School Holiday Support

School holidays change familiar routines for children and families. For a child with disability, a good plan considers more than filling the calendar: activities should be accessible, support needs should be understood and there should be space for the child’s interests and choices.

When considering NDIS school holiday support in Australia, clarify the difference between ordinary program costs and disability-related assistance. Then check the details of the proposed service before making a booking.

Can the NDIS fund school holiday support?

The NDIA lists childcare and standard vacation care or school holiday program fees among costs that are not NDIS supports. A school holiday booking is not automatically an NDIS expense because a child is a participant.

Additional assistance needed because of disability may be considered separately. For example, a child might need support to communicate, manage personal care or participate in a community activity. Whether a particular support can be funded depends on the NDIS support rules and the child’s individual plan and circumstances.

Ask for a written breakdown separating support worker time, transport, activity entry, meals and standard program fees. Confirm which costs the family will pay and which proposed supports can appropriately use the child’s funding.

Start with what your child enjoys

Invite your child to help choose activities using their preferred communication method. A quieter craft session, time outdoors, a familiar community venue or a small group activity may be more appealing than a packed itinerary.

Think about the right pace. Travel, noise, waiting and unfamiliar people can make an otherwise enjoyable activity demanding. Ask whether there are flexible arrival times, breaks, quieter spaces or shorter sessions. These are useful questions for a prospective provider, not features to assume every program offers.

Questions to ask before booking

• Access: Are entrances, toilets and activity spaces suitable for the child’s mobility and equipment needs?
• Staffing: Who will provide support, what relevant skills do they have, and what supervision arrangement is proposed?
• Communication: How will workers learn the child’s preferences, communication system and signs of discomfort?
• Personal support: Can the service safely meet toileting, eating or other assistance needs within its role?
• Changes: What happens if weather, staff availability or the child’s needs affect the plan?
• Costs: What is included, what is extra, and how do cancellations work?

Where health needs or complex support are involved, discuss the required plans, worker competencies and coordination with the appropriate professionals. Do not rely on a general activity description to confirm that a service can meet those needs.

Prepare a useful handover

A short, practical support summary can help workers understand the child. Include preferred communication, helpful routines, allergies where relevant, emergency contacts and who is authorised to collect them. Share information through the provider’s agreed process and clarify who can access it.

Describe what helps when the child needs a break and how they express “yes”, “no” or “I want to leave”. Ask how the provider responds to concerns and how families will hear about the day. The child’s experience should be part of that feedback.

Keep goals meaningful and manageable

A holiday activity does not need to achieve everything at once. A useful goal might be choosing an activity, practising a familiar routine in a different setting or spending time with peers. Review what the child enjoyed and what support made participation easier.

Our community participation guide explores ways to match activities to personal interests. The personal care guide can help frame questions about respectful everyday assistance.

Common questions from families

Should we use the same arrangement every holiday?

Review it each time. Interests, support needs, availability and family schedules can change. Previous attendance does not remove the need to confirm costs and suitability.

How do we enquire with Harissons Disability Care?

Visit the school holiday care service page and contact Harissons Disability Care with your child’s interests, support requirements and preferred dates. Confirm current availability, the proposed support arrangement and fees before booking.

Information checked 4 September 2026.