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March 2024
Completing a Home and Living Supporting Evidence Form
Tags: NDIS housing resources, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
If an NDIS participant has a new home and living goal, or if they require new or updated Home and Living supports, they need to complete a Home and Living Supports Request Form.
This form should be completed when you have new or changed home and living support needs, such as if you are testing eligibility for SDA, SIL, or ILO. It should be completed after you have compiled all the other evidence needed, and act as a summary piece. If you have a Support Coordinator, they should fill out this form on your behalf. Download this resource from the Housing Hub below.
January 2024
Being a pioneer: a qualitative study of moving into individualised housing from the perspective of adults with neurological disability
Tags: Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
There is limited research to inform best practice in individualised disability housing. To develop effective policy and inform the SDA market, the experiences of people moving into SDA must be understood. This study aimed to understand the experience of moving into SDA for people with acquired complex disability. The findings of this study provide insights into the transition experience of moving into, and living in, newly built SDA. Better outcomes will benefit people with disability, providers, and investors, but also the federal government as it addresses the rising costs of the NDIS.
Citation:
Douglas J., Winkler D., D’Cruz K., Oliver S., Liddicoat S., Naismith J., & Wakim D. (2024) Being a pioneer: a qualitative study of moving into individualised housing from the perspective of adults with neurological disability. Brain Impairment.
November 2023
Specialist Disability Accommodation Supply in Australia – November 2023
Tags: Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Funding to live in specialist disability accommodation (SDA) can be transformative for eligible participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Recent demand projections estimate that by 2042 over 36,000 people with extreme functional impairment and/or very high support needs will require SDA housing.
This report presents an overview of the future SDA supply in Australia. Building on previous Specialist Disability Accommodation – Supply in Australia reports, the Housing Hub conducted a nationwide survey among SDA providers in September 2023. The aim was to gather information on SDA currently being developed, offering clarity for the broader SDA community and the NDIA.
Citation:
Aimers, N., Morgan, A. J., Wellecke, C., Tuohy, L., Mulherin, P., Rothman, R., Rathbone, A., & Winkler, D. (2023). Specialist Disability Accommodation Supply in Australia. Melbourne, Australia: Housing Hub and Summer Foundation.
August 2023
Specialist disability accommodation provider experience survey: August 2023
Tags: housing, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
The 2023 SDA Provider Experience Report includes the results of the Housing Hub’s third annual SDA Provider Experience Survey. In total, 41 providers completed the survey. These providers have a total of 1,452 places for tenants in their 779 New Build SDA dwellings, representing almost one-quarter of all New Build SDA dwellings (21.8%) and places (22.4%) in the market.
The report reveals challenges in the SDA market with many SDA providers facing financial pressure due to high vacancy rates and delayed payments from the NDIA. These findings emphasise the need for continued monitoring and interventions to ensure market stability.
The report contains a detailed analysis of the survey results. It also includes a series of recommendations for the NDIA, to ensure its stewardship of the SDA market maximises positive outcomes for both participants and providers.
You can access a 2-page summary of the report here.
Citation:
Tuohy, L., Wellecke, C., Aimers, N., Winkler, D., Rathbone, A., Robertson, J., & Rothman, R. (2023). Specialist Disability Accommodation provider experience survey: August 2023. Housing Hub and Summer Foundation
July 2023
SDA eligibility criteria
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.
July 2023
About Specialist Disability Accommodation
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.
First published: June 2020
Last updated: July 2023
June 2023
SDA payments guide
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.
First published: September 2018
Last updated: June 2023
Updated for accessibility: March 2024
June 2023
How to write a housing plan
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.
First published: March 2018
Last updated: June 2023
Updated for accessibility: March 2024
June 2023
NDIS housing pathway
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.
First published: August 2019
Last updated: June 2023
June 2023
Using SDA to buy your own property
Tags: allied health, NDIS housing resources, NDIS plan, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), support coordinator
Description:
For people receiving SDA payments, home ownership may also be an option. The NDIS participant, or their family, can buy a property and use their SDA payments to cover the mortgage.This resource outlines the steps and requirements involved in using SDA payments to purchase your own property.
For a more detailed guide, please see the Housing Hub’s Building or buying your own SDA.
First published: December 2017
Last updated: June 2023
February 2023
Reimagining Shared Housing and Living – Workshop Findings and Recommendations
Tags: housing, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
In October to November 2022, the Housing Hub ran a series of workshops designed to gather collective knowledge about SDA-funded group homes from providers and stakeholders. Specifically, these workshops and the broader body of work were focused on housing for people with disability who have a preference to live with other people with disability.
The Reimagining Shared Housing and Living Report provides background to the workshops, and discusses the main findings and recommendations towards a better future for people with disability who choose to live in shared arrangements.
Citation:
Rathbone, A., Dwyer, H., Winkler, D., Mulherin, P. (2023). Reimagining shared housing and living: Workshop findings and recommendations. Housing Hub
October 2022
Specialist Disability Accommodation – Supply in Australia: October 2022
Tags: 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 fifth iteration of a national survey of SDA providers that aims to help inform stakeholders in the market.
Citation:
Wellecke, C., Robertson, J., Mulherin, P., Rathbone, A., Winkler, D., Rothman, R., & Aimers, N. (2022). Specialist Disability Accommodation Supply in Australia. October 2022. Housing Hub and Summer Foundation.
October 2022
Providing an evidence base for Home and Living decisions – A survey of occupational therapists
Tags: disability support, NDIS participant, occupational therapist, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
The Summer Foundation and Occupational Therapy Australia conducted a survey in July 2022 to explore the role of OTs in helping NDIS participants request SDA funding. The aim was to understand the functional assessment and report-writing process from the OT perspective and provide actionable insights to the NDIA.
Key Findings include:
- Clear, concise and rigorous OT reports have the potential to help NDIS participants with the highest levels of needs secure adequate funding for housing and support, including funding for specialist disability accommodation (SDA)
- However, there is currently very limited information about what evidence the NDIA needs from OT reports to make informed, timely and accurate decisions.
Occupational therapists need to know what the NDIA thinks a ‘good’ functional assessment report looks like to help NDIS participants provide evidence for Home and Living decisions.
Citation:
Winkler, D., D’Cruz, K., Minter, E., Mulherin, P. (2022). Providing an evidence base for Home and Living decisions: A survey of occupational therapists writing functional assessment reports for NDIS participants. Summer Foundation.
September 2022
Meet Kirsty – an NDIS participant from South Australia
Tags: housing, NDIS participant, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Kirsty lives in an SDA apartment in Adelaide with her cat schmooka, she is an artist. Kirsty shares her experience with the NDIS.
September 2022
Meet Trevor – an NDIS participant from South Australia
Tags: housing, NDIS participant, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Trevor has just moved into his SDA apartment after a long wait for approval, he shares his NDIS experience.
August 2022
Budgetary impacts of timely specialist disability accommodation payment approvals
Tags: Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
The Summer Foundation presents a discussion paper about the importance of getting eligible NDIS participants into well designed, appropriate SDA in a timely manner.
Research indicates NDIS participants living in well-designed, appropriate SDA have improved health and well-being. Additionally, it has the potential to reduce overall costs to the NDIS, due to a reduction in the need for costly supports.
Currently delays in SDA funding are restricting the continued flow of participants into SDA and led to more than 1,000 NDIS participants stuck in hospital beds. This has presented a significant burden on the health system, especially during the pandemic.
Citation:
Winkler, D., & Rathbone, A. (2022). Budgetary impact of timely specialist disability accommodation payment approvals: Discussion paper. Summer Foundation.
June 2022
Specialist disability accommodation provider experience survey: June 2022
Tags: housing, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
The report includes the results of the Housing Hub’s second annual SDA Provider Experience Survey. In total, 28 providers completed the survey. These providers have a total of 1,281 places for tenants in their 671 SDA dwellings. At the time of the survey, they had committed over $1.5 billion to build SDA, accounting for nearly half of the total value of the SDA market.
The report contains a detailed analysis of the survey results. It also includes a series of recommendations for the NDIA, to ensure its stewardship of the SDA market maximises positive outcomes for both participants and providers.
You can also read a Summary of the report here.
Citation:
Wellecke, C., Robertson, J., Mulherin, P., Winkler, D., & Rathbone, A. (2022). Specialist Disability Accommodation provider experience survey: June 2022. Housing Hub and Summer Foundation.
May 2022
Housing Delayed and Denied: NDIA Decision-Making on specialist disability accommodation funding
Tags: housing, NDIS, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
In the past year, an increasing number of people have received SDA funding decisions that were not aligned with their needs and preferences.
In order to understand and engage with the SDA decision-making and appeals process, the Housing Hub and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) commenced a collaborative project in mid-2021, providing legal help to NDIS participants who are seeking reviews of SDA funding decisions at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). This new report presents our early findings.
Citation:
Skipsey, M., Winkler, D., Cohen, M., Mulherin, P., Rathbone, A., & Efstathiou, M. (2022). Housing delayed and denied: NDIA decision-making on Specialist Disability Accommodation. Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Housing Hub.
May 2022
On-site shared support in Specialist Disability Accommodation – Discussion paper
Tags: disability support, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), Supported Independent Living (SIL)
Description:
In 2021 the Summer Foundation held a series of workshops and interviews with on-site support providers, specialist disability accommodation (SDA) providers, and tenants living in SDA apartments. Preliminary findings from the workshops were published in May 2022, and the main findings were that there is scope for service redesign and innovation to improve the quality and efficiency of support.
We are seeking input from support providers for improving the preliminary report and recommendations. Please contact [email protected] by 30 June 2022.
March 2022
Support in specialist disability accommodation (SDA) Apartments
Tags: housing, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
The NDIA promotes innovation in the provision of housing and supports, and is seeking to “encourage new models of home and living” that replace more institutional arrangements, such as group homes or younger people living in aged care. One such model is the provision of on-site shared support (OSS) for people with disability living in co-located Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).
This report provides findings from co-design workshops and interviews conducted in mid-2021 with NDIS participants living in SDA, and OSS and SDA providers. It shows the effective delivery of OSS in co-located SDA provides NDIS participants with the foundation they need to achieve a range of goals related to housing, support, independence, community, social and economic participation.
The report provides an evidence base for the development of a range of potential solutions and resources to address the challenges identified by tenants and providers.
Citation:
Winkler, D., Finis, C., D’Cruz, K., Mulherin, P., de Costa, M., Rathbone, A., Condi, A., Douglas, J. (2022). Support in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) apartments. Summer Foundation.
December 2021
Housing Seeker Snapshot – 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.
Citation:
Wellecke, C., Aimers, N., Rathbone, A., Winkler, D. (2021). Housing seeker snapshot – December 2021. Housing Hub and Summer Foundation.
November 2021
Specialist Disability Accommodation – Supply in Australia: 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). Specialist Disability Accommodation – Supply in Australia: November 2021. Housing Hub and Summer Foundation.
August 2021
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Investor Think Tank: Findings and Recommendations
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). Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) investor think tank: Findings and recommendations. Summer Foundation.
June 2021
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in Thin Markets
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.
March 2021
Property developer Keith Fagg shares his experience building SDA
Tags: housing, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Description:
Property Developer, Keith Fagg, talks about his motivation for building Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).