- Background Contrast:
- Black/White
- White/Black
- Yellow/Blue
- Standard
About Us
Welcome to Respite North and West 
Respite North & West is a website designed to improve communication and access to information for all people with an interest in disability respite issues living in the North & West Metropolitan Region of Melbourne.
This includes people with a disability, families/carers of children and adults with a disability, service providers, and other people interested in respite issues.
The web site and respite finder were developed as part of the Disability Respite Information Project and are funded by the Department of Human Services. It is co-ordinated in partnership between the Department of Human Services, Respite Connections and Carer Links North.
Respite Connections
Respite Victoria
Who is a carer?
has the responsibility for developing, updating and maintaining the Respite North and West web site.
Carer Links North has the responsibility for updating and maintaining the Respite Finder
What is Respite?
Respite provides short term and time limited breaks for families/carers on a planned or emergency basis, to support and maintain the primary care giving relationship while providing a positive experience for the person requiring care.
Respite means providing families/carers with a break from their usual caring roles. 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, occurring at a regular time each week or at regular intervals or can be arranged on an 'as needed basis'.
- Respite can last a few hours, overnight or for several days
- Respite can occur in families own home or in facilities in the community or during out of home activities.
Further information is available on the Department of Human Services web site:
Respite support aims to provide short-term breaks for carers of people with a disability, while providing a positive experience for the person with a disability either in their own home or away from home. Short-term breaks can be overnight, in-home, with another family or flexible support.
Respite Victoria
Provides the latest information about available respite services from all Commonwealth, State and local Government programs.
This online service links eight regional websites - including www.respitenorthandwest.org.au with the state-wide website that can be accessed at www.respitevictoria.org.au
Commonwealth Respite Centres
Please contact your local Commonwealth Respite Centre - if you would like assistance in finding a suitable respite service.
If you need an interpreter to contact your nearest centre, telephone the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450
Commonwealth Respite Centres maintain a comprehensive database containing community aged care, disability and other support services. Their extensive local knowledge ensures they provide a quality service.
Centres can also help arrange respite, when carers need to take a break from caring.
Local services:
If you live in the northern suburbs your centre is:
Carer Links North
Ph: 9495 2500
If you live in the western suburbs your centre is:
Respite Connections
Ph: 9396 9550
Who is a carer?
A carer is someone who provides unpaid care for family members or friends with care needs.
Carers Victoria - Supporting Family Carers in Victoria
Carers provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail.
Carers Victoria is the statewide voice for family carers, representing and providing support to carers in Victoria.
We work closely with Carers Australia and the network of carer associations in each state and territory to improve the lives of carers throughout Australia.
Together we provide important services like counselling, advice, advocacy, education and training. We also promote the recognition of carers to governments, businesses and the wider public.
Call our Carer Advisory Line on Freecall 1800 242 636
for information, advice, personal support, and to access counselling
Why is respite important?
- Respite can reduce the stress of caring and assist families/carers to look after their own health and well being.
- Families/carers can also use respite to attend to personal matters or to other family members.
- Respite care enables carers to continue to fulfil their caring role by giving them time out for themselves.
- Respite care also gives the person being cared for an opportunity to participate in enjoyable activities.
- Respite can be for just a few hours a few days or for extended periods.
Some of the things respite can allow carers to pursue include:
- Spending time with friends, family or a partner
- Looking after your own health and wellbeing – e.g. attending to medical appointments, fitness regime, relaxation strategies
- Catching up with errands or shopping
- Going on a holiday or a night out\
- Relaxing including catching up with sleep
- Pursuing interests and hobbies that you enjoy – e.g. participating in a course
- Having a break from your usual caring routine and responsibilities
What options are available to carers?
• Emergency Respite: Emergency or unplanned situations when a person with a disability and/or a family or carer needs immediate assistance.
• 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: These provide carers with a planned break during the daytime. They include 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.
• 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 day care.
• Recreation & Leisure Activities, including Community Participation: Assistance is given to enable people with disabilities to make friends, and/or take part in recreation activities, camps, holidays or group recreation programs.
• Out of home community based respite: Services may include overnight or weekend breaks using a range of community facilities including holiday homes and serviced apartments supported by trained care givers.
• School Holiday Programs: Programs are organised throughout the school holidays. Programs have a recreational and social focus.
• Flexible Respite / Brokerage Support Services: Provide coordination and funding for responsive needs based respite options.
• Child Care: Child Care Centres provide care to children with disabilities up to 6 years of age.
North and West Region:
The region was formed on 1 March 2004 with the amalgamation of the former Northern and Western Metropolitan regions. N&WMR is now the most populous region in Victoria, encompassing suburbs from Werribee to Eltham. The region has a population of more than 1.5 million, over 2,800 staff and is working in partnership with 14 local government areas. North and West Metropolitan Region also has 4 of the five Growth municipalities in Melbourne.
The North and West Metropolitan Region is 2,981 km² in area, and encompasses the Western and Northern suburbs of Melbourne and their outer lying areas, as well as central Melbourne. The Region borders the Barwon South-Western, Grampians, Loddon, Mallee, Hume and Eastern Metropolitan Regions.
Municipalities
• City of Banyule
• City of Brimbank
• City of Darebin
• City of Hobsons Bay
• City of Hume
• City of Maribyrnong
• City of Melbourne
• Shire of Melton
• City of Moonee Valley
• City of Moreland
• Shire of Nillumbik
• City of Whittlesea
• City of Wyndham
• City of Yarra
Information from: Department of Human Services – North and West Metropolitan Region.
Information also from: State Government of Victoria, Australia, Department of Human Services: ABS Statistics 2006
