NDIS Short Term Respite for Children & Young People

Connect & Explore provides personalised NDIS Short Term Respite (STR), school holiday respite and day programs for children and young people across Greater Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

Our 1:1 and small-group programs combine outdoor adventure, community participation, life skills and meaningful social connection. Each program is tailored to the participant's interests, abilities, support needs and individual goals.

EXPLORATION . CONNECTION. WELLNESS

Explore our Packages

The choice is yours

Short Term Respite STR

We offer Short Term Respite for children (8-12), young people (13-17) and adults in need of a break. The respite is 100% tailored to the interests, goals and needs of participants. We get to know the person you care for and create a respite that inspires them. Providing the carer with a break to rejuvenate.

Group sizes available:

1:1 - participant & 1 staff member

Small group 1-3 ppl

Carer Retreat

Rest, rejuvenate and restore your mind, body and soul at our Carers Retreat. Immersed in stunning nature spots, delicious food and connect with like minded community. Explore your wellness surrounded by a compassionate team who understands what it means to care for another.

Day Programs

We offer half or full day individual, sibling or group sessions. The sessions are tailored to you and includes a door to door service with transport, all equipment, catering, and qualified facilitators.

Activities can include abseiling, rock climbing, bush walking, low ropes, bush survival skills, yoga/meditation, stand up paddle boarding or swimming.

Children and youth 8-17

Adults 18+

View all Packages

Tribe Feedback

“Its really fun, you should do it. Dom will take care of you. Lots of fun activities.”

C.P. - 14 year old STA participant
“This is the first time I have felt peace”

15 year old - Day Program Participant
“Such a great program and such a great day”

-Lithgow High School Teacher
"Outdoor Adventure Therapy, it is a thing. A very worth while thing for those that need to reconnect, centre themselves and just reap the benefit of the earth's natural energies. Here is a great company helping people do just that"

-Lithgow High School Teacher
"Another adventure with the outdoor therapy program at school. Mt York was our amazing location, right around the corner from home. We did some breathing exercises and mindfulness before starting. Im so glad we did because I definitely needed it before going down the last big rock".

Lithgow High School Teacher
"I havn't seen him that happy in a long time. I didn't realise he was adventurous. He cant wait for program days."

- Participant carer

Girl power, fun time in the water 🫶🏽 #nature #explore #youthempowerment #connect #schoolholidays

Summer Holiday STA Respite 2025/26 ✨️Bookings open now 📞 0429 146 117 📧 connectandexplore@hotmail.com

Summer holiday camps are off to a fun filled start. Time outdoors creates authentic reasons to connect and opportunities to collaborate as a team. #summercamps #wellness #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #connection

Together exploring and igniting peace within. Being in and around the water has a calming and zen like effect on many people. This time of year winding down from the school term. #kayaking #explore #wellness #nature #youthmentoring

Summer vibes #camplife #wellness #friends #connection #explore #nature #lovelife #respite #community

Creating long-lasting friendships ✨️🙌🏼 #nature #friends #community #youthempowerment #youthmentoring #connection #explore

The fellas gathered for a fun day of go-karting, bbq, and wild swimming to farewell to one of our tribe members moving to a new location. We reminisced over memories, laughed about funny moments from camps, and expressed what we really cherish about our team member. We are so excited for your next chapter, but you will be missed. See you soon when you visit us. #celebration #nature #community #tribe #friends #connection #explore #farewell #sendoff

Lights me up to share rock climbing with young people. It is my passion in life to climb and brings me a smile to share this joy with others. Whether the goal is to put on a harness, test sitting in the rope on the ground to build confidence in the equipment, climbing to the top or being outside enjoying nature. All huge wins. #rockclimbing #wellness #nature #youthempowerment #youthmentoring #respite #weekendrespite #camp #ndis #explore #connection #friendship

Snow flakes dropped in the early hours of the morning. Excitement at the sight of light snow and the wind howling in the tree tops. We kept our cottage cosy with a roaring fire. Together we created an adventure that the two young people were super stoked to do. Put on our puffer jackets and explored caves in the mountains. #camp #respite #friendshipgoals #connection #explore

#respite #ndis #wellnessjourney #wellbeing #nature #movement #connection #mentalhealth #empowerment

School holiday camps off to zooming fun start 🏖🏂 #nature #youthempowerment #schoolholidays #respite #explore #connect #friendship #youthmentalhealth #movement #campvibes

In a world surrounded by technology it is easy to become hooked in the digital worlds. Yes, fun and has a place. What a shame it would be to miss out on experiencing the natural world that surrounds us. A perfect playground for learning, playing, healing, fun and adventure. Our intention is to support people to remember the joy of being in nature. On school holiday camps we gently expose young people to the joy of nature. The first day or so of leaving behind the devices feels challenging, but then the moment of learning how to use a flint and the warm fire crackles, the devices all but in the past. The moment when attaching bait and throwing the line into the water and watching the ripples in the water, mine craft is a distant memory. Arriving to a magical forest with water running over the rocks and the sun peaking through the tree tops and lyre birds calling, road blocks is in a different reality. Exposing to the beauty of nature in the early years sets people up for success to continue these healthy habits as adults. #nature #wellness #explore #connect

Term 2 School Holidays - NDIS Respite Camps We have 2 spots remaining for the upcoming holidays!!! Camps are small groups of 2 young people. Creating a space where young people feel safe to connect and develop friendship skills. We will do this through fun activities in nature. Offering time for carers to have a break and recharge their battery. We tailor the camp to the pairs interests, needs and abilities so that it is insprining and safe. Pick up from home available including Lithgow, Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains and other locations upon request. Dates available: -13th -16th July -17th - 20th July Please call for a no obligation chat to see if we are the right for your young person. Call Dominique on 0429 146 117 or email connectandexplore@hotmail.com

Ocean + Sunshine + fishing + play = happy souls #wellness #youthempowerment #youthmentoring #schoolholidays #fun #ndis

NDIS Short Term Respite for Children & Young People

EXPLORATION . CONNECTION. WELLNESS

Explore our Packages

The choice is yours

Short Term Respite STR

Carer Retreat

Day Programs

“Its really fun, you should do it. Dom will take care of you. Lots of fun activities.”

“This is the first time I have felt peace”

“Such a great program and such a great day”

"Outdoor Adventure Therapy, it is a thing. A very worth while thing for those that need to reconnect, centre themselves and just reap the benefit of the earth's natural energies. Here is a great company helping people do just that"

"Another adventure with the outdoor therapy program at school. Mt York was our amazing location, right around the corner from home. We did some breathing exercises and mindfulness before starting. Im so glad we did because I definitely needed it before going down the last big rock".

"I havn't seen him that happy in a long time. I didn't realise he was adventurous. He cant wait for program days."