Agenda
Day 1
Tue 1st July 25 

Registration and Arrival 

Welcome and Introductions 

As the NDIS marketplace continues to mature, the interplay between Specialist Disability Accommodation and Supported Independent Living  has become increasingly complex.

While these supports are designed to operate in the best interest of participants, tensions can arise when provider interests diverge—particularly where financial incentives and regulatory structures intersect.

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This session opens a nuanced discussion around:

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• ​Where SDA and SIL provider goals may not always align with optimal participant outcomes—and how this misalignment can affect tenancy stability, continuity of care, and service collaboration.

• Examples of how regulatory frameworks may be interpreted or applied in ways that benefit one party over another—such as SDA providers making decisions that don’t fully consider support needs, or SIL providers shaping rosters or placements around funding efficiencies rather than participant goals.

• The quiet risk of “soft coercion” in choice and control—whether from providers, support networks, or substitute decision-makers—where influence may unintentionally (or strategically) steer choices that do not reflect the participant’s best interest.

• Growing concerns around frequent participant moves, where "choice and control" may be used as a tool to pressure providers into meeting unreasonable demands, or where guardians may intervene in ways that destabilise care and housing arrangements.

• What good practice looks like when housing and support providers maintain healthy independence while working in partnership to deliver consistent, participant-driven outcomes.

• The role of genuine collaboration in reducing risk, strengthening trust, and building enduring relationships—leading to more stable outcomes and shared success across participants, providers, and investors.

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From October 3, 2024, the NDIS landscape in Victoria has shifted significantly, particularly in how Short-Term Accommodation (STA) and Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA) are accessed and funded.

These reforms are part of a broader initiative to make the scheme more sustainable and accountable, but they come with major implications for participants, carers, providers, and support coordinators.

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This session will unpack the tighter eligibility criteria for STA -now limited to respite for informal carers and no longer available to participants in Supported Independent Living or living alone.

It will also cover the NDIA’s increased scrutiny on STA claims, clearer definitions of what constitutes an NDIS support, and the introduction of a replacement rule for non-NDIS items under specific circumstances.

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For MTA, the presentation will explore the revised role of this support as a transitional housing solution—strictly time-limited and intended only while a participant awaits long-term housing aligned with their support needs.

Attendees will gain clarity on:

• What the new guidelines mean in practice

• How to navigate plan funding under the updated rules

• What participants, providers, and support coordinators need to do during the one-year transition window

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This timely session is essential for stakeholders seeking to ensure compliance, support participant rights, and deliver effective housing solutions under the new regulatory framework.

Break 

This session explores the evolving landscape of SDA lending, with a focus on innovative finance options tailored for NDIS participants, their families, and guardians.

Paul Grant of Axis Lending  will unpack how lenders are beginning to support owner-occupier SDA purchases and family-led housing models, providing greater autonomy, stability, and long-term investment in participant-directed housing.

Learn about the opportunities, challenges, and real-world examples of how these lending models are shaping the future of inclusive and participant-driven accommodation.

As the 2025–26 NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL) come into effect, developers, investors, and builders in the Specialist Disability Accommodation  and Supported Independent Living (SIL) sector must confront a new landscape of uncertainty and risk.

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With increasing reports of service provider withdrawal, growing vacancies, and a pricing model that many argue fails to keep pace with construction costs, regulatory burdens, and market fluctuations—there are rising concerns about the long-term sustainability of SDA developments.

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This session unpacks what the latest price changes mean for investment returns, tenancy stability, and development pipeline planning.

From changing participant demand patterns and plan approvals to the NDIA's opaque roadmap for pricing reform, panelists will explore:

• The real-time impact of provider closures and service instability on SDA tenancy and housing security

• How pricing uncertainty affects developer feasibility, financing confidence, and ROI

• The role of planners, support coordinators, and housing access teams in tenancy matching and SDA occupancy

• Strategies for future-proofing SDA builds amidst rising build costs and compliance demands

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• Navigating risk: legal, regulatory, and commercial considerations for SDA stakeholders

• Opportunities for collaborative models between developers, providers, and investors to sustain viability

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This panel is essential for those at the intersection of capital, construction, and care—offering a candid discussion on how to navigate the storm while centering participants and preserving the promise of SDA as a social and financial impact investment.

Valuations often consider the future income potential of SDA homes rather than solely focusing on current occupancy.

Given the rising demand for disability housing and government commitments to improving access, periods of vacancy are typically viewed as temporary, especially in areas with strong long-term demand.

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This presentation will discuss reduced valuation during vacancy and mitigating vacancy impact   

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Vacancies in SIL and SDA homes can significantly impact service sustainability and participant outcomes.
This presentation will provide  practical strategies to secure the right participants quickly, while keeping occupancy stable.

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Lunch 

This session revisits the foundational principles presented in the earlier “Compliance vs. Best Practice” design discussion, offering a brief recap to set the stage for deeper exploration.

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We will assess which features have now become standard practice in Specialist Disability Accommodation design, and identify those that still remain outside the mainstream. Beyond this, we will spotlight emerging design elements under consideration—such as bariatric needs, thoughtful SIL/OOA integration, and sustainability initiatives—that are essential for future-ready SDA developments.

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While many of these innovations come with increased capital costs and may not yield immediate financial returns on paper, their strategic value is significant. These features enhance appeal to participants, their families, and SIL providers—leading to reduced vacancies, stronger reputations, and greater long-term stability and return on investment for SDA providers.

This session will examine the potential of co-living models as an alternative or complementary approach to Specialist Disability Accommodation.

Drawing on practical case studies and operational experience, we will explore how co-living arrangements might address current gaps in the NDIS housing landscape—particularly for participants who may not meet SDA eligibility criteria but still require appropriate, supported living environments.

Key Discussion Points:

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• Defining co-living and its relevance in today’s housing ecosystem

• Understanding tenant profiles and demand trends

• The role of tenancy managers in supporting co-living models

• Comparing key design elements: SDA homes vs. rooming and co-living houses

• Navigating regulatory differences: Building Classes 1b vs. Class 3

• Strategies for achieving compliance under both NDIS and rooming house frameworks

• Retrofitting existing properties vs. constructing new – considerations and trade-offs

• Designing for durability, functionality, and the lived experience of occupants

• Open Q&A: Can co-living be integrated into the NDIS framework, and what would transition look like?

• Considerations for stakeholders: operational, regulatory, and investment alignment

This session welcomes providers, investors, designers, support coordinators, who are keen to explore innovative housing models that bridge care, compliance, and community needs.

Active participation is encouraged throughout the session.

Recent legislative changes under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Act 2024, effective from October 3, 2024, are reshaping how NDIS supports—including co-living and Specialist Disability Accommodation —are defined and funded.

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This session will explore the legal impact of these reforms on shared living arrangements in Victoria. Key areas include the stricter definition of what constitutes an NDIS-funded support, the new "replacement support" rule, and tighter guidelines on how funding can be used within co-living models.

The presentation will also address the legal responsibilities of providers and the implications for participants seeking flexibility in their living arrangements. A one-year transition period offers some flexibility, but providers and support coordinators must act now to ensure compliance with the revised framework.

Break 

Session Overview:
For individuals living with complex mental health challenges, psychosocial disabilities, or facing crisis transitions, housing is not just shelter—it’s a foundation for healing, safety, and stability.

This extended panel brings together sector leaders to explore how Specialist Disability Accommodation  and other support models can be designed and repurposed to meet the diverse and growing needs of these groups.

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From purpose-built Robust SDA for behavioural support to activating underutilised homes for transitional and crisis housing, the session explores how the disability, housing, and mental health sectors can work together to bridge urgent service gaps.

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Key Themes and Discussion Points:

• Purpose-Built SDA for Psychosocial Support: What makes an SDA home truly suitable for people with complex and enduring mental health challenges?

• Robust Design and Safety: How design, environment, and staffing intersect to support behavioural regulation and reduce harm.

• Activating Underutilised SDA: Strategic frameworks to repurpose vacant SDA for broader use—such as mental health step-down accommodation, youth crisis housing, and transitional recovery spaces.

• Collaborative Housing Models: Real-world examples of partnerships between SDA providers, mental health services, domestic and family violence organisations, and community housing.

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Format:
A moderated panel discussion featuring lived experience perspectives, service provider case studies, and cross-sector insights—followed by audience Q&A to encourage practical dialogue and shared learning.

Audience Q & A with panel and close  

Dinner  (sit down 3 course dinner )  - please book this dinner in order to attend