Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) referrals in Salisbury, SA

Specially designed housing for participants with very high or complex needs, across the SDA design categories. SDA is the building — funded separately from the SIL support delivered in it.

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is funded housing for a small group of NDIS participants who have an extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. It refers to the physical dwelling itself — specialist bricks-and-mortar that is designed or modified to accommodate a person's disability and to help the assistive technology and supports they rely on work safely and effectively.

A defining feature of SDA is that it funds the building, not the support delivered inside it. Day-to-day assistance — such as Supported Independent Living (SIL) — is funded through a separate budget and is often delivered by a different provider. SDA is best understood as the specialist home; the personal support a participant receives within that home is arranged and funded separately.

SDA comes in four design categories — Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible, Robust, and High Physical Support — and a participant's plan specifies the design category, building type and location they are funded for. SDA can only be delivered by a provider registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and each individual dwelling must be enrolled with the NDIA.

Coordinator FAQs

Is SDA the same as SIL?
No. SDA is the physical dwelling — the specialist bricks-and-mortar housing — while SIL (Supported Independent Living) is the day-to-day support delivered inside it. They are funded through separate budgets and are often provided by different organisations. A participant may have SDA without SIL, or SIL without SDA. Always confirm both…
Does an SDA provider have to be registered?
Yes. SDA can only be delivered by a provider registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and each dwelling must be enrolled with the NDIA in a specific design category, building type and location. This is a legal requirement — unregistered providers cannot claim SDA payments. Before referring, confirm both the provider's…
What are the four SDA design categories?
They are Improved Liveability (for sensory, cognitive or intellectual impairment), Fully Accessible (for significant physical impairment), Robust (resilient design that reduces risk to the resident and others), and High Physical Support (very high needs, with features like ceiling hoists and backup power). A participant's plan specifies…
How does a participant become eligible for SDA?
SDA is for a small group of participants with an extreme functional impairment or very high support needs who meet the NDIS SDA needs and suitability requirements. The NDIA assesses this and, if approved, includes SDA funding in the plan specifying the design category, building type and location. Coordinators cannot place someone into SDA…
Does the participant pay anything toward SDA?
Yes. SDA residents pay a Reasonable Rent Contribution toward their housing, typically drawn from a portion of the Disability Support Pension plus Commonwealth Rent Assistance. This sits alongside the SDA payment the provider claims from the NDIS and is separate from board, day-to-day support costs and other living expenses. Confirm the…
Can I refer for SDA if only SIL is in the plan?
No. SDA funding must be explicitly stated in the plan — you cannot fund a specialist dwelling from a SIL or Core budget. If a participant needs specialist housing but has no SDA funding, the pathway is to gather evidence and seek an SDA assessment through the NDIA, not to refer to an SDA provider. Confirm the SDA line before searching for…
What should I check about a specific dwelling?
Confirm the dwelling is enrolled in the same design category and building type your participant is funded for, that it is in an acceptable location, and that it has a genuine current vacancy. In shared settings, consider housemate compatibility and whether a suitable SIL provider can operate in the home. A mismatch between the funded…
Who arranges the day-to-day support in an SDA home?
A separate SIL or other support provider delivers the day-to-day assistance, while the SDA provider is essentially the landlord for the specialist dwelling. In shared SDA, the same SIL provider often supports all residents. Coordinators usually arrange SDA and SIL in parallel, checking that the chosen support provider can operate in the…
Does Novida arrange the SDA placement for me?
No. Novida is a free directory that helps you find and compare verified SDA providers and vacancies. You contact the provider directly with your referral, and the placement, service agreement and tenancy are arranged between the participant, the provider and you. Novida never sits in the middle of the referral and does not take a fee from…