SDA High Physical Support explained
What the High Physical Support SDA design category includes, who it is for, and the built-in features like ceiling hoists, wider doorways and backup power
Who is High Physical Support for?
What features does a High Physical Support home include?
How is it different from Fully Accessible?
How do you get High Physical Support funded?
What High Physical Support pays for — and what it doesn't
What to check before you choose a High Physical Support dwelling
How building type and shared living shape a High Physical Support home
Frequently asked questions
What is SDA High Physical Support?
It is the SDA design category for people who need significant physical assistance and a home engineered around assistive technology — with structural provision for ceiling hoists, wider doorways, emergency backup power and household communication technology. It is the most built-up mainstream SDA category.
Who qualifies for High Physical Support SDA?
People with very high physical support needs — often powered-wheelchair users, people needing hoist transfers, or those with complex health conditions — who meet the SDA needs requirement and whose OT assessment recommends this design category.
How is High Physical Support different from Fully Accessible SDA?
Fully Accessible provides a high level of physical access, but High Physical Support adds structural provision for ceiling hoists, emergency backup power for essential equipment, and features for very high needs. Every High Physical Support home is highly accessible, but not every accessible home meets this standard.
Does High Physical Support include a ceiling hoist?
It includes structural provision for ceiling hoists — the reinforcement and tracking needed so a hoist can be installed and used safely. The hoist device itself may be funded as assistive technology depending on your plan.
How is my SDA design category decided?
An occupational therapist recommends the design category through an SDA housing assessment based on your functional needs, and the NDIA funds the category that matches your assessed requirements. You don't choose the category freely — it must reflect evidence.
What evidence do I need for High Physical Support SDA?
You generally need an OT SDA housing assessment recommending High Physical Support, plus clinical evidence of an extreme functional impairment or very high support needs from the relevant health professionals. The evidence must show that ordinary housing and home modifications cannot reasonably meet your needs and that…
Can I get SIL as well as High Physical Support SDA?
Yes, and most people in High Physical Support homes do. SDA pays a contribution toward the building, while SIL funds your daily support from your Core budget — the two are assessed and funded separately. A High Physical Support dwelling and its SIL arrangement are usually set up together so the home and the support…
How long does it take to get approved and move in?
It varies, and it is common for the assessment, the NDIA decision and finding a well-matched vacancy to take several months to well over a year. High Physical Support homes are specialised and can be scarce in some areas, so the wait is often about finding the right enrolled dwelling rather than only the funding…