There are many NDIS housing options available for Australians with disabilities to help them live independent and comfortable lives. These disability accommodations are funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and among these is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). SDA caters to those with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.
The process for getting Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding can seem confusing but we’ve outlined and simplified the steps below.
Step 1 – Include Housing Goal in Your NDIS Plan
Do you have housing goals written in your NDIS plan? For you to be assessed for SDA funding, you must have a housing goal written into your NDIS plan. If not, you will have to request a plan review to have this added.
Your housing goal in your NDIS plan should tell the NDIS:
- Where you want to move to
- How many people you are comfortable living with
- Who you want to live with
- The different ways you want to be supported in your new home
Step 2 – Get Evidence Ready
NDIS funding is evidence-based. This means that in order for the NDIS to grant funding for a support, you must show proof that SDA is indeed right for you. Among the documents you need to prepare include:
- A housing goal in your NDIS plan
- Participant Housing Statement
- A functional capacity assessment by an appropriate allied health professional
- Additional assessment reports to support the application if needed
- Home and living supporting evidence form
Step 3 – The NDIS Decides
You can submit the above paperwork to the NDIS at any time. A panel will decide if you are really eligible for SDA.
If you are eligible, the following will be specified by the NDIS in your plan:
- Building type – apartments, duplexes, villas, townhouses, houses, or group homes
- SDA design category – improved liveability, fully accessible, robust, or high physical support
- Number of bedrooms
- Number of residents – if you will live alone or how many NDIS participants will with you
- Location
- Total SDA fund you will get per year
The NDIS decision is not final. It is a “reviewable decision”. If you think that what has been decided isn’t right for you, you may request for a review.
Step 4 – Choose an SDA Provider for Your Home
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Once approved, you can choose start looking for specialist disability accommodation providers that can offer a home that matches the details of the SDA funding (building type
SDA design category, number of SDA residents you are living with, number of bedrooms, and location).
You can choose a property that costs less than the amount the NDIS has allocated for funding. Just make sure the home you apply for is going to meet your needs. Also make sure that you thoroughly understand the tenancy agreement before you sign it.

Instant Support: Providing the Right NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation for You
We understand that finding the right specialised disability accommodation should be a big deal. But that doesn’t mean it should be stressful and tedious! With Instant Support, the support provider for specialist disability accommodation in Melbourne, we make sure that we give you an accommodation where you’ll feel at home right away!
Live life to the fullest with our other quality NDIS support services – group activities, household tasks, daily tasks in shared living, therapeutic supports, personal activities, life-stage transitions, participate in the community, development of life skills, translation and interpretation, travel and transport services, and innovative community participation.
Get in touch with us today!