Day 1 Agenda 

Registration and Arrival 

9.00am - 9.10am 
Lynn Gabriel - NDISDA Director

This session offers a comprehensive and practical overview of the current NDIS funding landscape for Specialist Disability Accommodation  and Supported Independent Living  providers.
Attendees will gain a clear understanding of funding structures, recent updates, and key compliance requirements.
 
The presentation will also examine common compliance challenges and provide strategic guidance on risk mitigation and operational safeguards.
Designed for providers seeking to enhance financial sustainability and regulatory alignment, this session is essential for navigating the complexities of NDIS service delivery in 2025.

As the NDIS marketplace continues to mature, the interplay between Specialist Disability Accommodation, Transitional Housing 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.​

This session aims to support open and constructive dialogue—acknowledging the commercial realities while upholding the integrity of the NDIS vision.

It invites Providers and stakeholders to explore how we can build a more aligned and ethically grounded system, where participants truly remain at the centre.

Break 

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   

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.

This presentation will explore how Community Housing Providers  can take proactive steps to tackle legacy stock—older properties that may no longer meet contemporary housing needs—by transforming them into valuable solutions for vulnerable populations.

Focusing on strategies for renovation, adaptability, and collaboration, this session will offer practical insights into how legacy housing can be repurposed for use as Specialist Disability Accommodation , transitional housing, and emergency crisis housing.

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The discussion will cover the role of CHPs in addressing the housing shortages faced by vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, youth transitioning from care, survivors of domestic violence, and others requiring stable, safe housing.

The session will highlight how CHPs can repurpose legacy stock to meet the growing demand for short-term, medium-term, and long-term accommodation while ensuring properties comply with current accessibility and support requirements.

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Lunch Break 

Session Overview:
This timely panel will explore the transformation of underutilised Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) homes into sustainable, inclusive housing solutions for those in crisis, transition, or requiring mental health and in-home care support.
With vacancy rates rising in certain SDA segments—placing financial strain on some investors—this session will spotlight the urgent need and opportunity to repurpose these properties to meet the housing demands of vulnerable cohorts, including youth exiting care, people with disability, families escaping domestic violence, and individuals with complex mental health needs.
Panellists will share strategies, innovations, and real-world case studies that showcase how SDA homes can be flexibly designed or adapted to meet evolving community needs while remaining compliant and functional.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Repurposing Vacant SDA Homes: Challenges and Opportunities

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• Why are some SDA homes underutilised, and what systemic or design issues contribute to vacancy?

• How can these homes be effectively repurposed for transitional, crisis, or mental health accommodation without compromisingSDA compliance?​

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2. Designing for Flexibility and Support
•    How can we create adaptable, multi-purpose homes that serve both SDA participants and those in mental health or transitional housing programs?
•    The importance of trauma-informed and disability-accessible design in making residents feel safe, supported, and empowered.
 

3. Collaborating for Safe and Sustainable Housing – Understanding the Landscape of Crisis Accommodation and Mental Health Needs

Join a thought-provoking discussion focused on the intersection of crisis accommodation, mental health, and housing sustainability. This panel will explore the diverse backgrounds and complex needs of individuals accessing emergency and transitional housing. Experts from mental health, housing, and support services will examine how cross-sector collaboration can improve outcomes, ensure safety, and build long-term, sustainable housing solutions for vulnerable populations.

Session outcome 

Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how underutilised SDA properties can be reimagined and activated to tackle some of the nation’s most urgent housing challenges.

This session will focus on partnerships, showcasing scalable models, and providing actionable frameworks that link policy, investment, and community needs into a unified housing response.

​The panel will explore how underutilised SDA homes can be repurposed into flexible, inclusive, and sustainable housing solutions for individuals in crisis (youth, domestic violence victims and families, child protection, mental health, transition and  all crisis accommodation)   

By addressing challenges, presenting design and collaborative solutions, and emphasising long-term planning, this session will strengthen cross-sector partnerships and inspire innovative approaches to improving housing outcomes for vulnerable Australians.

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Q & A and wrap up  

Networking and close