Background BrightRespite is an innovative, retreat-style model of respite for people experiencing cognitive changes and their care partners. Delivered over a 3-day/2-night stay in resort-style accommodation, BrightRespite prioritises person-centred care, peer connection, and shared experiences. While the benefits for participants are increasingly recognised, less is known about the emotional and mental impact on staff delivering care within this immersive and relational model. Methods This qualitative evaluation explored the experiences of Brightwater staff delivering BrightRespite. Staff undertook specialised training and participated in ongoing supervision and reflective practice. Data were collected through post-program surveys and semi-structured interviews and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Staff described BrightRespite as emotionally intense and deeply meaningful. Working outside their usual work environment fostered heightened empathy and connection with participants. Extended, shared time with participants enabled strong interpersonal bonds to develop, rarely achieved in time-limited service models. While staff reported emotional fatigue, they also described personal growth, and a renewed sense of purpose. Feeling supported through training, supervision, and team cohesion was critical to sustaining emotional wellbeing. Implications Findings highlight the emotional labour inherent in immersive respite models and the importance of supporting staff wellbeing alongside participant outcomes. BrightRespite demonstrates how well-supported staff can co-create safe, relational spaces that benefit both participants and care providers, with implications for workforce training, supervision, and service design in aged care.