Arrival and Registration  

Welcome and Introductions 

​The Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Design Standard is undergoing a national review led by the NDIA and KPMG, with findings expected to reshape how SDA dwellings are assessed, certified, and enrolled from 2026 onwards.

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As a recognised Peak Body, NDISDA was invited by KPMG to consult on this review 

While the current framework has been in place since 2019, the reform process signals a shift toward clearer compliance expectations, stronger certification integrity, and tighter alignment between design intent and participant outcomes.

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The SDA Design Standard already requires dual-stage certification (design and as-built), independent accredited assessors, and strict compliance with four design categories: Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible, High Physical Support, and Robust. However, emerging reform direction indicates stronger expectations around assessor consistency, documented justification of design decisions, and reduced interpretation variability across projects and jurisdictions, including Queensland.

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For SDA Assessors specifically, this is driving increased emphasis on:

• clearer evidence to support category classification decisions

• tighter interpretation of accessibility, manoeuvring, and spatial compliance requirements

• defensible certification reasoning aligned to NDIA audit expectations

• consistency in applying design thresholds across similar dwelling types

• heightened scrutiny of Robust housing features and risk mitigation measures

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This session provides a practical briefing on what is changing now in SDA design governance, how NSW stakeholders  should interpret emerging reform signals, and what adjustments are required in design, assessment, documentation, and delivery processes to reduce approval risk and ensure long-term enrolment success under the evolving 2026 SDA framework.

Fire safety in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is entering a new era in New South Wales. With NSW's staged fire safety reforms now taking effect, mandatory maintenance requirements commencing in February 2026, increasing involvement of Fire and Rescue NSW in performance-based designs, and greater accountability for building owners and practitioners, the focus has shifted from simply installing fire safety systems to demonstrating ongoing compliance and protecting vulnerable residents.

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This timely session will examine how these reforms intersect with the unique challenges of housing people with disability, where evacuation may rely on staff assistance, assistive technologies and carefully planned emergency procedures.

Delegates will explore emerging best practice in evacuation planning, smoke management, emergency lighting, fire compartmentation, safe refuge strategies, maintenance of essential fire safety measures, and the growing role of technology in supporting resident safety.

The presentation will also discuss how NSW's new compliance framework, evolving Australian Standards and anticipated updates to the SDA Design Standard are influencing the way future SDA developments are designed, certified and managed.

Designed for SDA providers, developers, architects, builders, fire engineers, certifiers, occupational therapists and support organisations, this session will provide practical guidance on creating safer, more resilient homes while preparing for the next generation of regulatory and design expectations.

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Key Discussion Areas

• NSW Fire Safety Reforms: What commenced in 2026 and what is coming next

• Fire and Rescue NSW's expanded role in performance-based fire engineering

• Designing future-ready SDA developments that exceed minimum compliance and improve resident safety.

• Evacuation planning for residents with mobility, cognitive and complex support needs

• Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) and emergency preparedness

• Smoke management, emergency lighting and fire compartmentation

• Safe refuge strategies and protecting vulnerable occupants

• Assistive technologies and smart systems that improve emergency response

• Maintaining essential fire safety measures under AS 1851-2012

Q &A  

Break 

The NDIS is entering a new phase of reform, with the Federal Government focused on sustainability, participant outcomes and stronger safeguards across the disability support ecosystem.

For Specialist Disability Accommodation Providers, investors and developers, these changes are reshaping how future demand is assessed, how housing is funded, and how compliance obligations are managed.

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As participant eligibility becomes more closely aligned to functional impairment and individual support needs, SDA demand is expected to become more targeted and increasingly concentrated among participants with complex and enduring disability.

At the same time, providers face growing expectations around governance, tenancy sustainability, participant outcomes and value for money.

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The delayed implementation of Support Needs Assessments and the ongoing rollout of standardised assessment frameworks create a period of transition for the sector. Providers must navigate evolving participant pathways, changing referral patterns, and increasing scrutiny from regulators while maintaining occupancy and long-term asset performance.

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This session examines the practical implications of current NDIS reforms for SDA providers, including participant demand trends, vacancy risk, compliance expectations, governance obligations, and emerging regulatory priorities.

Attendees will gain insights into how to position SDA portfolios and operating models for long-term success in a more accountable, evidence-driven and participant-focused market.

As Queensland's SDA market continues to evolve, investors are increasingly seeking practical strategies to strengthen occupancy outcomes and minimise the financial impact of prolonged vacancies.

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A vacant SDA room generates no income while mortgage repayments, insurance, maintenance and operating costs continue to accrue. In response, some investors and providers are exploring compliant occupancy pathways that may allow underutilised rooms to generate a meaningful proportion of their potential revenue while remaining available for future SDA participant demand.

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This session examines emerging opportunities to improve occupancy resilience through new markets, strategic partnerships and alternative demand pathways. It will explore how accessible student accommodation, healthcare and allied health placements, transitional housing arrangements, community housing partnerships and other approved occupancy models may assist in reducing vacancy exposure and supporting asset performance.

In many Queensland markets, these alternative pathways have the potential to generate between 50% and 80% of the revenue typically associated with a fully occupied SDA room, depending on location, dwelling type and occupancy arrangements.

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Attendees will gain practical insights into:
•    Exploring new markets and demand pathways beyond traditional SDA referrals.
•    Partnership opportunities with universities, healthcare providers, community housing organisations and disability service providers.
•    Alternative utilisation models that may support asset performance while maintaining compliance obligations.
•    Reducing vacancy exposure while preserving housing availability for future SDA participants.
•    Building greater investment resilience in an increasingly competitive SDA market.

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This session is not about replacing SDA participants. Rather, it focuses on practical and compliant vacancy mitigation strategies that may help investors protect returns, improve cash flow stability and create more sustainable occupancy outcomes while waiting for participant placements.

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:

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• 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.

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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.

In 2026, Specialist Disability Accommodation  continues to grow as a critical component of the NDIS, but significant data challenges remain.

While the volume of SDA dwellings has expanded, gaps in data transparency, granularity, and usability are limiting the ability of providers, investors, planners, and policymakers to align housing supply with participant needs.

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This session will explore the biggest SDA data challenges today, including supply versus demand mismatches, vacancy reporting issues, limited localised information, and difficulties capturing participant preferences. It will highlight practical strategies for organisations to access, interpret, and use SDA data more effectively, enabling better planning, development decisions, and outcomes for participants.

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Key Topics include:

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1. Data Transparency and Accessibility

Current SDA reporting mechanisms provide a broad overview but lack detailed, real-time insights at the local level.

Limited granularity makes it difficult to match supply with participant needs, support services, and community preferences.

2. Supply vs Demand Mismatches

Uneven distribution of SDA dwellings across regions has resulted in high vacancy rates in some areas and undersupply in others.

Understanding where housing is needed most is critical for reducing inefficiencies and improving participant access.

3. Participant Preferences and Location Data

Lack of detailed data on participant choice, support networks, and preferred living arrangements leads to misaligned developments.

Incorporating qualitative insights alongside quantitative data can improve occupancy and participant satisfaction.

4. Improving Data Use for Planning and Investment

Combining NDIS data tools with organisational analytics allows providers to make informed, evidence-based decisions.

Effective data strategies support investment risk management, project planning, and compliance with NDIS objectives.

5. Future Directions for SDA Data

Opportunities include improved localised datasets, predictive modelling, and collaborative data sharing between NDIA, providers, and researchers.

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Leveraging these approaches can reduce vacancy risk, optimise housing placement, and ensure participant-centred outcomes.

Attendees will leave this session with a clear understanding of current SDA data challenges in 2026, practical strategies to improve data use within their organisations, and insights into how better data integration can lead to more effective, participant-focused housing outcomes.

Q &A  

Lunch

SILSDA SESSION COMMENCES 

INTRODUCTIONS AND WELCOME 

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, impacting delays on SDA funding and vacancies 

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

Key topics include:

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• 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.

​This session explores the increasing regulatory and safeguarding expectations facing Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers across 2026.

With heightened scrutiny from the NDIS Commission around incident management, restrictive practices, psychosocial safety, and governance accountability, providers must demonstrate stronger operational oversight, evidence-based decision-making, and compliant frontline practices within shared living environments.

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Attendees will gain practical insights into identifying, responding to, escalating, and governing complex incidents while strengthening organisational capability in safeguarding, risk management, and compliance assurance.

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Topics covered include:
• Responding to evolving NDIS Commission expectations for incident management and safeguarding in SIL environments.
• Identifying, documenting, escalating, and investigating incidents effectively in shared living settings.
• Managing restrictive practices, behaviours of concern, psychosocial hazards, and cumulative participant risk.
• Strengthening executive governance, audit readiness, and organisational accountability for incident response and compliance.
• Embedding frontline capability, evidence, and continuous improvement into SIL service delivery.

From 1 July 2026, Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers will face a fundamentally different regulatory environment under the NDIS Commission’s new SIL Practice Standards and mandatory registration framework.

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Driven by the Disability Royal Commission, the NDIS Review, and the NDIS Commission’s Own Motion Inquiry into Supported Accommodation, the reforms place significantly greater emphasis on participant safeguarding, human rights, incident governance, workforce capability, restrictive practice oversight, and evidence-based quality assurance in shared living environments.

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This session provides providers, executives and operational leaders with a practical roadmap for preparing their organisations for the new compliance landscape while strengthening participant outcomes and frontline practice.

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Attendees will gain insight into:
• Understanding the new SIL-specific Practice Standards and mandatory registration obligations commencing 1 July 2026.
• Translating “good support” into operational practice, evidence, governance and audit readiness.
• Strengthening safeguarding, incident management, restrictive practice oversight, and participant protections in shared living settings.
• Embedding participant-centred practice, supported decision-making, and human rights into daily service delivery.
• Preparing leadership teams, operational managers and frontline workers for heightened regulatory scrutiny and accountability.
• Managing psychosocial hazards, workforce capability, cumulative risk, and complex participant support environments.
• Building sustainable governance systems that support continuous improvement, quality assurance and regulatory compliance.

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This session is essential for SIL providers, operational leaders, quality and compliance teams, support coordinators, auditors, and executives navigating the most significant reform to SIL regulation since the commencement of the NDIS.

Restrictive practices in SIL environments rarely begin as formal decisions—they often emerge gradually through everyday routines, staffing pressures, and well-intentioned attempts to manage complexity. Over time, these patterns can unintentionally reduce participant choice, independence and quality of life, even in well-run services.
This session focuses on the practical reality of support delivery and how frontline decisions—often made under pressure—shape how restrictive or enabling a service becomes. It explores how staff behaviours, household routines, communication styles, and team habits can either support autonomy or unintentionally limit it.
Rather than focusing on rules or regulatory interpretation, this session is about recognising how “normal practice” develops, how restrictive patterns embed into daily routines, and what providers can do to shift culture and strengthen person-centred support in real time.
Topics Covered:
•    How restrictive practices emerge gradually through routine SIL operations 
•    The impact of workforce pressure, habits and shift-to-shift variation 
•    Identifying “quiet restriction” in everyday support delivery 
•    How team culture influences participant autonomy 
•    Practical ways to rebuild enabling routines without increasing risk or workload 
•    Strengthening consistency in support without relying on rigid systems 
•    Real examples of shifting from reactive support to proactive engagement

The success of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is not determined by the quality of the building alone—it relies on strong, collaborative partnerships between SDA providers, SIL providers, participants, support coordinators, allied health professionals, and families.

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As the NDIS continues to mature, stakeholders are increasingly recognising that sustainable housing outcomes require more than compliance with regulations and service agreements.

They require shared planning, clear communication, participant-centred decision-making, and a commitment to balancing quality support with operational and financial sustainability.

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This session will explore how effective SIL and SDA partnerships can improve participant outcomes, reduce vacancy risk, strengthen provider sustainability, and create housing environments that support long-term independence and wellbeing.

Q & A and panel 

Networking and depart