How to arrange for a carer to join you on holidays

Last updated 27 January 2023

Just because someone has a disability and requires assistance does not mean they should miss out on travel opportunities.

Key points

If you require a carer to travel with you, you may be able to bring a professional carer, or ask a close friend or family member
You will need to notify the airline about any requirements you have when flying with a carer
Some disability support providers do have staff who can join you on a holiday

It is certainly possible for a person with disability to go on holiday with a carer who can support their needs, whether it be a family member, friend or professional carer.

But before you do go anywhere, you want to make sure you have everything in place so the carer can be by your side for support, from talking to your disability support provider about the possibility of a carer travelling with you to booking seats next to each other on a flight.

Through planning and preparation, you can arrange for a carer that can join you on holidays across Australia or even overseas.

Speaking to your support provider

If you do want to travel, first and foremost talk to your own carer or disability support provider. Some organisations do provide staff, including personal carers or Registered Nurses, that can travel with clients on short trips.

Their support can include holiday planning and budgeting, all the way through to providing you with staff who can deliver ongoing care during the trip.

National organisations may also have the ability to link you up with care workers in other cities who can meet you at the airport. The carer can also act as your companion, providing invaluable supports as you enjoy a trip away.

As there is often a cost involved when providing care, you do want to check if the expenses can be covered under your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan, or if you will have to fund the additional services.

Just speak to your NDIS provider or NDIS plan coordinator for more assistance.

Financial considerations for your trip

Generally speaking, the NDIS will cover the costs of supports you receive while on holiday, but this funding would not cover any accommodation or travel costs for your carer.

This may need to be funded by yourself, while an informal carer will likely have to pay for their flights, accommodation and other expenses. Cost should not be a reason to avoid travelling it will need to be budgeted for.

If you do rely on an informal or unpaid carer, make sure you both have open discussions about budgets and affordability. It might mean the holiday involves some compromise to ensure you can enjoy it while being looked after.

Meanwhile, you want to consider any travel impact on carer payments or supplements. If someone leaves Australia with the person they care for you will continue to receive those payments for up to six weeks.

But if you are a person with disability and you travel with someone that is not your normal carer, your usual carer receiving a Carer’s Payment may not receive income until you return.

There is no impact on carer payments when travelling in Australia together. You can contact Services Australia for more information

Sourcing an informal carer

There may be times when you want to travel but cannot do so with a regular carer.

Perhaps you have a passport and your regular carer does not, you might want to go on a cruise but they are prone to seasickness, or perhaps you use local care services and they cannot join you interstate or overseas.

Depending on your needs you may be able to travel with a friend or family member who can provide you with the right amount of informal support. Have a chat with them to find out what they are comfortable with doing and whether they are happy to also act in a caring capacity at times while travelling with you.

If you do not have a friend or family member that can join you and you cannot call on the services of your NDIS provider, there may be local support options available for people with disability.

For example, if you are travelling from Melbourne to Brisbane, you may be able to book the services of a carer in Brisbane. If you are also travelling overseas, you may find an international care provider that offers help to international travellers.

By searching for holiday care or holiday companion services plus the country you want to visit, you may find local contacts to reach out to. If you are unsure about the process, ask a friend or carer to help you with any research as they may have relevant contacts as well.

Another alternative is engaging a travel agency that specifically caters for people with disability and is able to provide supports to you while on holiday, such as care workers who can travel with you.

Some providers offer all-inclusive services where they lead the holiday experience like a tour guide, which is great for a person with disability who may want to travel on their own or with a group! You can often liaise directly with these providers and enjoy trips covered under the NDIS.

Securing seats on a plane

Most airlines provide some sort of concession for carers travelling with a person with disability or require assistance in the airport and on the plane.

To make sure your carer can fly with you it is best that you contact the airline directly to book a flight, or you book through a travel agency to avoid any unforeseen issues that could deny a carer from joining you on holiday.

In Australia, there are different concessions available to carers, so this may also impact your planning for a flight.

For example, if you were to fly with Qantas, you can book domestic flights over the phone at a reduced rate for a person with disability and the carer, pending the correct concessions.

To access discounted fares on domestic flights, the person with disability must hold one of the following:

A current Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) with blind entitlement
A current travel pass for Person with Vision Impairment (PVI) issued by a State or Territory authority
A current Carer Concession photo identification card issued by People With Disability Australia (PWDA) for people with significant support requirements that are not blind or vision impaired

Jetstar will accommodate carers when a booking is made for a person with disability who cannot travel independently, although they are required to purchase fares at the regular rate.

It is also best to speak directly to a travel agency if you want to accommodate a carer for an international flight to ensure you take all the appropriate steps to notify the airline about any important requirements.

For more information on planning flights for your holiday, read our article ‘Air travel tips for people with disability’.

Coordinating accommodation and travel

While airlines tend to have their own rules regarding carers and companions, if you do have a National Companion Card through the Department of Social Services, you will often be eligible for discounted or no-cost tickets for travel alongside the person with disability you are caring for.

This means any public transport options in Australia should not incur any cost for a carer while on holiday – as long as the carer and person with disability are together.

In terms of accommodation, most places charge based on the room’s rate – not the number of people in it – although you may be eligible for discounts if you hold an eligible concession card.

It is also important that you raise any accessibility issues with the staff when booking as you may have specific room requirements, such as two separate beds in a shared room.

Thankfully, these accommodations should be quite simple for providers as there is a range of accessible rooms on offer in major hotel chains.

What tips do you have for travelling with a carer? Tell us in the comments below.