“I Was the One Walking Out the Door in Tears.” — How the Right NDIS Respite Support Can Change a Family’s Life

Alicia Wright shares how finding the right support for her son Lachlan transformed life for their whole family.

Sometimes, Families Don’t Need More Strength. They Need More Support.

When you’re caring for someone with high support needs, life can become unpredictable very quickly.

Appointments. Routines. Care needs. Emergencies. Sleepless nights. Constant responsibility.

And sometimes, without even realising it, the person doing the caring begins to run out of energy too.

Alicia Wright knows that feeling.

Her son, Lachlan, has complex support needs and refractory epilepsy. From the beginning, Alicia and her husband knew they needed to think carefully about how his care would look in the long term.

But eventually, the demands of caring became overwhelming.

They were burnt out.

And then, through an unexpected conversation, they discovered Nurse Assist 24/7.

What started as respite support eventually became something much bigger.

“I Never Thought Carer Burnout Was a Thing.”

Alicia describes the reality of caring for someone who needs support around the clock.

Lachlan requires someone with him 24/7, making care a constant responsibility for the family.

Alicia and her husband wanted the best for their son, but they were also exhausted.

As Alicia explains, carer burnout can creep up on you.

“No matter how hard you try, it comes on top of you and it comes out from nowhere.”

That sentence captures something many families experience but don’t always talk about.

Caring for someone you love doesn’t mean you never need a break.

And needing support doesn’t make someone a bad carer.

Sometimes, respite is what allows families to keep going.

One Night Out Changed Everything

Alicia and her husband had a rare night out together.

They attended a progressive dinner and happened to meet Amanda, the manager of Nurse Assist 24/7.

It wasn’t a formal appointment.

It wasn’t a planned search for a provider.

It was simply a conversation.

But that conversation would eventually change their family’s life.

Alicia says Amanda introduced them to a different possibility for Lachlan’s care.

And it started simply.

Respite.

It Started With Respite. Then Everything Changed.

Initially, Lachlan began staying with Nurse Assist for respite support.

Over time, that arrangement developed into a permanent living arrangement.

And according to Alicia, Lachlan loves it.

That matters.

Because choosing support isn’t only about finding somewhere that can meet someone’s care needs.

It’s also about finding somewhere where the person feels happy, safe and at home.

For families, that can be an incredibly difficult balance to find.

They want their loved one to receive excellent care.

But they also want to know:

Are they happy?

Are they safe?

Are they being understood?

Do they feel at home?

For Alicia, seeing Lachlan happy made all the difference.

“He Was Happy. And I Was the One Walking Out the Door in Tears.”

This is perhaps the most powerful part of Alicia’s story.

When she first began dropping Lachlan off, she found herself walking away in tears.

But they weren’t tears of fear or sadness.

They were tears of gratitude and happiness.

Her son was happy.

He was settling in.

And she knew he was being cared for.

That moment says something powerful about what good respite and disability support should ultimately achieve:

Peace of mind for the family.

Respite Isn’t About Giving Up. It’s About Being Able to Keep Going.

For some families, asking for respite support can feel difficult.

They may feel guilty.

They may believe they should be able to manage everything themselves.

Or they may worry that asking for help means they’re somehow failing their loved one.

It doesn’t.

Respite can give carers the opportunity to rest, reconnect, spend time with other family members, attend appointments, maintain relationships or simply breathe.

And that can be incredibly important for the wellbeing of the whole family.

The Right Support Can Change More Than One Life

Lachlan’s story isn’t only about the participant.

It’s also about his parents.

When a participant receives the right support, the benefits can extend throughout the family.

Support can create breathing room.

It can reduce pressure.

It can give carers confidence that their loved one is being looked after.

And sometimes, it can give families something they haven’t had for a long time:

The ability to simply be Mum and Dad again.

What Should Families Look for in Respite Support?

Every participant and family is different, but Alicia’s experience highlights several things worth considering when looking for an NDIS respite provider.

1. Does the provider understand your family’s situation?

Good support starts with listening.

2. Does the participant feel comfortable and happy?

The participant’s experience should be at the centre of the decision.

3. Can the provider support changing needs?

Needs can evolve, particularly when a participant has complex support requirements.

4. Do you feel confident leaving your loved one in their care?

That trust matters.

5. Does the support give the family genuine breathing space?

Respite should provide meaningful relief—not create another source of stress.

Alicia’s Message to Other Families

After everything her family has experienced, Alicia has a simple message for other families considering support:

“So don’t hesitate.”

For her, finding Nurse Assist 24/7 was life-changing.

What began with respite eventually became a long-term support arrangement that gave Lachlan a place he loves and gave his parents greater confidence in his care.

Every Family Deserves to Feel Supported

There is no single way to navigate disability support.

Every participant has different needs.

Every family has a different story.

But no family should feel that they have to carry everything alone.

If you’re considering NDIS respite support, exploring long-term accommodation options, or simply trying to understand what support might work for your family, taking the first step can be as simple as having a conversation.

At Nurse Assist 24/7, our focus is on understanding the person behind the plan and providing support that promotes safety, independence, dignity and quality of life.

Because sometimes, finding the right support doesn’t just change the participant’s life.

It changes the whole family’s life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NDIS respite care?

Respite support provides temporary support for an NDIS participant while giving their usual carers a break from their caring responsibilities. The type and duration of respite available depends on the participant’s individual circumstances and NDIS plan.

Who can benefit from respite support?

Respite can be valuable for participants who require significant ongoing support and for families or informal carers who need time to rest and recharge.

Can respite support become long-term support?

In some circumstances, a participant’s support arrangements can develop over time as their needs and preferences change. The appropriate arrangement depends on the participant’s individual situation.

How do I find the right respite provider?

Look for a provider that understands the participant’s needs, communicates clearly with the family, has appropriately trained staff and creates an environment where the participant feels safe, respected and comfortable.