RippleAbility Respite Centre: Integrated Support for Families 

A first-of-its-kind model in WA, built around the real needs of families caring for children with medical complexities.

A New Respite Model for Parent Carers of Children with Medical Complexities

For too long, respite has meant handing over care with little trust and no continuity. The RippleAbility Respite Centre is different. It’s built with families, not just for them. Our program is a direct response to the gap in care for children with complex needs who are not in palliative care, yet are too medically complex for typical childcare settings. This first-of-its-kind model in WA is built around the real needs of families. In this model, respite is part of a coordinated, relational support model that recognises the needs of the whole family. Our pilots are the foundation for a future where carers can rest, reset, and rebuild with confidence

Our first three pilot centres are opening across Western Australia:

  • Stirling – October 2025

  • Mandurah – November 2025

  • Joondalup – January 2026

Each pilot integrates respite with coaching, allied health, and peer support — helping carers rest, reset, and rebuild with confidence. These are the foundations for something larger: a movement toward national reform, ensuring that no family of a medically complex child is left to do this alone .

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Service Model: The Respite Centre Design

Our Respite Centre is built on an integrated model that provides compassionate care for children and crucial support for carers and siblings. Our program is delivered in partnership with leading community organizations to ensure a high standard of support.

Four Service Pillars [CREATE ICONS AND FEATURE BUBBLES]

  • Carer Coaching – Build skills, confidence, and resilience through one-on-one coaching and small group workshops.

  • Allied Health – Access therapies tailored for children with complex needs, delivered through proven approaches like the AHA model and the Switch Model.

  • On-Site Nursing – Skilled medical support through our partnership with Hannah’s House, ensuring children’s safety and complex care needs are met.

  • Childcare – Play-based, inclusive programs delivered with Goodstart, designed for children who can’t access mainstream childcare settings.

Pilot Timeline: The Roadmap to a Purpose-Built Facility

The journey to a purpose-built facility is underway, and with your support, we're making it happen. Our comprehensive timeline shows the development of the pilot to date, key milestones like the launches in Stirling, Mandurah, and Joondalup , and the integration of RAFI. It will also include future roadmap elements that show our progress toward our shared vision.

Facility Features: Designed for flexibility. Delivered in trusted community spaces

Every family is different, and so are the spaces we use. While our long-term vision is to build a purpose-designed centre, our pilot phase is about learning what works best by embedding respite within existing community facilities. Each site has been chosen for its safety, accessibility, and family-friendly atmosphere.

Pilot Locations

Mandurah

Enhancing Learning Mandurah, with sensory-friendly rooms and therapy spaces.

Stirling

The Smith Family Child & Parent Centre, Westminster, with safe indoor areas and outdoor play.

Joondalup

The Joondalup Family Centre, offering welcoming community halls and family spaces.

Service Delivery Partners

Our facilities come to life through trusted organisations who specialise in supporting families and children:

Goodstart Early Learning

Inclusive childcare delivery.

Hannah’s House

on-site nursing, complex care, and medical support.

Enhancing Learning

allied health services.

RippleAbility

carer coaching and integration of supports.

Our Evidence-Based Approach

We're committed to building a program that works, and a model that can be replicated. As part of this pilot, we are collecting data in plain-English terms to understand what families need most and which space types offer the best support experience. This information will be used to continually shape our model, inform broader policy reform, and ensure that no carer is left to do this alone.

Questions & Answers

  • The RippleAbility Respite Program Pilot is for parent carers of children from birth to five years of age who have complex medical conditions or significant care needs that go beyond what typical childcare settings can provide. It is also designed to provide support for siblings.

  • While some children in our program may be NDIS participants, this program is designed to fill a gap in the system that goes beyond what NDIS or the Inclusion Support Program can typically cover. Our model provides a new level of integrated, holistic care

  • The Inclusion Support Program (ISP) is not an appropriate solution for this group because the RippleAbility Respite Program Pilot caters to children with more complex needs that exceed what mainstream childcare settings can safely provide. These are young children from birth to school age who require a high level of daily care, such as routine medical intervention or 24-hour supervision. The RippleAbility model is designed specifically to fill this gap in care, providing safe and skilled support that acknowledges the intensity of their families' caring roles.

  • While hospice offers compassionate care exclusively for children with palliative diagnoses, the RippleAbility Respite Program Pilot does not have this restriction. Our program fills the gap for families whose children have complex medical needs but who may or may not be in a palliative state. The focus of our centre is on providing crucial respite to the family unit, so they can rest, reset, and rebuild with confidence.

  • No. Our program is for young children, from birth to schooling age, who require a high level of daily care. This may include children with formal diagnoses, those still being assessed, or those with palliative diagnoses. What they all have in common is the need for safe, skilled, and compassionate care.

  • We are piloting our model in different community-based environments to gather insights into what families need most and what types of spaces offer the best support experience. These pilots are a critical step toward designing a purpose-built facility in future stages.