This article is an overview of community based respite care programmes operating in the metropolitan area of Sydney. The term “community-based respite care” in this article refers to a model where the care is given by other families within the community. The term “families” encompasses traditional two parent families, single parents and other caring adults. These families are identified as “host families” and “respite care” is defined as provision of short term relief from 2 hours to 2 weeks to disabled persons and their families on a planned basis or in emergency situations.

The underlying philosophy of community respite care is that services to the disabled should be based on making available to them the same patterns and conditions of everyday life which most citizens enjoy.