Arrival and Registration  

Welcome and Introductions 

In 2026, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is navigating a period of significant policy, regulatory, and planning evolution.

The NDIA’s ongoing SDA Design Standard review and discussions on potential SDA Rules reform are creating opportunities to modernise the sector, ensure compliance, and enhance participant outcomes

At the same time, national and state-level trends — influenced by government policy, Royal Commission recommendations, and shifting community expectations — are driving a move toward smaller, flexible, community-integrated housing that promotes independence and social inclusion.

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This expert panel brings together regulatory advisors, SDA providers, investors, and participant representatives to explore the intersection of policy, design, rules, and planning trends, offering a comprehensive view of the future SDA landscape.

Key discussion points include:

• Implications of the Design Standard review for new builds, refurbishments, budgets, and compliance planning.

• Potential SDA Rules reforms and alignment with updated design, funding, and operational frameworks.

• Strategies for providers to transition from traditional group homes to participant-centred, community-integrated housing.

• National and state policy trends shaping SDA and broader disability housing, including opportunities for innovation and scalable models.

• Practical approaches to future-proof SDA projects, ensuring flexibility, participant choice, and alignment with evolving regulatory requirements.

• Integrating SDA planning within community housing pipelines, leveraging partnerships and land-use planning for inclusive housing outcomes.

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Outcome: Delegates will gain a clear understanding of how national SDA policy, the Design Standard review, and Rules reform converge with broader community-based housing trends, providing actionable guidance for strategic planning, compliance, and investment in 2026 and beyond.

In WA, the convergence of community housing and SDA presents a significant opportunity to improve participant outcomes, streamline service delivery, and strengthen market sustainability.

With the NDIS Full Scheme Agreement now in effect, housing providers, SDA operators, and support services must collaborate to bridge gaps between accessible homes, daily supports, and meaningful community participation.

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This session focuses on practical, local implementation, exploring:

• How wrap-around supports — including coordinated support coordination, health and community services, tenancy and life skills supports — can be integrated with SDA and community housing solutions.

• Emerging collaboration models such as mixed-tenure developments, joint ventures, and transitional/medium-term accommodation.

• Coordinated housing + supports approaches to reduce pressure on acute and emergency services, improve tenancy sustainability, and attract broader investment.

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Attendees will leave with actionable frameworks for delivering holistic, participant-focused housing solutions that balance operational viability, compliance, and meaningful outcomes in WA.

Q & A  

Morning tea 

​In 2026, delivering inclusive, accessible, and sustainable homes for people with disability in Western Australia depends on strong partnerships between government, SDA providers, community housing organisations, and support services.

Housing alone is not enough — integrating tenancy management, wrap-around support, and person-centred services is essential to improve outcomes for participants with diverse needs.

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This presentation explores effective collaborative models that are shaping WA’s disability housing and social impact housing landscape. Delegates will gain insight into how cross-sector partnerships are designed, implemented, and measured to deliver meaningful social outcomes alongside housing supply.

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Key focus areas include:

• Strategic Alignment: How government, SDA providers, CHPs, and support agencies coordinate priorities, align with state disability and housing policies, and embed universal design principles.

• Integrated Delivery Models: Examples of joint planning and execution, combining SDA builds, community housing stock, and wrap-around supports to create holistic housing solutions.

• Government Enablement & Risk Sharing: How funding programs, land release initiatives, and planning incentives de-risk investment and encourage innovative housing solutions.

• Service Integration & Participant Outcomes: The role of support services, case management, and lived-experience input in ensuring homes are safe, accessible, and connected to essential supports.

• Sustainability & Future-Proofing: Structuring partnerships to balance financial viability with long-term social impact, including strategies to scale delivery in both metropolitan and regional WA.

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What attendees will gain:

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• Practical insights into building and sustaining partnerships across housing and disability sectors.

• Strategies to integrate support services and housing delivery for diverse participant needs.

• Guidance on navigating policy, compliance, and funding frameworks to future-proof projects.

• Examples of successful collaboration leading to improved housing, social inclusion, and community integration outcomes.

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This session is essential for SDA and community housing providers, government and local authority representatives, investors, support agencies, and anyone engaged in disability-inclusive housing solutions in Western Australia.

This session examines how Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA), Short-Term Accommodation (STA), and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) must work together, underpinned by robust wrap-around supports, to ensure participants can move between housing types safely, sustainably, and with minimal disruption.

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Wrap-around supports-including allied health services, disability supports, clinical oversight, community engagement programs, and psychosocial assistance-are essential to enable participants to maintain independence, develop skills, and prepare for long-term housing placements.

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This session draws on WA-specific policy, current housing trends, and practical provider experiences to show how integrated supports enhance the efficacy of MTA and STA.

Attendees will explore strategies for coordinating services, aligning supports with housing types, and ensuring that transitions between short-term, medium-term, and permanent housing are seamless and participant-centred.

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The session also highlights emerging opportunities for innovation, including cross-sector collaboration, technology-enabled supports, and shared housing models, demonstrating that the success of transitional accommodation in 2026 depends as much on the quality and accessibility of wrap-around supports as on the physical housing itself.

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Key Themes Explored

• The critical role of wrap-around supports in STA, MTA, and SDA pathways

• How integrated supports improve participant outcomes: independence, inclusion, skill-building

• Operational strategies for seamless transitions between short-term, medium-term, and permanent housing

• Aligning supports with funding, tenancy rules, and WA policy priorities

• Emerging models for coordinated, participant-centred transitional accommodation

• Risks of neglecting supports: service gaps, participant stress, and delayed SDA placement

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:

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• 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.

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

Lunch 

From mid-2026, the NDIS will implement a structured, rule-based planning framework affecting SDA supports within participant plans, including funding consistency, appeals, and reassessment pathways.
This session provides an overview of the planning framework and its practical impact.

Delegates will explore:

•    How plan structures and funding consistency affect SDA support allocations.
•    Changes in appeals and reassessment pathways influencing budget certainty and participant access.
•    Adjustments to provider engagement and operational practices to align with new planning timelines.
•    Opportunities to streamline service delivery while maintaining participant-centred outcomes.

Attendees will gain practical strategies to navigate the new planning framework and ensure SDA operations are aligned with mid-2026 reforms.

In 2026, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in Western Australia is experiencing a significant policy-driven shift, aligned with national reforms stemming from the Disability Royal Commission and NDIA planning directions. Traditional large group homes are being phased out in favour of smaller, community-integrated housing models that prioritise participant choice, inclusion, and independence.

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This session explores how these national SDA trends affect WA providers, investors, and participants, offering practical guidance for navigating the evolving landscape.

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Key areas include:

• Phasing Out Large Group Homes: Understanding national SDA funding rules that progressively remove support for dwellings housing six or more residents, and the implications for existing and future developments.

• Community-Based, Participant-Centred Models: Opportunities for smaller, flexible group homes (2–4 residents) designed to enhance social inclusion and align with contemporary disability housing expectations.

• Strategic Planning for WA Providers: How to adapt portfolios, redevelop legacy stock, and plan new builds in line with policy direction while maintaining financial sustainability.

• Participant Choice and Inclusion: Embedding universal design and lived-experience input to ensure housing meets the diverse needs and aspirations of people with disability.

• Operational and Regulatory Considerations: Managing transitional periods, staged compliance, and coordination with support services to maintain high-quality, safe housing.

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Attendees will gain:

A clear understanding of the national policy trajectory affecting group homes in WA.

Practical strategies to future-proof SDA delivery in line with funding, design, and participant-centred priorities.

Insights into aligning investment, operational planning, and service delivery with the evolving SDA landscape in Western Australia.​​

In 2026, Specialist Disability Accommodation providers in Western Australia are navigating a heightened regulatory landscape focused on compliance, safety, and resilient housing.

The latest SDA rules emphasize that dwellings - particularly those classified as High Physical Support and Robust - must not only meet accessibility standards but also be fit-for-purpose under extreme conditions, including heatwaves, power outages, and other environmental or emergency events.

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This presentation explores how providers, investors, and support services can adapt to these changes to ensure participant safety, operational compliance, and long-term viability.

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Key focus areas include:

• Enhanced Safety Standards: Understanding the specific requirements for High Physical Support and Robust SDA, including structural resilience, emergency preparedness, and safety features designed to mitigate risks for participants with complex needs.

• Climate Resilience & Extreme Weather Preparedness: Strategies for designing and retrofitting SDA homes to withstand heat extremes, power disruptions, and other environmental challenges increasingly relevant in Western Australia.

• Operational Compliance & Risk Management: How providers can navigate new inspection regimes, reporting obligations, and compliance audits to protect participants and maintain funding eligibility.

• Integrating Support Services: Aligning housing design with support delivery, ensuring that residents can access essential care and services safely during emergencies or service interruptions.

• Future-Proofing SDA Development: Practical guidance on building flexibility into projects to accommodate evolving standards, participant needs, and sector expectations.

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What attendees will gain:

• Clear understanding of the latest SDA compliance and safety rules in WA.

• Practical strategies for designing, refurbishing, and managing SDA homes to meet regulatory and safety requirements.

• Insights into risk mitigation, emergency planning, and resilience for high-support participants.

• Knowledge of how to integrate operational planning, design innovation, and participant-centred safety into housing projects.

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This session is essential for SDA providers, investors, architects, support coordinators, and regulatory stakeholders aiming to deliver safe, resilient, and compliant homes that support independence and wellbeing for people with complex support needs in Western Australia.

Afternoon Break 

In 2026, delivering Specialist Disability Accommodation in Western Australia is as much about navigating town planning and local government frameworks as it is about meeting participant needs.

Providers face complex zoning restrictions, lengthy approval timelines, and community consultation requirements that can delay projects, increase costs, and limit the availability of accessible, high-quality housing for people with disability.

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This session explores the key planning barriers facing SDA providers and offers practical strategies for overcoming them, ensuring compliance while delivering homes that meet NDIA Design Standards and participant expectations.

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Key focus areas include:

• Zoning and Regulatory Restrictions: Understanding local council requirements, occupancy limits, and special permits for High Physical Support, Robust, and Fully Accessible SDA dwellings.

• Community Engagement: Managing “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) concerns and building neighbourhood support for inclusive housing projects.

• Planning vs. Design Compliance: Reconciling SDA Design Standard requirements with local setback, height, and density regulations.

• Infrastructure & Regional Considerations: Addressing land availability, essential services, and council capacity, particularly in regional WA.

• Collaborative Approaches: Partnering with councils, developers, and community housing providers to streamline approvals, align policy, and reduce delivery risk.

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What attendees will gain:

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• Practical insights into navigating WA town planning processes for SDA developments.

• Strategies to accelerate approvals while maintaining participant-centred design and compliance.

• Lessons from case studies demonstrating successful community engagement and council collaboration.

• Guidance on integrating SDA planning into broader community housing initiatives to enhance efficiency and social impact.

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This session is essential for SDA providers, investors, developers, architects, support coordinators, and regulatory stakeholders who want to understand the planning landscape in WA and ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest standards for participants.

The landscape of Specialist Disability Accommodation  is increasingly shaped by complex legal and advocacy challenges that affect participants, providers, and investors alike.

As NDIS reforms roll out in 2026 - including changes to external appeal rights, administrative processes, and regulatory enforcement - understanding these challenges is critical to maintaining safe, compliant, and sustainable housing outcomes.

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This session will explore:

• Accessing and Appealing SDA Funding Decisions

• Planned changes to external review mechanisms (AAT/ART) may reduce participants’ ability to obtain legally enforceable reconsideration of their funding.

• Implications for SDA participants: limited recourse could delay access to appropriate housing and essential supports.

• Provider impact: potential uncertainty in funding continuity and operational planning.

• Administrative Appeals and Participant Burden

• Many Participants represent themselves in appeals while the NDIA engages external legal counsel, creating inequities.

• Limited advocacy resources mean participants may divert plan funding or time away from frontline supports, affecting quality of life.

• Emotional and practical stress on participants and families highlights the need for improved support pathways.

• NDIA Payment Holds and Administrative Delays

• Transition to new payment systems (e.g., PACE) has caused delays in SDA and SIL-related payments.

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

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Panel and Q & A from the audience 

Networking and depart