I’m a parent living in a two-bedroom apartment in North Melbourne. It’s early September, and the spring mornings are still a bit chilly, with occasional showers making it tricky to get outside with my 12-year-old, who has a moderate physical disability. Between school and daily care, I feel completely worn out. I’ve heard about respite care disability services, but have no idea where to start or how to find something suitable nearby. I’m nervous about leaving my child with someone new, especially while routines are still adjusting after winter.
Totally get how overwhelming it feels trying to figure out respite care disability for the first time. I went through something similar with my 12-year-old in North Melbourne, and honestly, starting small helped me a lot. I began by calling a few local providers just to ask about what they offered and how they handle routines—it eased my nerves. I also found this site, Our Family Respite, really handy for seeing options and getting a feel for services in the area without committing straight away. It’s worth checking out, even just to compare what’s available nearby. Don’t stress about getting it perfect on the first go; a short session or trial can make it a lot easier to see what works for both you and your child.