By clicking the Listen button the text will be read out
in full. To stop this, click the button again. To listen to certain parts of the text,
simply highlight the text to hear the audio. More
information
There are 4 ways to search for information using the Filter Resources boxes below. You can type your key words in the first box or filter by category, tags or year of publication.
December 2021
Tags: housing, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
On the Housing Hub website, people with disability who are looking for a home – housing seekers – can provide data about their housing needs and preferences and the site can then identify properties listed that are a close match.
In this second data snapshot, the Housing Hub is releasing data from housing seekers in a summarised way to inform the market. By doing this, the Housing Hub is working to ensure that the needs and wants of housing seekers are driving the market.
The Housing Hub will release this information every 6 months.
December 2021
Tags: Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
If an NDIS participant has a home and living goal, they need to complete an NDIA Home and Living Supports Request Form. This resource provides tips for support coordinators and NDIS allied health professionals who are completing a form in relation to a person requiring Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).
November 2021
Tags: NDIS, NDIS participant, training
Description:
Reasonably and Necessary: Making Sense of the NDIS is a podcast series by the Summer Foundation, hosted by our very own Dr George Taleporos.
Each podcast episode aims to simplify the NDIS for participants, their families and anyone supporting NDIS participants to work their way through the system.
November 2021
Tags: rehabilitation
Description:
Building upon the findings of an earlier study that explored the experience and impact of narrative storytelling following acquired brain injury (ABI), this study sought to examine the engagement of storytelling facilitators with storytellers. Transcripts of in-depth interviews conducted with six storytelling facilitators were analysed drawing upon content analysis. The analysis included a process of mapping previously analysed data to a humanising values framework.
The findings of this study provide insights into how facilitators engaged in humanising practice within the context of a storytelling advocacy programme. The facilitator participants ranged in years of facilitation experience from 1 to 11 years, with a mix of professional backgrounds, including health care (3), journalism (1) and community development (2). Analysed facilitator data mapped to each of the eight dimensions of the framework (insiderness, agency, uniqueness, togetherness, sense-making, personal journey, sense of place and embodiment), with a breadth of codes represented in each dimension, revealing the depth of humanisation. This study extends our understanding of approaches to engagement with adults living with ABI, demonstrating the humanising potential of storytelling. Furthermore, the findings help us to think about what it means to be human, guiding us to find ways to better partner with and support adults living with brain injury.
Citation:
D’Cruz K, Douglas J, and Serry T (2021)
November 2021
Tags: support coordinator
Description:
Individualised living arrangements are as unique as a fingerprint – at this recorded webinar we discuss how they can work to give people the opportunity to live the way they want.
At this webinar, you hear from Ned, who recently moved out of his family home and is living with 2 supportive housemates. You learn about Ned’s home, his living arrangement and learn about how NDIS participants and their supporters can get started with their own unique arrangements.
Many people with disability need support to live independently in the community, but don’t want to live in a group home. At this webinar you can build your understanding of individualised living, learn how the principles of person-centred planning together with the opportunities of the NDIS help create a way forward.
This webinar was delivered live on Monday 11 October 2021.
November 2021
Tags: housing, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
The government expects that by 2025 up to 30,000 NDIS participants with ‘extreme functional impairment’ or ‘very high support needs’ will be receiving funding for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). Understanding the current and future supply of SDA housing is crucial for supporting the development of the SDA market.
This report, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) – Supply in Australia, is the fourth iteration of a national survey of SDA providers that aims to help inform stakeholders in the market.
You can view the previous editions of the SDA Supply Report through the links below:
Citation:
Aimers, N., Wellecke, C., Winkler, D., Rathbone, A., & Mulherin, P. (2021)
October 2021
Tags: allied health, support coordinator
Description:
This guide has been written for support coordinators and specialist support coordinators who are working with people with complex needs. Throughout this guide we refer to the support coordinators’ role.
Participants with complex support needs usually require a more focused and skilled approach to connecting and coordinating supports and building capacity. This resource has been developed to provide practice guidance to support coordinators for purposeful and meaningful impact whereby participants with complex support needs have the opportunity to enjoy their rights and responsibilities as full and contributing citizens.
October 2021
October 2021
Tags: submission
Description:
The Summer Foundation welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the National Disability Insurance Agency’s (NDIA) consultation into Supports for Decision Making.Our submission responds to the key themes in the consultation paper and makes recommendations to uphold human rights and increase participant choice and control over their lives.The proposed Supports for Decision Making Policy is a significant step towards securing better outcomes for National Disability Insurance Scheme(NDIS) participants. A person-centred and supportive approach to participants and their decision supporters is essential to stop younger people with disability from being forced into Residential Aged Care (RAC) and to meet the outcomes outlined in the Younger People in Residential Aged Care Action Plan.
Our submission responds to the key themes in the consultation paper and makes recommendations to uphold human rights and increase participant choice and control over their lives.
October 2021
Tags: allied health, disability support, health professional, support coordinator
Description:
Find support coordinators and allied health professionals who are right for you.
The UpSkill Provider Directory gives you access to profiles of support coordinators and NDIS allied health professionals with a wide range of specific skills and experience. Each provider has completed UpSkill training with the Summer Foundation on topics such as how to help you navigate the NDIS, specialist disability accommodation, housing, leaving aged care and leaving hospital.
October 2021
Tags: for policy makers, Supported Independent Living (SIL)
Description:
The Summer Foundation has released a position statement about the model of housing and support known as, closed setting supported independent living (SIL) homes. This is where the SIL provider owns or head leases a property and is responsible for tenancy management as well as SIL support delivery within the home. The closed setting SIL home model is outdated and does not resemble a contemporary approach to independent living but it is currently responding to demand for housing from NDIS participants who have been deemed ineligible for SDA or are facing SDA approval issues. The model brings risk to NDIS participant safety, compromises housing security and removes a participants right to exercise genuine choice and control.
The Summer Foundation believes that the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission must undertake a quality audit of existing closed-setting SIL homes and implement a regulatory framework as an interim measure, supporting SIL providers to conform to contemporary standards that uphold NDIS participants’ legal rights.
The NDIA must ensure SDA eligible participants do not live in, or are not reliant on, closed setting SIL homes.
September 2021
Tags: disability support
Description:
Theoretically, individualised funding schemes empower people with disability (PWD) to choose high quality support services in line with their needs and preferences. Given the importance of support, the aim of the scoping review and in-depth interviews was to understand the factors that influence the quality of paid disability support for adults with acquired neurological disability from the perspective of PWD, close others and disability support workers (DSWs). A comprehensive scoping review of the published literature from 2009-2019 was conducted on five databases. In-depth interviews were conducted with people with acquired neurological disabilities, close others and DSWs to obtain their perspective on what influences the quality of paid disability support.
Citation:
Topping, M., Douglas, J., Winkler, D., (2021). Paper presented at the 6th Pacific Rim Conference of the International Neuropsychological Society, Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment, and Australian Psychological Society’s College of Clinical Neuropsychologists.
September 2021
Tags: residential aged care (RAC), YPIRAC
Description:
Governments have long aimed to reduce admissions of young people to residential aged care (RAC), but in 2019, for the first time, the Australian Government adopted target dates for resolving the issue through the Younger People in Residential Aged Care Strategy. The targets include:
This study drew on quarterly data from the National Aged Care Data Clearinghouse to examine progress toward these targets. It finds that significant progress was evident in terms of young people entering RAC, as admissions reduced each quarter between September 2018 and July 2020, halving over two years. However, no progress was evident in terms of young people leaving RAC for better arrangements, as the trend neither increased nor decreased. This paper discusses these trends and also prospects for achieving the Australian Government’s targets.
Citation:
Brown, M., Condi, A., Davis, E., Goodwin, I., Winkler, D., & Douglas, J. (2021). Young people in residential aged care: Is Australia on track to meetits targets? Australian Journal of Social Issues, 00, 1–15.
September 2021
Tags: disability support, NDIS plan, support coordinator
Description:
We have created a guide to help you choose a support coordinator. We have included ideas for important things you might want to know about your support coordinator, and questions you might want to ask them.
August 2021
Tags: accessible housing, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Thousands of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) dwellings are needed to meet Australia’s accessible housing needs. Private investors play a significant role in funding the considerable build and refurbishment of housing that is needed.
This investment plays an important role in supporting the Australian Government’s vision for a market-based system and reduces the pressure on public funds.
Citation:
Madhavan, D., Mulherin, P., Winkler, D, (2021).
July 2021
Tags: for policy makers, hospital discharge
Description:
Immediate action is needed to improve outcomes for people with complex disability. Significant reforms of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and health interface systems are needed to reduce unnecessary hospital stays and to prevent younger people with high and complex disabilities from being forced into unsuitable housing and support such as residential aged care (RAC).
Hospital discharge delays have compounding negative consequences for NDIS participants (hereafter referred to as ‘participant’ or ‘participants’) and families, NDIS and health systems, and the workers within these systems. Improvements in hospital discharge will reduce costs for both the NDIS and health systems and help fulfil the Younger People in Residential Aged Care Action Plan of no younger person (under the age of 65) living in RAC unless there are exceptional circumstances.
This report examines the various problems and solutions specific to the NDIS and health interface to minimise extended hospital stays and increase successful returns to community life for people with disabilities.
July 2021
Tags: accessible housing, housing
Description:
The preliminary findings presented in this interim report examine the tenant outcomes of people with disability moving into SDA-funded apartments, with appropriate technology, support, design and location, in the 10+1 model. The overarching aim of the research project is to systematically evaluate individual outcomes of tenants moving to newly built, SDA-funded contemporary models of housing for people with disability over a 3-year period.
To date, this project has found that tenants have a greater level of community participation and are significantly more involved in household tasks such as meal preparation, shopping and electronic social networking post-move. There is also a positive trend towards improved social integration. These changes reflect the fact that tenants moving into SDA-funded apartments are more involved in everyday life compared to their pre-move living situation, suggesting that the 10+1 model better enables people with severe disabilities to fulfil their aspirations to live an ordinary life.
Citation:
Winkler, D., Douglas, J., Oliver, S., D’Cruz, K., Naismith, J., Minter, E., & Liddicoat, S. (2021).
July 2021
Tags: allied health, support coordinator
Description:
This podcast series features conversations with support coordinators who share their experiences of supporting people with disability and working alongside other sectors such as health, aged care and housing.
It also includes conversations with people with lived experience of disability who share how their support coordinators focused on them as individuals and supported them to achieve new goals relating to exploring housing options and moving to their own homes.
June 2021
Tags: housing, NDIS Housing Options, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in Thin Markets resource identifies challenges and barriers to delivering SDA in thin markets. It explains the role that housing providers, disability support providers and all members of the community play in shaping opportunities for people with disability. The resource focuses on rural and remote areas in Western Australia and Queensland, Robust SDA and the impact the lack of SDA has on other mainstream systems.
May 2021
Tags: rehabilitation
Description:
This paper examines the existing literature and maps out the potential practical, ethical and methodological considerations when adapting research methods to an online environment, with suggestions for practice when working with adults with acquired brain injury (ABI). People with ABI experience a range of impairments likely to be impacted by the adaptation of interview methods to an online space. This paper discusses the benefits and challenges of conducting qualitative interviews online and maps out the key practical, ethical and methodological considerations for planning and conducting interviews. Being aware of the potential complexities with interviewing people with ABI online should enable researchers to plan strategies to overcome challenges accordingly. It is hoped that the guidance and suggestions offered in this paper will assist researchers to deliver best practice research while protecting the welfare of participants with ABI, and more generally.
Citation:
Topping, M., Douglas, J., Winkler, D. (2021)
May 2021
Tags: accessible housing, housing
Description:
A new version of the Housing Hub website was launched in August 2020. On this new version of the Housing Hub, people with disability who are looking for a home – housing seekers – can provide data about their housing needs and preferences and the website can then identify properties listed that are a close match.
In this data snapshot, the Housing Hub is releasing data from housing seekers in a summarised way to inform the market. By doing this, the Housing Hub is working to ensure that the wants and needs of housing seekers are driving the market.
The Housing Hub intends to release this information every 6 months.
Citation:
Rathbone, A., Aimers, N., Winkler, D. (2021). Housing Hub and Summer Foundation.
May 2021
Tags: NDIS, NDIS participant, training
Description:
Reasonably and Necessary: Making Sense of the NDIS is a podcast series by the Summer Foundation, hosted by our very own Dr George Taleporos.
Each podcast episode aims to simplify the NDIS for participants, their families and anyone supporting NDIS participants to work their way through the system.
March 2021
Tags: accessible housing
Description:
This report is the second of two studies investigating accessible housing conducted through the Summer Foundation–La Trobe University research program, to inform decision-makers on incorporating minimum mandatory accessibility standards in the 2022 National Construction Code (NCC).
This study points to the inefficiencies of retrospectively modifying homes, rather than incorporating minimum accessibility features as standard in new homes.
Download the Preliminary Findings summary for this report.
Citation:
D’Cruz, K., Winkler, D., Douglas, J., Wellecke, C., Goodwin, I., Davis, E. (2021).
March 2021
Tags: allied health, NDIS, NDIS housing resources, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), support coordinator
Description:
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a costly support that will be provided to only a small number of NDIS participants, so the rules the NDIS uses to determine a participant’s eligibility are rigorously applied. To be considered for SDA, a participant must provide evidence to support EVERY criteria along one of the pathways in this flowchart.
For the exact wording of each rule, refer to the Summer Foundation’s How to write a housing plan resource.
March 2021
Tags: accessible housing
Description:
This report is the first of two studies investigating accessible housing conducted through the Summer Foundation–La Trobe University research program. These reports provide an evidence base to inform decision-makers on incorporating minimum mandatory accessibility standards in the 2022 National Construction Code (NCC).
This study seeks the expert opinions of access consultants and architects on how expensive and complicated it would be for builders to incorporate specific accessible features into all new homes. It surveyed 24 access consultants and architects with expert knowledge of the Livable Housing Australia Design Guidelines.
Download the Preliminary Findings summary for this report.
Citation:
Winkler, D., Harvey, C., Davis, E., Goodwin, I., Wellecke, C., Douglas, J.,Mulherin, P. (2021)
March 2021
Tags: for policy makers
Description:
The Summer Foundation has made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) inquiry into Independent Assessments.
We believe that the NDIS is an important and life changing government initiative that has the potential to solve the issue of younger people being forced into residential aged care and other inappropriate accommodation settings.
While we welcome the introduction of free and timely assessments for people stuck in hospital, we recommend postponing the proposed midyear rollout of independent assessments and implementing an evidence-based pilot, codesigned with people with disability, disability organisations and other experts in the field.
March 2021
Tags: housing, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Property Developer, Keith Fagg, talks about his motivation for building Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).
March 2021
Tags: allied health, support coordinator, training
Description:
A series of resources that the Summer Foundation has prepared about accessing housing; they are designed for people with disability, their families and supporters, support coordinators and allied health professionals.
March 2021
Tags: residential aged care (RAC), YPIRAC
Description:
This report utilises the available administrative data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and the NDIA to describe the characteristics and geographical distribution of young people in permanent residential aged care (RAC) in Australia in 2019-2020. It finds that as at 30 June 2020, 4,860 people under 65 years, including 130 people under 45 years, were living in permanent RAC. They accounted for 2.6% and 0.1%, respectively, of all residents in permanent RAC. The number of young people under 65 years residing in permanent RAC decreased by 13.3% compared to 12 months prior.
Citation:
Bishop, G.M., Mulherin, P., Winkler, D. (2021)
February 2021
Tags: health professional, hospital discharge, housing
Citation:
The Housing Needs and Preferences to Support Discharge Guide and Template are for health professionals to support a person with disability to describe the housing and support they want and need so that they can be discharged to suitable housing.
February 2021
Tags: accessible housing, housing
Description:
This study audited 20 of the most popular house designs from Australia’s most active volume home builders. It found that many features of the Silver, Gold and Platinum levels of Livable Housing Australia’s (LHA) Livable Housing Design Guidelines are already incorporated into new dwellings produced by these builders.
Version 1.1 Updated February 2021.
Citation:
Winkler, D., Martel, A., Chen, Y., & Greaves, T. (2021)
January 2021
Tags: for policy makers
Description:
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants with high and complex needs can often experience difficulty in accessing high quality and effective support coordination. Without effective support coordination, it can be difficult to avoid or exit residential aged care (RAC). This position statement outlines the problems and what needs to change.
To discuss this further and to lend your support to our statement contact: George.Taleporos@summerfoundation.org.au
January 2021
Tags: for policy makers
Description:
Funding for Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA) under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is not currently delivering the necessary outcomes for participants with high and complex needs. Changes are needed to ensure that this group receives the necessary support to avoid being stuck in hospital or forced into residential aged care (RAC).
This position statement outlines the problems and what needs to change. To discuss this further and to lend your support to our statement contact: George.Taleporos@summerfoundation.org.au
January 2021
January 2021
Tags: housing
Description:
This report provides a comprehensive summary of the current supply of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in Australia. A national survey of SDA providers and developers was undertaken in October-November 2020. This survey offers insights into the SDA pipeline across Australia in 2020, and combines the survey results with the data published by the NDIA to provide the market an estimate of the supply pipeline. This report also provides insights into the experience of SDA providers. This includes their views about the SDA market as a whole, as well as plans they may have to develop further SDA.
This is the third annual report of its type, building on previous work of the Summer Foundation and Social Ventures Australia. The data in this report results from a survey of SDA providers in October and November 2020.
Previous editions of this report can be downloaded below.
Specialist Disability Accommodation Supply in Australia: March 2020
Specialist Disability Accommodation Supply in Australia: March 2019
Citation:
Housing Hub and Summer Foundation. (2021).
December 2020
Tags: housing
Description:
Impact investment is gaining considerable momentum in Australia and is starting to engage mainstream investors, investment banks and super funds. Impact investments generate a positive and measurable social and/or environmental impact as well as a financial return for investors. One of the limiting factors for the growth of impact investment in Australia is the lack of products that have the capacity for investment at scale. The Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) market is well placed to leverage private capital. The aim of this report is to provide a plain language summary of the SDA market to support impact investors to make informed choices about SDA impact investment opportunities.
Citation:
Winkler, D., McLeod, J., Mulherin, P., Rathbone, A., Ryan, M. (2020). Summer Foundation and JBWere.
November 2020
Tags: NDIS Housing Options
Description:
As part of the NDIS Housing Options project, 2 new booklets have been developed to assist people with disability and their families, and NDIS and housing providers understand housing options under the NDIS, including Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). These booklets provide information specifically for Queensland. You can also watch a recent webinar presentation.
October 2020
Tags: allied health, NDIS housing resources, support coordinator
Description:
In response to feedback from the SDA panel, the Summer Foundation has developed 2 new resources to help support coordinators and allied health professionals prepare an NDIS participant housing statement.
The Participant Housing Statement Template (with accompanying guide) seeks to ensure that the NDIA provides people with funding that reflects their preferred housing option.
October 2020
Tags: allied health, housing, NDIS housing resources, NDIS plan, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), support coordinator
Description:
How to write a Housing Plan – Guide and the Housing Plan Template have been created to help support coordinators write housing plans for NDIS participants who want to test their eligibility for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding. The purpose of a housing plan is to provide the NDIA with evidence that the person you’re working for requires SDA to reach their goals, maximise their independence, and social and economic participation. Download Housing Plan Template
The guide provides information on what to include to achieve the best possible outcome for the person you’re working for.
October 2020
Tags: disability support
Description:
This review aims to understand the factors that influence the quality of paid disability support for adults with acquired neurological disability. The findings provide insights to PWD hiring and managing support, and facilitate the delivery of quality disability support.
Citation:
Topping, M., Douglas, J., and Winkler, D. (2020). Disability and Rehabilitation.
October 2020
Tags: for policy makers, NDIS participant, Supported Independent Living (SIL)
Description:
The Summer Foundation has extensive experience working alongside people with high and complex support needs to understand how to ensure that housing and support solutions can be developed according to their needs and preferences. We have undertaken demonstration projects and extensive research. Based on the outcomes of the research our understanding of what it takes to effectively support people with complex needs to live in the community has evolved.
Drawing on this, the Summer Foundation has outlined key problems with the current dominant SIL practice and set out a vision for a reformed SIL market.
October 2020
Tags: for policy makers
Description:
The Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) and the Summer Foundation are pleased to provide this supplementary information following our meeting with representatives from the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) and the Centre for International Economics (CIE) on 17 September. This supplementary information should be read in conjunction with our submission.
The time constraints during the online meeting of 17 September 2020 did not permit full discussion of important economic considerations associated with the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) or the qualitative study. Therefore, the following information is provided to assist CIE in their finalisation of their evaluation, and for the ABCB’s consideration of the results.
September 2020
Tags: for policy makers
Description:
Functional capacity is one of the key factors in determining eligibility for the NDIS. Functional capacity is the ability to be involved in different areas of life like home, school, work and the community and to carry out tasks and actions. It considers other factors in a person’s environment that may impact day-to-day life.
We want to see the NDIA take action to enable fast, fair and equitable decisions and these decisions need to be made with a strong evidence base. This requires NDIA funded and well-trained assessors who have experience working with people with disability.
Read our full position statement by clicking on the Download now button.
September 2020
Tags: allied health, NDIS housing resources, NDIS plan, support coordinator
Description:
This tool helps you think about where you want to live, who you would like to live with and the type of housing that you would like to live in. You can use this tool to tell your housing story and work out your housing goals. You can cut and paste the information from this tool into housing application forms.
September 2020
Tags: allied health, NDIS housing resources, support coordinator
Description:
‘Living more independently’ means living in a house (townhouse/duplex/apartment/other) where you get to decide what you do and how you live, and you only get as much support as you need.
This guide explains how to plan for and move from residential aged care (RAC), a group home or your parents’ home into appropriate mainstream housing or Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).
September 2020
Tags: allied health, housing, support coordinator
Description:
This short video about Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) and the accompanying flyers can be used by support coordinators to explain what SDA is to the people they are working with.
September 2020
Tags: YPIRAC
Description:
This review maps the literature on the experiences and outcomes of young people with disability who are placed in aged care, and highlights the negative outcomes young people experience while living in aged care.
Citation:
Oliver, S., Gosden-Kaye, E., Jarman. H,, Winkler. D,, and Douglas. J, (2020). Brain Injury, 34(11): 1446-1460.
September 2020
Tags: NDIS Housing Options
Description:
As part of the NDIS Housing Options project, 2 new booklets have been developed to assist people with disability and their families, and NDIS and housing providers understand housing options under the NDIS, including Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). These booklets provide information specifically for Western Australia. You can also watch a recent webinar presentation.
September 2020
Tags: for policy makers
Description:
This submission addresses the questions put forward in the Support Coordination Discussion Paper and highlights the need to improve the support coordination service model in a range of areas. These include ensuring access to adequate and timely support coordination; incorporating effective support coordination in the interface between the NDIS and mainstream health systems; support coordinators with specialist knowledge in housing for people with complex needs; easier access for participants to appropriately skilled and experienced support coordinators; encouraging innovation and the development of best practice approaches through training and development opportunities and Communities of Practice; and addressing conflicts of interests.
September 2020
Tags: YPIRAC
Description:
This report utilises available administrative data to describe the characteristics and geographical distribution of young people in permanent residential aged care (RAC) in Australia in 2018-2019.
Citation:
Bishop, G., Rinehart, N., and Winkler, D. (2020). Summer Foundation.
September 2020
Tags: assistive technology
Description:
This review explores the impact of smart home and communication technology on the outcomes of people with disabilities and complex needs. It finds that smart home and communication technology can improve outcomes for people living with disabilities and complex needs. However, a number of factors impact the successful implementation of technology, including personalization, flexibility and ongoing support to the person with a disability and their close others.
Citation:
Jamwal, R., Jarman, H., Roseingrave, E., Douglas, J., and Winkler, D. (2020). Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology.
August 2020
Tags: for policy makers
Description:
The Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) and the Summer Foundation are pleased to provide this submission in response to the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS). We have initiated three important pieces of research in response to the Consultation RIS, in order to further inform the ABCB and Ministers, viz: i) an independent review of the social cost benefit analysis; ii) a survey and interviews of people with disability that provide important new quantitative and qualitative data; and iii) an audit of accessible features in 20 new build, high volume house plans.
August 2020
Tags: for policy makers
Description:
The Summer Foundation is pleased to provide this submission in response to the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS).
The Summer Foundation endorses the stated objective of the RIS and proposes that it should include the word ‘all’: The objective of the regulatory proposal is to ensure that [all] new housing is designed to meet the needs of the community including older Australians and others with mobility limitations.
Summer Foundation maintains that accessible housing is for everyone, every time, every day.
It should not be regarded as ‘an optional extra’ or ‘for special people.’ The regulation of minimum standards of accessibility can bring significant benefits to the broader community and is in the public interest.
August 2020
Tags: allied health, NDIS housing resources, support coordinator
Description:
The SDA Rules 2020, released in June, increase a person’s choice and control about where they want to live and who they want to live with. The key changes are outlined in this resource.
August 2020
Tags: Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
The purpose of the directory is to provide information to hospital discharge teams and their patients about housing providers who may have suitable housing options for discharging patients who are NDIS participants, but are having difficulties locating suitable housing.
July 2020
Tags: allied health, NDIS, support coordinator, training
Description:
The UpSkill team have produced the following videos to capture the fundamentals of what you need to know when you are a support coordinator or private allied health professional. If you are attending any online or face-to-face UpSkill training, you should watch the UpSkill Fundamentals videos beforehand.
July 2020
Tags: health professional, health system, hospital discharge, NDIS participant, training
Description:
In striving for best practice outcomes for NDIS participants, a health service may use this resource to provide a framework in the provision of information, training and mentoring to staff for practice change.
July 2020
Tags: housing
Description:
This review determines what is currently known about outcomes associated with individualised housing for adults with disability and complex needs.
Citation:
Oliver, S., Gosden-Kaye, E., Winkler, D., and Douglas, J. (2020). Disability and Rehabilitation.
July 2020
Tags: housing, NDIS housing resources, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
This resource provides an overview of housing options, including Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The role of SDA is explained along with how SDA payments, provided in an individual participant’s plan, flow through to a registered provider of SDA housing.
July 2020
Tags: YPIRAC
Description:
This paper reports trends in the number of young people entering and exiting aged care. Many more young people are admitted to aged care each year than return to community living, with no sustained change between 2008 and 2018 at the national level.
Citation:
Brown, M., Bishop, G., Winkler, D., and Douglas, J. (2020). Australian Health Review.
July 2020
Tags: allied health, support coordinator, training
Description:
Ablelink, an independent provider of support coordination, has produced the following 3 videos and a podcast to assist people working as a support coordinator and those interested in setting up a support coordination business.
June 2020
Tags: access request, hospital discharge
Description:
In some circumstances a person may be vulnerable to risk and need urgent supports. For example, they may be going back to live in a community setting with few supports of any kind after they are discharged from hospital, or they may not be able to return home and may be at risk of moving into a residential aged care facility.
Download a Word document template of the letter
June 2020
Tags: disability support, hospital discharge, support coordinator
Description:
Chris shares his journey from hospital to his new home and the value of having good support around you.
June 2020
Tags: health professional, hospital discharge, NDIS, training
Description:
These videos for health services are part of the NDIS Capacity building framework training manual.
May 2020
Tags: allied health, support coordinator, training
Description:
The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health (CEH) has produced these 3 videos and a podcast to help those working with NDIS participants from culturally diverse backgrounds.
May 2020
Tags: disability support
Description:
People with disability, especially those with underlying medical conditions, are disproportionately vulnerable during COVID-19. A national survey conducted in April 2020 obtained the perspective of 351 National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants on their personal protective equipment (PPE) needs. The 30 question survey was designed to inform a national strategy to source PPE and provide an accessible distribution pathway to NDIS participants.
Citation:
Winkler, D., Douglas, J., Rinehart, N., Jamwal, R., Bishop, G., and Jarman, H. (2020). Summer Foundation.
April 2020
Description:
The CDA Practice Guide details the steps involved in effective discharge planning for younger people under 65 with disability or complex support needs in hospital. It steps out collaborative actions between the NDIS, health, support coordination and housing, to facilitate timely discharge through access to necessary NDIS supports. Links to resources that align with specific actions are embedded within this guide.
April 2020
Tags: CDA, community, complex support, NDIS
Description:
A Collaborative Discharge Approach (CDA) is a process to ensure that people under 65 with disability or complex support needs in hospital can achieve an effective and timely discharge back into the community with National Disability Insurance System (NDIS) supports.
This overview provides a snapshot of how health can work with support coordinators to achieve this and includes links to resources that align with specific actions.
April 2020
Tags: NDIS participant, NDIS plan
Description:
Pre-planning is the process of developing a detailed plan that is individualised to the NDIS participant, prior to the planning meeting with an NDIS planner. This resource describes how to use NDIS language and descriptions for disability related supports. It includes an example of a pre-plan template that incorporates NDIS legislative requirements.
Download the pre-plan template.
March 2020
Tags: health professional, hospital discharge
Description:
This resource describes how an NDIS secondary consultation framework can guide health clinicians in sustainably building their knowledge and practice expertise, to achieve positive discharge outcomes for people eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
March 2020
Tags: health professional, hospital discharge
Description:
This guideline is relevant for health services staff working in a health setting with people with disability aged under 65. When assisting people with disability, there may be circumstances where internal and/or external interface practice issues occur that require escalation. Download a Word document version of the flowchart
March 2020
Tags: hospital discharge
Description:
The purpose of this resource is to assist health clinicians who are supporting a person with disability who is being considered for discharge as a result of COVID-19.
March 2020
Tags: health professional, hospital discharge, training
Description:
All health services are building their capacity in working with the NDIS and people with disability aged under 65. This resource contains health’ frequently asked questions (FAQs), and answers relating to a number of different topics.
Health services may choose to download the Word version of this resource and add their own FAQs to maximise local relevance.
March 2020
Tags: access request, NDIS
Description:
When making an access request to the NDIS, the NDIA requires supporting evidence about the person’s disability and how it impacts their everyday life. Supporting evidence can be in the form of an Access Request Form (ARF), or a supporting evidence report. This resource provides an example of a supporting evidence report template that reflects the NDIS legislative requirements.
March 2020
Tags: housing
Description:
Transitional services that bridge the gap between hospital and community can be effective in maximising the potential of people with disability and reducing admissions of young people to residential aged care (RAC). The purpose of this environmental scan was to scope current and recent transitional housing and support options suitable for people with disability and complex needs, and identify gaps in the system in order to provide an evidence base potential solutions.
Citation:
Winkler, D., Moore, S., Hilton, G., Bucolo, C., Mitsch, V., and Bishop, G. (2020). Summer Foundation.
March 2020
Tags: housing
Description:
This report provides an update on the growth of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) across Australia and the potential undersupply for SDA. It shares for the first time insights into current market sentiment and typical SDA management arrangements.
Citation:
Social Ventures Australia and Summer Foundation (2020).
February 2020
Tags: disability support, independence, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Linda, Trevor’s Mum, shares how Trevor’s life has changed since he chose to live independently with support in an SDA apartment.
February 2020
Tags: accessible housing, NDIS, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Linda explains clearly the steps involved when looking for SDA.
She highlights the impact on her son, Trevor and herself since
he moved into an SDA apartment.
January 2020
Tags: disability support
Description:
Sharing stories of lived experience of disability presents an opportunity for meaningful occupational engagement, enabling social connectedness and contribution to society. This paper reports on the intersection of experiences between those sharing their story and those listening to the story.
Citation:
D’Cruz, K., Douglas, J., and Serry, T. (2020). British Journal of Occupational Therapy 83(9): 576-584.
December 2019
Tags: hospital discharge, NDIS plan
Description:
An interim NDIS plan aims to facilitate a successful and timely discharge from hospital for NDIS participants. It is a 3–6 month plan that acts as a transition to a more extensive plan to be used post discharge.
December 2019
Tags: accessible housing, NDIS, nursing home, residential aged care (RAC), royal commission, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Lisa has lived in a nursing home for about 6 years. Her main goal was to get of the nursing home. Lisa shares how it feels to be preparing to move into an SDA apartment.
December 2019
Tags: complex support, NDIS, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Sam has moved from a group home into an SDA apartment. Sam would like to share with others things that helped this move. “We don’t know what we could be, but it is a lot more than they expect.”
December 2019
Tags: disability support
Description:
Adults with complex needs often require paid support to enable them to exercise choice and control and participate fully and effectively in society. Given support is so critical for this population, this review aims to further understand the factors that influence the quality of paid disability support for adults with acquired neurological disability and complex needs.
Citation:
Topping, M., Douglas, J., and Winkler, D. (2019). BMJ Open.
November 2019
Tags: accessible housing, complex support, independence, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Shanais describes how life changing it is to be living independently in an accessible apartment in Melbourne.
October 2019
Tags: accessible housing, disability support, independence
Description:
Cheryl and Gary describe their son, Ben’s journey to independence.
October 2019
Tags: health professional, hospital discharge, NDIS, training
Description:
This is a series of 4 webinars which cover the Introduction to the NDIS for health professionals.
September 2019
Tags: access request, NDIS plan, nursing home, residential aged care (RAC)
Description:
If you are working in a residential aged care facility, or a health service, you might be supporting a person with disability to submit this NDIS access request. This resource is designed to help.
September 2019
Tags: nursing home, residential aged care (RAC), royal commission, submission
Description:
Learn why the Aged Care Royal Commission needs to hear the
experiences of younger people who have experience living
in aged care, or who are at risk of going into aged care.
Listen to workshop participants as they tell their stories.
September 2019
Tags: nursing home, residential aged care (RAC), royal commission, submission
Description:
The submission identifies the key policy and systemic changes needed to stop young people being forced into aged care. It covers what needs to change and how it can happen.
August 2019
Tags: accessible housing, allied health, NDIS, NDIS housing resources, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), support coordinator
Description:
On this resource we detail one pathway to mainstream housing. If you have searched for mainstream housing and discovered you can’t access it because of your disability, you can test your eligibility for SDA on the second page.
August 2019
Tags: YPIRAC
Description:
This report utilises available administrative data to describe the characteristics and geographical distribution of young people in permanent residential aged care (RAC) in Australia in 2017-2018.
Citation:
Bishop, G., Zail, J., Bo’sher, L., Winkler, D. (2019). Summer Foundation.
July 2019
Tags: allied health, hospital discharge, NDIS, NDIS housing resources, support coordinator
Description:
The aim of this guide is to assist support coordinators and allied health professionals collaborate on Housing Plans for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants. Housing Plans rely on appropriately framed allied health assessments and reports to support the participant pursue their goals and aspirations.
July 2019
Tags: NDIS participant, NDIS plan, support coordinator
Description:
A support coordinator is someone paid by the NDIS to help you understand and implement your plan. They can help you with a range of of different things as outlined in this resource.
July 2019
Tags: allied health, NDIS, NDIS housing resources, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), support coordinator
Description:
This guide explains what Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) payments are, who they are paid to and how they are accessed. For people who have SDA payments included in their NDIS Plan, it explains how to make the most of this funding.
July 2019
Tags: allied health, NDIS, NDIS housing resources, NDIS plan, support coordinator
Description:
This guide explains how you can access and make the most of NDIS funding to look for housing. It explains the capacity building funding available to NDIS participants who need support to search for suitable housing. It also includes information on choosing your support coordinator and how to make the most of the funding.
Note that this guide replaces ‘Exploring Your Housing Options’.
June 2019
Tags: participant led videos, support worker, training
Description:
These resources can help you make a training video about what your support worker should know about you, how your support worker can support you to do something, or how your support worker should act with you.
Start by watching the ‘How To’ video and reading the Workbook. If you need someone else to help you make your video, there is also a guide.
There are 5 resources to help a person make their training video. Some of these are for the person themselves and some are for other people or organisations.
June 2019
Tags: accessible housing, independence, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Kirby had to move home to live with her parents after her injury. It was always Kirby’s dream to return to independent living. Carol and Kevin share their journey of supporting Kirby through the SDA process.
May 2019
Tags: hospital discharge, NDIS
Description:
After a hospital stay and her husband no longer her carer, Penny was unable to return home. She put in a change of circumstances to the NDIS. Penny now says her supports enable her to live the life she wants to live.
April 2019
Tags: community, disability support, independence, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Kirby finally has her own space again, making her own choices. See how SDA has helped Kirby’s dream to live independently again in her own home.
The Summer Foundation welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the National Disability Insurance Agency’s (NDIA, Agency) consultation into Home and Living and the focus on person-centred supports, flexible funding and an ordinary life in the community. Our submission responds to the key themes in the consultation paper and makes recommendations to uphold human rights, increase participant choice and control, and build capability among people with disability, families and the disability sector.The proposed Home and Living Policy is a significant step towards securing better outcomes for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS, Scheme) participants. A flexible and responsive Home and Living Policy is essential to stop younger people with disability being forced into Residential Aged Care (RAC) and to meet the outcomes outlined in the Younger People in Residential Aged Care ActionPlan.
The Summer Foundation is hopeful that the recommendations in this consultation paper will support the National Disability Insurance Agency’s (NDIA)Home and Living Policy to ensure participants are at the centre of their plans and are supported to live an ordinary life.