What is SDA ?

SDA stands for Specialist Disability Accomodation. SDA, is an initiative of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), in fulfilling its purpose, according to Hon Stuart Robert MP Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services, to help Australian’s with a significant and permanent disability, improve economic and social outcomes by providing them with funding for reasonable and necessary supports.

Some of the benefits of the the Specialist Disability Accomodation is that it has accessible features to help residents live more independently, it gives them better opportunities to have greater control of their lives by giving them better access to supports in their home, it also gives them more privacy and chance to grow and maintain personal relationships. The funding and design of the SDA not only improves their social and economic outcomes but supports a better lifestyle by promoting a broad-range of quality housing models and configurations (see SDA Design standard).

It is indeed a life-changing initiative, for the estimated 6.1 % or 28,000 of NDIS participants who are eligible for SDA. The funding is given through the participant’s plan. But the SDA option that best suits the specific participant’s need, is selected by the NDIS participant themselves (with the assistance of a support coordinator if necessary). But not to forget that the SDA funding is not for services or support but for the NDIS participant’s housing. The eligibility to receive funding for SDA and mostly everything concerning SDA can be found here.

The pricing limits and payments, and other pricing arrangements for SDA effective July 1, 2022, is summarised under NDIS Pricing Arrangements for Specialist Disability Accommodation. As for the SDA Price calculator for 2022-23, effective on same date can be found in this link. While previous pricing and calculators can be found in the archive.

But to understand the NDIS SDA pricing arrangement better, you also need to check the SDA Rules and SDA Operational Guides.