’s approach to NDIS respite care in Melbourne. Rather than placing participants in clinical or institutional settings, the Hub operates from a purpose-built, home-style residential facility.
The model focuses on four outcomes:
- Skill-building — structured opportunities to practise daily living tasks
- Social connection — group activities, shared meals, and community outings
- Community integration — participants stay connected to local life in the Werribee area
- Carer relief — genuine, planned breaks for families who need to recharge
This is residential respite in Melbourne that feels less like a facility and more like a supportive shared home. It sits within the NDIS Short Term Respite funding category and is available to participants with a range of disability types and support needs.
How Hub Respite Differs from Traditional Respite
Traditional respite often presents families with a set of familiar challenges. Availability is unpredictable. Activity programs are limited or generic. The environment can feel clinical. Social interaction is minimal.
The Hub Model addresses each of these directly.
| Traditional Respite | Hub Model Respite |
| Supervision-focused | Outcomes-focused |
| Clinical setting | Home-style environment |
| Minimal activities | Structured daily program |
| Limited social contact | Peer interaction and community outings |
| Generic support | Multilingual, culturally responsive staff |
| Reactive booking | Planned and scheduled stays |
For families in Point Cook, Tarneit, Wyndham, and Hoppers Crossing, proximity matters too. Hi Five’s Hub facility in Werribee sits close to public transport, parks, medical facilities, and shopping — giving participants access to the broader community throughout their stay.
Benefits of Hub Respite Care
1. Genuine Family Relief
Caring for a family member is deeply rewarding. It is also one of the most demanding roles a person can take on. The 2024 National Carer Survey found that 54% of carers experience high to very high levels of psychological distress, and 40% report being often or always lonely.
Hub respite gives families structured, reliable relief — not crisis-only support. Benefits include:
- Planned rest breaks at scheduled intervals throughout the year
- Emergency respite options when urgent situations arise
- Transparent communication throughout each stay so families stay informed
- Professional, trained support staff so families can rest knowing their loved one is cared for
Many families in the Werribee and Point Cook area tell us the ability to plan ahead is what makes the difference. They rest better when a stay is confirmed and structured.
2. Participant Independence
Respite is an active opportunity for growth — not just time away from home. At Hi Five’s Hub, participants:
- Build daily living skills, including meal preparation, personal routines, and household tasks
- Strengthen social communication with peers and support staff
- Develop confidence away from familiar environments
- Learn routine and responsibility through structured programming
Families frequently observe measurable improvements in independence after regular, well-planned respite stays. The Hub experience often accelerates readiness for Supported Independent Living (SIL) or longer-term living arrangements.
3. Social Connection
Isolation is a persistent challenge within disability support. Many participants spend most of their time in familiar settings with the same small group of people. Hub respite changes this through:
- Structured group activities and arts programs
- Shared meals and social conversation
- Community outings to local venues in Werribee and surrounding areas
- Opportunities to build new friendships with peers
The result is genuine belonging — not just accommodation. Participants return home having made connections and experienced something new.
4. Multilingual and Culturally Responsive Care
Hi Five’s support staff speak nine languages: Eritrean, Ethiopian, English, Somali, Punjabi, Urdu/Hindi, Tagalog, Spanish, and Arabic. This is a significant advantage for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) families in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Many CALD families hesitate to use respite services because they are uncertain whether cultural and language needs will be respected. At Hi Five, participants and families can communicate with staff in their preferred language throughout the stay. This reduces anxiety, improves care quality, and makes the respite experience more comfortable for everyone involved.
For families from Filipino, Pakistani, Ethiopian, and South American communities across Point Cook, Tarneit, and Wyndham — this multilingual capability is not an add-on. It is built into how Hi Five delivers care.
Facility Features
Hi Five’s Hub respite house in Werribee is purpose-built for comfort, accessibility, and community integration. Key features include:
- Fully accessible bedrooms with appropriate bed heights and assistive fittings
- Wheelchair-friendly bathrooms with wet-room showers and grab rail systems
- Open-plan communal living areas for group activities and social interaction
- Sensory-friendly spaces where participants can decompress when needed
- Outdoor recreation areas suitable for a range of mobility needs
- On-site trained support staff available throughout each stay
- Close proximity to public transport, Werribee shopping precinct, parks, and medical services
Every element of the Hub is intentionally structured to promote comfort, safety, and dignity. It is not a medical facility. It is a home environment with professional support built around it.
Hi Five also uses Vertex360 — an NDIS-specific practice management platform — to coordinate bookings, documentation, service agreements, and participant records. This engineering-led approach to administration means nothing falls through the gaps. Families receive updates. Schedules are maintained. Goals are tracked.
Who Is Hub Respite Suitable For?
Hub respite is well suited to:
- Families in Melbourne’s west who need planned short breaks
- Participants wanting to trial short-term accommodation before transitioning to independent living
- Emergency respite situations where standard care arrangements break down
- Participants working toward independence goals such as daily living skills and social participation
- Culturally and linguistically diverse families who need multilingual support
Hub respite complements Hi Five’s broader service model, which includes NDIS Support Coordination, Allied Health Services, SLES programs, and weekly Out and About community activities.
If a participant also needs home care services or support from a Psychosocial Recovery Coach, Hi Five coordinates these alongside respite to ensure continuity of support.
How to Access NDIS Respite Care in Melbourne
Step 1: Check Your NDIS Plan
Look for Short Term Respite funding in your plan. If your plan still uses the term Short Term Accommodation (STA), the funding applies equally. Some participants can also use Core Supports flexibility for respite-related activities if it aligns with their plan goals.
If you are unsure, speak with a Hi Five Support Coordinator before your next plan review.
Step 2: Contact Hi Five
Call Hi Five Community Services on 1300 492 214 or visit us at 221 Watton Street, Werribee VIC 3030. You can also send an enquiry via our contact page.
When you get in touch, ask about:
- Current Hub availability and upcoming scheduling windows
- Group composition and participant ratios
- Support staff qualifications and language capabilities
- Activities and programs during the stay
Plan early. Hub stays fill quickly during school holidays and peak periods. Families in Point Cook, Tarneit, Hoppers Crossing, and Williams Landing are encouraged to book well in advance.
You can also register your interest here to stay informed about upcoming Hub availability.
Step 3: Confirm Goals and Support Needs
Before each stay, Hi Five’s team will:
- Review the participant’s behaviour support plan (if applicable)
- Discuss medical needs and medication management
- Align Hub activities with the participant’s current NDIS goals
- Confirm communication preferences, including language requirements
This goal-alignment process ensures every Hub stay contributes to NDIS outcomes — not just a temporary break.
Step 4: Manage and Track Your Plan
If you use Vertex360 for NDIS plan management or service coordination, your Hub respite bookings, service agreements, and progress notes can be managed directly through the platform. This reduces administrative pressure on families and keeps all records in one place.
If you need support interpreting your plan or connecting with interpreters, Hi Five’s team can assist. For interpreter services in other areas, TIS National provides government-funded telephone interpreting for NDIS participants.
Outcomes from Hub Respite Stays
Families who use Hub respite consistently report measurable improvements in both participant confidence and carer wellbeing.
What participants experience:
- Greater confidence in daily living tasks
- Stronger social skills and willingness to engage with peers
- Readiness to explore day programs or community activities independently
- Reduced anxiety around new environments and social situations
What families experience:
- Reduced psychological distress and carer fatigue
- Greater trust in the support system
- Ability to address their own health, work, and social needs during respite periods
- Confidence that their loved one is supported in a culturally appropriate, communicative environment
One family from Point Cook shared:
“After three regular Hub stays, our son is now making his own breakfast and asking when his next visit is. The change in his confidence has been remarkable.”
Another carer from the Wyndham area noted:
“We finally feel supported rather than alone. Knowing that the staff speak our language made the first stay so much easier for all of us.”
These outcomes reflect the core purpose of Hub respite: not just temporary relief, but meaningful progress for participants and families alike.
Why the Hub Model Represents a Better Standard of Respite
Disability accommodation and residential respite have traditionally focused on supervision. Families have come to expect little more than safety and basic care.
Hi Five’s engineering-led approach to service design changes this standard. The leadership team applies systems thinking — clear processes, measurable outcomes, structured accountability — to how Hub respite is delivered, reviewed, and improved over time.
The results are an NDIS respite experience that provides:
- Community — participants connect with peers and local Werribee life
- Growth — structured programs build real independence skills
- Reliability — consistent staff, clear communication, and planned schedules
- Cultural respect — nine languages, diverse staff, and culturally aware programming
For families across Melbourne’s west, this is a meaningfully different standard of innovative respite care.
Ready to Book NDIS Respite Care in Melbourne?
Hi Five Community Services offers structured, community-based Hub respite care for NDIS participants in Werribee, Point Cook, Tarneit, Wyndham, Hoppers Crossing, Williams Landing, and surrounding suburbs.
To book or enquire:
📞 Call: 1300 492 214
📍 Visit: 221 Watton Street, Werribee VIC 3030
🌐 Online: hifive.net.au/contact-us
📋 Register interest: hifive.net.au/register-your-interest
Hub spots fill quickly. Contact Hi Five early to secure your preferred dates — especially during school holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NDIS respite care in Melbourne covered by my plan?
Yes. NDIS Short Term Respite (STR) is a funded support category. Most eligible participants receive up to 28 days per year, with stays of up to 14 days at a time. Some participants may also access respite through Core Supports flexibility. Speak with a Hi Five Support Coordinator if you are unsure what your plan includes.
How long can a participant stay at the Hub?
Stay durations depend on the participant’s plan and support needs. Stays typically range from one overnight visit to several days or weeks. Hi Five works with families to plan flexible arrangements across the year.
Is NDIS respite only for emergencies?
No. Hub respite supports both planned breaks and emergency situations. Families can use Short Term Respite proactively — for regular scheduled breaks, to prevent carer burnout, or to give participants structured skill-building opportunities. Using it only in emergencies often means missing the full benefit.
Can participants use Hub respite to trial independent living?
Yes. Hub respite provides a safe, supported environment for participants to practise daily routines — meal preparation, personal hygiene, social interaction — with professional support on hand. Many participants use Hub stays as a bridge toward longer-term supported independent living.
Does Hi Five provide multilingual support during respite stays?
Yes. Hi Five’s staff speak nine languages: Eritrean, Ethiopian, English, Somali, Punjabi, Urdu/Hindi, Tagalog, Spanish, and Arabic. Participants and families can communicate with staff in their preferred language throughout the stay.
What areas does Hi Five serve for NDIS respite care?
Hi Five provides NDIS respite care across Melbourne’s western suburbs, including Werribee, Point Cook, Tarneit, Wyndham, Hoppers Crossing, Williams Landing, and Truganina.
