The program is funded by the federal government through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) under the National Respite Development Funding Program.

Carers eligible for the respite funding:

• Have been providing regular care to a person with mental illness for a period of at least six months - the mental illness does not have to be a formal diagnosis.
• Can be living with the person with mental illness or providing visiting care.
• Do not have to be receiving a Carer's Allowance.
• Are not eligible to receive state funded respite services.

The person you care for may be living with any kind of mental illness including such things as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders or post traumatic stress disorder.