I’m Bree, Accessible Homes Australia’s General Manager – Customers and Operations. I help support applicants who might be interested in living in one of our Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) homes progress through their SDA journey, including those considering living at our newest independent villa project ‘Urraween Village’ at Hervey Bay. My team and I also continue to support our tenants once they have moved in with property management, monitoring the Onsite Shared Support service, and with any feedback or issues.
It’s our mission at AHA to provide high-quality, positive outcomes for Australians living in supported accommodation throughout their entire housing journey. Here, I’ve put together some helpful insight on how to start your SDA application process.
Working out your suited SDA type
The first step is to begin looking around at the different options in the community and starting to get an idea about:
- What area you’d like to live in
- Which SDA design category is most suited for you
- Whether you want to live with other people with a disability in a share home, or if living independently is more suited to your needs and your goals
- What sort of supports and the associated care you require in your new home
If you’re unsure or would like information about your options, our team is available to discuss this with you by calling 07 5648 0606 or you can submit an application through our website: https://www.accessiblehomes.au/contact/
Starting the NDIS SDA Eligibility Process
Once you know what type of housing you may be eligible for, your next step is to communicate your want to explore your housing options with the people that support you with your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan. This might be your support coordinator, your informal supports, or your local area coordinator or NDIS planner.
You could bring this up during a plan review or lodge a change of circumstances to let them know you need to update your goals to include one about exploring your housing options. Advising the NDIA that you’d like to do so can result in a plan review or plan update, with additional funding to help you navigate checking your SDA eligibility and finding a home.
Our team can help you and your NDIS support team understand this process. So, please get in touch to discuss your specific journey on the SDA pathway.
The Key Documents
The Timeline
Final advice
Whilst we’ve gone through all the essential information here, each person’s SDA journey is different.
Our team can help you define your tailored plan and provide expert advice on how to approach your application – which can be the difference between receiving your preferred SDA outcome, and an outcome that isn’t right for you.
You can find more information about SDA on our website (make sure to check out our blogs and FAQs!), Facebook, Instagram and YouTube with videos and other resources you can access to learn more.
And as always please get in touch with us directly at team@accessiblehomes.com.au or by giving me a call on 0411 191 548 -because we want to support you through your entire SDA journey!
