Respite Options

Facility Based Respite

Respite is offered at our Respite Facility, in High Street Echuca. It is centrally located, near the Special School and Murray Human Services.

We endeavour to provide a homely environment, catering to the needs of all our service users. An accessible outdoor entertaining area has play equipment for younger service users.

The Respite House is open from 3.30pm on week days, and all weekend. Respite is tailored to individual needs where services users may stay for a night or for a week; or have regular weekly bookings. Respite may also be offered on an emergency basis.

We also have special respite times for specific groups including girl’s weekend, kid’s night and children’s weekend. 

The house can sleep up to six people per night. It is accessible for people using wheelchairs, and caters for a range of disabilities.

Staff are highly trained, with a variety of experience. They aim to provide activities based on the interests and needs of those staying in the house. Staff ratios are based on client need.

Respite in the family home

Respite may be provided in the family home to enable carers and other family members to attend a community/family activity or just free time to have a break.  Home based respite may best suit young school aged clients, clients with challenging behaviour or acquired brain injury where disorientation and unfamiliar surroundings may cause stress or anxiety. It may simply be suitable because it suits the family’s needs. The flexibility of delivering Non Facility Respite is in line with meeting the needs of individuals and families.

Respite in the staff member’s home

Respite may be provided by a Direct Support Professional in their home.  This type of respite provides additional support in that a carer can have time on their own (sometimes a luxury) to pursue their own activity/hobby in the home or go out and have a break and re-energise. Many parents take the opportunity to attend a gym class, study, relax, walk etc.

Emergency Respite

At times families may find themselves in a situation where the care recipient requires emergency respite either in the family home or in a staff member's home.  This is usually at short notice and our flexibility in tailoring to meet the complex needs of families enables us to provide this flexible option.  As in all respite the support worker will have developed a professional relationship with the family and client which can alleviate any concerns in a stressful situation.

Planned Respite

Planned respite is where respite is provided on a weekly/fortnightly/monthly basis.  Families/carers are allocated a number of hours per quarter and they utilised to meet family needs.  This type of respite is often used for clients to attend regular activities with a support worker in mainstream community based programs such as swimming, gymnastics, cubs, guides etc.  It allows both carers and clients to have more choice in accessing community programs, arts, cultural, sport and leisure activities etc.

Helping Older Carers - Bowen House

Respite is available at Bowen House for people with disabilities whose carer is over 60 years.