Arrival and Registration  

Welcome and Introductions 

The Federal Government’s latest NDIS reform agenda, outlined by Minister Mark Butler, signals a decisive shift toward sustainability, tighter access, and stronger cost controls—fundamentally reshaping the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) landscape.

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With participant growth now being actively moderated and funding for certain supports being reset closer to 2023 levels, future SDA demand is expected to become more targeted.

Access will increasingly prioritise participants with significant and enduring functional impairment, narrowing the prospective tenant pool while increasing complexity of need.

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At the same time, the delay of Support Needs Assessments to April 2027, alongside the rollout of standardised functional assessments, introduces a transitional period of uncertainty. Providers may experience slower approvals, shifting eligibility thresholds, and reduced visibility over pipeline demand.

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Further, the Government’s focus on curbing “runaway spend”—particularly across high-cost supports such as Supported Independent Living and community participation-signals tighter funding alignment across the ecosystem.

These changes are likely to have flow-on effects for SDA tenancy sustainability, participant affordability, and co-resident matching.

For providers, developers, and investors, this reform phase points to a more controlled, compliance-driven market.

Expanded regulatory oversight, strengthened registration requirements, and increased scrutiny on value-for-money will require sharper operational discipline and more robust evidence of outcomes.

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This session will unpack what these reforms mean for SDA demand, design strategy, investment risk, and long-term market stability -equipping stakeholders to reposition in a more selective, regulated, and performance-focused NDIS environment.

From 2026, Victoria’s Specialist Disability Accommodation  sector enters a period of heightened regulatory scrutiny and legal reform.

This session provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving compliance landscape, including tighter SDA enrolment requirements, the increasing use of specialised SDA residency agreements, and strengthened resident protections under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic).

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The presentation will unpack how these reforms reshape provider obligations, risk exposure, and governance responsibilities—particularly for SDA providers operating at the intersection of housing law, disability regulation, and tenancy rights. Attendees will gain clarity on what “compliance-ready” looks like in 2026 and how to proactively respond to regulatory change rather than react to enforcement.

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Key Themes Covered

• SDA enrolment and registration tightening: what’s changing and why

• SDA residency agreements vs standard tenancy arrangements

• Managing legal risk under the Residential Tenancies Act

• Governance, documentation, and audit preparedness

• What regulators will expect of “fit-for-purpose” providers in 2026

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Morning tea 

Australia’s Specialist Disability Accommodation  sector is entering a critical transition period, with the national Design Standard review underway following extensive consultation led by KPMG.

NDISDA, as a recognised Peak Body, contributed to this process, ensuring sector perspectives informed the review.

While final changes are yet to be released, clear direction is emerging across the industry toward more consistent interpretation, stronger participant outcomes, and more functional, future-ready housing design.

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This session explores what stakeholders can expect during this period of uncertainty and how architects, assessors, developers, and providers can prepare now. 

It will examine the shift from minimum compliance toward performance-based, participant-centred design, with increasing emphasis on adaptability, assistive technology integration, spatial functionality, and long-term liveability across all SDA categories.

Bringing together architectural and assessment perspectives, the discussion will highlight current challenges in interpretation and certification, including variability in how standards are applied and the resulting impact on design certainty, approvals, and project delivery.

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It will also address a critical and often underweighted factor in SDA outcomes -the role of location, infrastructure, and community access in shaping participant suitability and long-term housing success.

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The session concludes with a panel discussion focused on practical strategies to navigate regulatory transition, reduce compliance risk, and future-proof SDA portfolios ahead of the next generation of design expectations in Australia.
 

In 2026, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) development in Victoria is being shaped not only by national funding and compliance requirements but also by local planning system reforms designed to improve housing delivery efficiency.

A key planning mechanism impacting SDA is Clause 52.22 – Community Care Accommodation of the Victorian Planning Provisions (VPP), which has been amended to provide planning exemptions that can significantly streamline SDA project approval pathways.

This session will provide an in‑depth exploration of how Victoria’s town planning framework interacts with SDA developments, what has changed in recent years, and how providers, investors, planners, and support professionals can navigate, leverage, and plan around these changes to improve development outcomes.

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Key topics include:

Clause 52.22 – Community Care Accommodation Exemptions

A central feature of Victoria’s planning reforms is the planning permit exemption for Community Care Accommodation, which includes SDA projects by registered NDIS providers that meet specified criteria.

When applicable, this exemption can:

• Remove the requirement for standard planning permits for SDA uses and, in some cases, buildings and works;

• Minimise advertising and third‑party review rights, reducing delays associated with objections or appeals;

• Enable a faster pathway to development commencement, shortening typical planning timelines from months to potentially weeks.

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The session will outline the essential compliance requirements for Clause 52.22 exemptions - such as SDA provider registration and design certification processes - and how these interact with local planning interpretations and overlays that may still trigger permits.

Specialist Disability Accommodation properties differ from traditional residential real estate, with unique accessibility features, support requirements, and funding models that complicate conventional valuation. These challenges affect investor confidence, financing options, and sector growth, potentially slowing the development of high-quality housing for participants.

This session will explore:

• Why SDA properties resist standard valuation models.

• Impacts on financing, supply, and investor behaviour.

• Practical strategies to align valuations with long-term housing outcomes, including emerging frameworks, data sharing, and lender education.

Delegates will gain a clear understanding of SDA valuation risks, insights into market implications, and strategic considerations for providers, investors, and policy planning in 2026.

Q & A and Panel on the above sessions 

Lunch 

In 2026, Specialist Disability Accommodation  providers face a dynamic funding landscape shaped by the NDIA’s ongoing pricing reforms and CPI-indexed adjustments.

Understanding these changes is critical for aligning operational plans, optimising investment decisions, and maintaining participant-focused housing outcomes.

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This session provides a comprehensive overview of SDA pricing and funding trends, covering both immediate 2025–26 benchmarks and longer-term adjustments anticipated through 2026. Delegates will gain clarity on how pricing reforms affect provider revenue models, investment planning, and participant plan structures, particularly in high-cost or low-demand regions.

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Key areas include:

• ​​Benchmark Price Adjustments: Exploring the impact of revised pricing frameworks on provider revenue, SIL costs, and financial sustainability.

• CPI-Indexed Changes: Understanding the July 2026 CPI-indexed adjustments, and their implications for budget planning, cashflow management, and long-term project forecasting.

• Participant Funding Considerations: Navigating plan structures, cost allocations, and funding alignment to ensure participant-centred housing outcomes.

• Investment and Risk Strategies: Integrating pricing reforms into strategic planning, assessing financial risk, and optimising funding utilisation for both existing and new SDA dwellings.

• Future-Proofing SDA Projects: Planning for long-term compliance, participant choice, and sustainability in a changing regulatory and funding environment.

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Attendees will leave with a practical, actionable understanding of the SDA funding landscape in 2026, including strategies to adapt to CPI adjustments, optimise investment, and deliver sustainable, participant-focused housing solutions.

Australia’s disability housing system is facing a growing structural imbalance—not just between supply and demand, but between who housing is built for and who actually needs it.

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While investment in Specialist Disability Accommodation  has accelerated, vacancy rates continue to rise in many regions.

At the same time, demand for Supported Independent Living  is surging-driven by a much larger cohort of participants who require daily supports but do not meet the threshold for SDA funding.

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Data from the National Disability Insurance Agency shows that SIL participants significantly outnumber those eligible for SDA, highlighting the emergence of a “missing middle”—people who need appropriate, supported housing but are often left navigating an undersupplied and fragmented market.

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This session explores why this disconnect exists, including funding silos, planning delays, and the separation between housing and support delivery.

It will also examine the growing need for more flexible investment models, including adaptable housing, head-leasing, and partnerships with community housing providers that better align with SIL demand.

The Specialist Disability Accommodation  sector continues to grow, but provider viability remains a critical concern. The collapse or exit of a provider can disrupt participants’ housing and support, create operational pressure for other providers, and challenge investor confidence.

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This presentation provides a focused overview of the risks, impacts, and practical strategies for maintaining stability and protecting participants. Attendees will gain insights into:

• Participant Impact: Ensuring housing security and continuity of supports during provider transitions.

• Provider & Market Implications: Managing operational pressures, vacancies, and service quality.

• Investor Considerations: Mitigating financial risk and maintaining confidence in SDA investments.

• Funding & Policy Challenges: Navigating NDIS payment timing and compliance requirements.

• Strategies for Resilience: Strengthening governance, risk management, and cross-sector collaboration.

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By the end of this session, delegates will leave with practical strategies to safeguard participants, support providers, and enhance sector resilience in 2026

Afternoon break 

The Specialist Disability Accommodation landscape in 2026 is evolving under complex legal, regulatory, and advocacy pressures. Changes to external appeal rights, administrative processes, and NDIA oversight are creating new challenges — and opportunities — for participants, providers, and investors alike.

This session explores how these reforms affect access to funding, participant outcomes, and operational continuity

Key topics include:

• Appealing SDA Funding Decisions: Understanding the implications of changes to AAT/ART processes for participants and providers.

• Administrative Burdens: Addressing inequities in appeal representation, limited advocacy resources, and the impact on participants’ daily lives.

• Payment Delays: Managing operational and financial risks from NDIA system transitions, including SDA and SIL-related payments.

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Delegates will leave with practical strategies to navigate legal, operational, and advocacy challenges, maintain compliance, and safeguard participant housing and support outcomes.

Consequences for providers include cashflow pressures, risk to service continuity, and increased administrative burden.

Securing a suitable home under the NDIS is only one part of the journey for participants with complex needs.

The long-term success of an SDA placement depends on the quality, coordination, and sustainability of wrap-around supports -a coordinated network of services that surrounds the participant, addressing their health, behavioural, daily living, and community needs.

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Wrap-around supports are essential for:

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• ​Preventing crisis and hospital readmissions: Participants with complex needs are vulnerable to health deterioration, behavioural escalation, or social isolation. When wrap-around supports are coordinated effectively, health issues can be monitored early, behavioural supports can prevent crises, and care teams can respond quickly to changes. This is especially critical during hospital-to-community transitions.

• Improving quality of life and independence: Beyond meeting basic care needs, wrap-around supports help participants build daily living skills, participate in work or community activities, maintain social relationships, and achieve personal goals. This approach moves beyond “supporting needs” to enabling a full, meaningful life in the community.​

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This presentation explores best practice approaches to designing and implementing wrap-around supports when identifying and transitioning into an SDA home.

It will examine how housing providers, support providers, allied health professionals, hospitals, and coordinators can collaborate to ensure the right support ecosystem is in place before and after a participant moves into SDA.​

Q &  A  

Networking and depart