Agenda
Day 1
Wed 27th August 25 

Registration and Arrival 

Welcome and Introductions 

Dr John Chesterman, Queensland’s Public Advocate, will deliver a keynote address exploring The Next Chapter framework and its practical and policy implications for the disability housing and support sector.

Drawing on his leadership and long-standing advocacy in areas including cognitive disability, supported decision-making, and restrictive practices, Dr Chesterman will provide a powerful lens on how this reform agenda aligns with the findings of the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review.

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His  presentation will examine how the framework reinforces the rights and protections of people with disability, and what this means for SDA and SIL providers amid a landscape of increasing scrutiny and reform.

Key themes will include the sector’s transition away from outdated, congregate models toward smaller, community-based and person-led settings; the imperative for cross-sector collaboration across housing, health, justice, and child protection systems; and the central role of lived experience, co-design, and trauma-informed care in driving future outcomes.

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This session is an essential briefing for any provider, policy leader, or advocate committed to ensuring quality, rights-based disability housing and support into the future.

As SDA participant numbers approach 30,000 by the end of 2025, the sector faces increasing complexity.

While market growth continues, it is uneven-characterised by oversupply in some locations, critical under-supply in areas like Robust SDA, and rising pressure on providers to deliver participant-centred, regulation-compliant, and socially responsible housing.

This session, led by a keynote-style speaker presentation followed by a targeted panel and Q&A, will explore the realities behind vacancy rates, financial risk, ethical investment, and unmet participant needs, with a particular lens on social impact.

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Part 1 – Keynote Presentation 
Presenter: Michael Fuller, Fuller Insights 

Michael will draw from real-world experience and market data to unpack the challenges and risks currently shaping SDA, with a clear-eyed view of:
 
•    Vacancy & Risk: The fallacy of “guaranteed returns” and the oversupply trap
•    Due Diligence & Data: The need for localised data to guide development
•    Financial Modelling: Investment realities vs theoretical returns
•    Design & Participant Voice: The consequences of misalignment with actual support needs
•    Construction & Lease-Up Risk: Delays, enrolment gaps, and cashflow strain
•    Participant Sourcing: Why it's a core competency of SDA providers
•    Operational Realities – Vacancy and risk management, Participant qualification and funding pathways, SDA claiming processes,

      arrears handling, and the essential role of Participant Sourcing in maintaining sustainable operations.•    
•    Social Impact: Reframing SDA not just as property, but as purpose-driven infrastructure

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Part 2 – Expert Panel Discussion

Key Panel Themes:

•    Strategic use of pipeline and participant data
•    Increasing access to Robust SDA
•    Balancing ethics, compliance, and commercial reality
•    Integrated housing pathways with health, justice, and mental health systems
•    Bridging the policy-to-practice gap

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Part 3 – Audience Q&A (10 mins)
A n open floor for attendees to engage with the panel on:

• Market integrity and misleading claims

• Challenges in tenancy matching

• Opportunities for co-designed, place-based solutions

• Regulatory pain points and reforms on the horizon

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Break 

The demand for Robust SDA continues to rise, particularly for individuals with complex behavioural and psychosocial needs, yet delivery remains slow and fragmented. This presentation explores the critical shortfall in Robust SDA supply and the key barriers impeding development — from restrictive design interpretations and funding gaps to planning issues and poor alignment between housing and support services.

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Drawing on real-world examples, the session highlights the risks of inaction, including extended hospital stays, justice involvement, and failed placements. It also offers practical, solutions-focused strategies such as co-design, policy reform, and improved cross-sector collaboration to ensure Robust SDA meets the needs of those it’s intended to support.

Since the pandemic, participant expectations and functional housing needs have significantly evolved. High Physical Support (HPS) dwellings now frequently include additional ensuites, private breakout areas, and second living spaces—not because they improve yield on paper, but because they drive occupancy and service stability in real terms.

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This session will explore how SDA success is no longer just about NDIS design compliance—it’s about designing homes that work for everyone involved. For SIL providers, the layout, location, and liveability of a property directly impact the quality of care they can provide.

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For architects and developers, that means going beyond participant-centric design and embedding service-aware and operationally aligned thinking from the outset.

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Together, we’ll unpack:
•    How changing SDA design trends are improving tenancy success—but only when aligned with SIL delivery models
•    The operational reality of SIL teams: why poorly considered layouts, inadequate OOA space, and inefficient workflows lead to staff fatigue and participant disruption
•    Practical design inclusions that support service delivery—such as smart separation of personal and shared zones, visibility lines, and spaces for staff downtime and admin
•    The importance of relationship-based design: how architects and developers can co-design with SIL providers to ensure homes are fit for long-term use
•    Planning with scale in mind: how the density and location of SDA developments can affect rostering, staff deployment, and the feasibility of supporting multiple homes

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This is a call to reframe SDA design as a shared responsibility—where functional, well-thought-out spaces empower care teams, promote resident stability, and deliver lasting value for all stakeholders. 
 

In the SDA market, prolonged vacancies are not just a financial burden—they reflect a disconnect between what’s being built and what participants actually need. This presentation explores how investors and providers can reduce vacancy risk by embedding participant choice, demand data, and co-design into their investment decisions from the outset.

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Attendees will gain insights into:

• Why homes remain empty: mismatched supply, location issues, and poor design fit

• How to access and use demand data to inform investment and site selection

• Understanding how participant choice, planning timelines, and support networks influence tenancy outcomes

• The financial benefits of building homes that Participants choose, not just homes that meet minimum standards

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This session highlights how a human-centered investment approach not only reduces risk- but creates more meaningful, sustainable SDA housing outcomes.

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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Lunch 

Successful SDA is not just about bricks and mortar—it’s about people living well together. Tenancy matching is a critical factor in ensuring safe, sustainable, and harmonious living arrangements for participants with diverse needs and preferences. Yet, poor matching continues to lead to failed tenancies, participant distress, and costly vacancies.

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This presentation explores best practices, ethical considerations, and innovative models for effective tenancy matching in SDA settings.

It will cover:

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• Why tenancy matching matters: lived experience, risk management, and wellbeing

• Practical frameworks for matching based on support needs, communication styles, lifestyle preferences, and compatibility

• The role of Support Coordinators, SDA providers, families, and participants in co-designing living arrangements

• Lessons learned from failed matches—and how they could have been prevented

• Balancing participant choice and control with duty of care and operational constraints

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Through real-world examples and emerging approaches, this session will highlight how thoughtful tenancy matching supports quality of life, long-term occupancy, and stronger outcomes for everyone involved.

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.

With the rollout of key reforms to Short-Term (STA) and Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA) under the NDIS, 2025 marks a critical shift in how transitional housing supports are delivered across Queensland.

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This session will explore how recent national legislative and funding changes are reshaping the STA and MTA landscape—from stricter claim protocols and clearer eligibility definitions to new funding cycles and an emphasis on local service integration. These reforms aim to increase accountability and participant outcomes, but also present significant administrative and operational challenges for providers.

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Attendees will gain insight into the implications of these changes for Queensland-based organisations and participants, including:

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• The narrowing scope of STA usage and bundled services

• The increasing importance of specifying STA/MTA in participant plans

• The opportunities for using STA and MTA to reduce SDA vacancies and hospital discharge delays

As Queensland providers adjust to a more regulated and outcomes-focused system, this session will offer strategic guidance on how to remain compliant, optimise participant support, and ensure continuity of care during accommodation transitions.

Break 

This pivotal panel explores how underutilised Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) properties can be transformed into high-impact, flexible housing solutions that respond to a growing range of unmet needs - including Short Term (STA), Medium Term (MTA), Crisis, Mental Health, and other forms of Impact Housing.

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With rising vacancy rates in certain SDA segments and an escalating demand for diverse housing options, this session presents a timely opportunity: How can SDA stock be repurposed, reimagined, and activated as part of a national solution to urgent housing challenges?

Through thoughtful redesign, service collaboration, and cross-sector coordination, these homes can support:

• Individuals exiting hospitals or state care

• People with psychosocial disabilities

• Survivors of domestic and family violence

• Young people at risk of homelessness

• First Nations communities seeking culturally safe accommodation

• Those requiring transitional support before moving into permanent housing

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This panel will explore real-world models that demonstrate how SDA infrastructure can intersect with broader Impact Housing strategies—meeting people where they are in their journey, with safety, dignity, and continuity of care.

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Key Themes and Discussion Points

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• Repurposing Vacant SDA Homes: Strategic pathways to redesigning existing stock without compromising compliance

• Designing with Flexibility, Safety, and Dignity: How layout, security, and functionality impact care, recovery, and independence

• Cross-Sector Collaboration in Action: Bridging SDA with MTA, STA, hospital discharge accommodation, family violence housing, and youth-focused supports

• Community & Cultural Relevance: Creating spaces that reflect the needs of Indigenous and diverse communities

• Enabling Sustainable Partnerships: How providers, government, and community services can co-deliver inclusive housing outcomes

• Funding & Policy Alignment: How to integrate NDIS, state health, and housing responses for scalable change

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Session Outcomes

Attendees will leave with:

• A strategic understanding of how SDA homes can be integrated into the wider Impact Housing ecosystem

• Practical frameworks for multi-agency collaboration that enhance service delivery and tenancy outcomes

• Insights into design, policy, and operational approaches that reduce vacancies, optimise existing assets, and expand meaningful housing pathways

• Inspiration to think beyond rigid categories—embracing housing as a platform for stability, recovery, and inclusion

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This session positions Impact Housing—including SDA, crisis, transitional, hospital discharge, youth, and Indigenous housing—as a vital framework for meeting the complex needs of Australians experiencing instability. It calls for shared responsibility, intentional collaboration, and innovative thinking to ensure no home is underused, and no person is left without support.

Networking and depart