Emergency respite: what to do when you need care right now

You've come down with the flu and you can't lift your husband out of bed. You've had a fall yourself. You've been called away by a family emergency interstate. Suddenly the caring you do every single day has to be done by someone else, today, and you don't know who to ring.

This is what emergency respite is for. It exists precisely because life doesn't give carers notice. Here's exactly what to do, in order, so you're not scrambling.

First: the one number to call

Call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737.

This is the national carer support line, funded by the Australian Government. Call it any time you need emergency respite arranged. You'll be connected to your local Carer Gateway service provider, who will talk through your situation and book emergency respite where a suitable service is available in your area. Carer Gateway describes this as help to organise services to take over your caring role while you recover.

Save that number in your phone right now, before you ever need it. Put it on the fridge too.

The standard Carer Gateway phone line runs Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, but emergency respite arrangements can be made by calling the same number. If you reach an after-hours service, follow its prompts.

If it's a medical emergency, call 000 first

Let's be clear about the order. If someone is seriously hurt, having a heart attack or stroke, struggling to breathe, or in immediate danger, call 000 first. Emergency respite is for when you can no longer provide care, not a substitute for ambulance or police.

Once the immediate danger is handled, then turn to arranging respite for the ongoing caring.

What "emergency respite" actually delivers

Emergency respite means someone steps in to care for the person you look after, at short notice, so the care doesn't stop while you're out of action. Depending on what's available locally, that might be:

• In-home support sent to the house so the person stays in familiar surroundings.
• A short residential respite stay in an aged care home if the person needs around-the-clock care.
• Disability support through the NDIS if the person has a plan.

The form it takes depends on the person's needs and what services have capacity near you at that moment. The Carer Gateway provider works that out with you on the call.

What to have ready when you call

You'll get help faster if you can answer a few questions. Don't worry if you don't have everything; the operator will guide you. But if you can, have:

• Your name and the name of the person you care for, and your relationship.
• Their date of birth and any reference numbers you have (My Aged Care client ID, NDIS participant number).
• A plain description of the care they need: mobility, medication, feeding, toileting, behaviour, supervision. Be honest and specific.
• Key medical details: conditions, medications, allergies, their GP.
• Why you can't care right now and roughly how long you expect to be out of action.
• Whether anyone else can help in the meantime, even briefly.

Keeping a one-page "carer emergency sheet" with all of this written down is one of the smartest things you can do as a carer. When you're sick and stressed is the worst time to be remembering medication doses from memory.

The aged care route for emergency residential respite

If the person you care for is in the aged care system, emergency residential respite can be arranged through an aged care home directly, as well as via Carer Gateway. A few things worth knowing:

• Emergency residential respite counts toward the same yearly pool of subsidised residential respite days as planned respite: up to 63 days per financial year, extendable by 21 days at a time with assessor approval. See the My Aged Care respite page.
• You'll usually pay the basic daily fee for a residential respite stay, $66.80 a day (current as at June 2026, re-indexed each 20 March and 20 September) (My Aged Care short-term care costs). Even in an emergency you should not be charged means-tested care fees or accommodation costs for respite.
• If the person hasn't had an ACAT assessment yet, emergency respite can sometimes still be arranged, with the assessment following. Ask the provider or Carer Gateway.

You can use our directory to find aged care homes and respite care providers near you, so you've got a shortlist before a crisis hits.

The NDIS route

If the person you care for has an NDIS plan, their plan may include funding for short term accommodation that can be used at short notice. Contact their support coordinator or plan manager, or the NDIS directly. In a genuine emergency, Carer Gateway can still help you work out the fastest path. Our NDIS section explains how this funding works.

A simple emergency action plan

Print this. Stick it on the fridge.

1. Immediate danger? Call 000.
2. Can't continue caring? Call Carer Gateway: 1800 422 737.
3. Grab the carer emergency sheet (medications, conditions, reference numbers).
4. Tell them what care is needed and for how long.
5. Accept the help offered, even if it's not your ideal. A safe gap-fill beats no care.
6. Once you've recovered, debrief: what would have made today easier? Update your emergency sheet and consider booking some planned respite so the next gap isn't a crisis.

Prevent the next crisis

Emergencies are easier to survive when you've prepared for them in calm weather.

• Build a backup network now. Who could step in for an hour, a day, a week? A neighbour, a sibling, a friend. Ask them before you need them.
• Register with Carer Gateway before an emergency so you're already in the system.
• Take planned respite regularly. Carers who never take a break are the ones who hit the wall hardest. Our guide on avoiding carer burnout goes into this.
• Keep that emergency sheet current. Medications change; update it.

Frequently asked questions

Is emergency respite available 24/7?
You can call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 to arrange emergency respite, and they aim to help at short notice. Actual availability depends on services with capacity in your area at the time.

Does emergency respite cost money?
Some emergency respite is funded or subsidised; a residential respite stay usually involves the basic daily fee. Carer Gateway will explain any cost when they arrange it.

What if there's no respite bed available near me?
The Carer Gateway provider will look for alternatives, which might be in-home support or a placement a little further away. This is exactly why building a personal backup network matters too.

Can I get emergency respite if I haven't used the service before?
Yes. You don't need to have used respite before. Call the number and explain your situation.

You're allowed to need this

Reaching for emergency respite isn't failing at caring. It's caring well enough to keep yourself standing. Make the call.

For more, see our guides on respite care generally, the community supports around you, and explore aged care and home care providers in your area.