Your NDIS Home and Living Journey: The 5 Steps

Your NDIS home and living journey: the five steps from picturing your ideal home to moving in, and how to build the evidence you need along the way.

Working out where and how you want to live is one of the biggest decisions in your NDIS plan — and it can feel overwhelming when you don't know the path. The good news is there's a recognisable journey, and you don't have to take it all at once. This guide maps your NDIS home and living journey in five clear steps, so you always know what comes next.

How the journey works

Step 1: Picture your ideal home and living

Step 2: Explore your options

Step 3: Build your evidence

Step 4: Submit and get a decision

Step 5: Find a home and settle in

The journey doesn't stop at moving in

Frequently asked questions

What are the steps in the NDIS home and living journey?

Broadly five: picture your ideal home and living, explore your options, build your evidence, submit and get a decision, then find a home and settle in. They're a guide rather than rigid stages, and the journey continues as your needs change over time.

Where do I start with NDIS home and living?

Start with your goals — where and how you want to live — not the funding. Clear home and living goals in your plan open the door to exploration funding and the supports that follow. You don't need every answer up front; the early steps are for figuring that out.

What is home and living exploration?

It's funded support to work through your options — drop-in support, SIL, ILO, SDA, social or private housing — with expert help, before committing to one. It sits in the exploration step of the journey and helps make sure the choice genuinely fits your needs and goals.

What happens if my home and living request is declined?

A 'no' isn't the end. You can request an internal review from the NDIA, adding evidence that addresses the reasons given, and if needed take it to the independent Administrative Review Tribunal. Many home and living decisions change once the full picture is presented.

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