The site has been developed as part of the Respite Coordination Project overseen by regional Primary Care Partnerships and is an initiative of the South West Carer Respite Network, a group of service providers funded under Commonwealth and State government carer respite strategies.

Respite provides short term and time limited breaks for carers on a planned or emergency basis, to support and maintain the primary care giving relationship while providing a positive experience for the care recipient.

Respite means providing parents or carers with a break from their usual caring roles and duties. It can take many different forms according to the needs of individual families and the services available. For instance:

• respite can be planned or unplanned or happen in response to a crisis or emergency situation.
• respite can be regular, happening at a regular time each week or at regular intervals or can be arranged only as required at irregular times
• respite can last a few hours, overnight or for several days
• respite can happen in families own home or in facilities in the community

A carer is someone who provides care for family members or friends with care needs. Approximately 13% of Victorians are carers (577,000 people). They can be parents, children, partners, other relatives, friends or neighbors.

Carers often are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They need time out to attend to other matters, other family members and above all, have time for themselves. Respite can reduce the stress of caring and assist carers to look after their own health and well being.

Respite care gives carers time out for themselves and enables them to continue in their caring role. Respite care also gives the person being cared for the opportunity to have a break from the routine of home.

• Emergency Respite: Emergency, unplanned care used when carers are unable to provide immediate care
• Facility Based or Residential Respite: This includes overnight or longer stays in respite houses located within the community.
• In-Home Care: Respite can be provided in your own home, eg. personal care or home help. Services are provided by local councils, nursing services, specialist services, specialist providers or by private attendant care agencies. In-home respite is usually provided for a few hours but can be arranged overnight.
• Centre Based Respite: Day programs, which offer regular day activities with a social or recreational focus eg. adult day activity support services, day centres, child care centres and holiday programs. These provide carers with a planned break during the daytime.
• Host Family Care / Alternative Family Care (Respite Care in Providers' Homes): Some programs provide respite in the host carer's own homes eg. Interchange, foster care and family daycare.
• Recreation & Leisure Activities: Assistance is given to enable older people or people with disabilities to make friends, and/or take part in recreation activities, camps, holidays or group recreation programs.
• School Holiday Programs. Varying programs are organised throughout the school holidays. Programs have a recreational and social focus.
• Flexible Respite / Brokerage Support Services. Provide coordination and funding to enable responsive needs based respite options to be met.
• Child Care. Child Care Centres provide care to children with disabilities up to 6 years.
  

• Carer Support
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