Specialised Disability Accommodation (SDA) | NDIS Housing Support

A Home That Is Built for the Way You Live

Your home should work for you, not against you. Specialised Disability Accommodation (SDA) is purpose-built housing for NDIS participants with very high support needs. Serene Life is a registered SDA provider in Sydney. Our team helps participants find the right home, understand their funding, and move through the process with confidence.

Housing Designed Around Your Needs

SDA is a type of housing built or modified for people with very high support needs. The NDIS funds SDA as a separate category in your plan. SDA homes include features such as ceiling hoists, wide doorways, reinforced walls, and smart home technology. These are not standard rentals—they are purpose-built properties that help people with significant physical or behavioural support needs live more safely and independently.

Not Everyone Qualifies, and That’s Okay

Not every NDIS participant is eligible for SDA. The NDIS estimates that around six percent of participants qualify. To get SDA funding in your plan, you must meet specific eligibility criteria, and an occupational therapist (OT) assessment is usually the first step. Serene Life can guide you through this process clearly, so you know where you stand before any time is wasted.

SDA and SIL (Supported Independent Living) are not the same. SDA funding covers the cost of the home itself; it does not cover day-to-day support. Other NDIS supports, such as SIL or personal care, are funded separately. Serene Life can help ensure all the right pieces are in your plan.

What Serene Life Offers

A Registered SDA Provider With Real Properties

Serene Life owns and manages SDA-registered properties across the Sydney metro area. Every home is registered with the NDIS and meets the SDA Design Standards. Properties are available across all four design categories, each designed with the individual participant in mind—not as a one-size-fits-all solution.

A Guide Through the Entire Process

If you are unsure where to start, the Serene Life team can guide you and your family from the very beginning. This includes helping you understand your eligibility, preparing for your OT assessment, and matching you with a home that genuinely fits your needs and goals.

A Collaborative Partner for Your Support Team

Serene Life works alongside your support coordinator, plan manager, and allied health team. Good SDA outcomes happen when the whole team works together. The Serene Life team makes this process straightforward and keeps everyone informed along the way.

The Four SDA Home Types Serene Life Covers

The NDIS recognises four SDA design categories, each suited to a different level of support need. Serene Life has registered properties across all four in Sydney.

Improved Liveability

Designed for people with sensory, intellectual, or cognitive disability. These homes reduce sensory overload and make daily life easier to manage. Features include improved lighting, clear sightlines, and simple room layouts. While not the most specialised SDA category, they make a genuine difference to everyday comfort and function.

Fully Accessible

Built for people who use a wheelchair or have significant physical disability. Homes are designed for full accessibility, including step-free entry, wide hallways and doorways, accessible bathrooms, and lower bench heights. Fully Accessible homes let you move through your space without barriers.

Robust

Built for participants whose disability may involve behaviours that could damage a standard home. These properties use stronger materials, reinforced surfaces, and secure design features. The goal is to keep you and those around you safe while maintaining a homely feel. Robust homes also help reduce the need for restrictive practices.

High Physical Support

The most specialised SDA homes in the Serene Life portfolio. Built for participants needing a high level of physical support around the clock. Features include ceiling hoists, hospital-grade power supply for life support equipment, accessible heating and cooling controls, and emergency back-up power. These homes are designed to work hand-in-hand with on-site support workers.

Who SDA Housing Is For

People with Very High Physical Support Needs

If you use a wheelchair, require ceiling hoist transfers, or need life support equipment at home, standard housing may not be safe or functional. High Physical Support and Fully Accessible homes are built for these situations.

People with Complex Behavioural Support Needs

If your disability involves behaviours that put you or others at risk in a standard home, a Robust SDA property may be right for you. These homes are built to keep everyone safe without feeling institutional.

People in Unsuitable Living Situations

Some participants live in aged care homes, hospitals, or family homes that do not meet their needs. SDA can provide a home built specifically for you, designed to help you live well.

People with Sensory or Cognitive Disability

If the layout or sensory environment of standard housing makes daily life harder, an Improved Liveability home may help reduce daily friction.

Young People in Aged Care

The NDIS has a commitment to moving younger people out of aged care. If you or a family member is under 65 and living in aged care, SDA may be worth exploring. Serene Life can explain your options and the pathway forward.

Why Choose Serene Life for SDA?

Finding the right SDA home is one of the most important decisions in an NDIS journey. Serene Life takes that responsibility seriously:

Registered SDA provider with properties across all four design categories in Sydney
Guidance through eligibility, assessment, and application from start to finish
Homes designed for the individual, not as a standard solution
Collaborative approach with support coordinators, plan managers, and allied health teams
Registered and Enrolled Nurses available for participants with clinical needs
Transport access, including a car and driver across Sydney
Ongoing support after move-in

How the SDA Process Works

Getting SDA into your NDIS plan takes time, but the steps are clear. With Serene Life alongside you, the process looks like this:

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
SDA is for participants with very high support needs. Your support coordinator or allied health team can give an early indication of suitability. Serene Life is also happy to discuss this directly.

Step 2: Get a Functional Assessment from an OT
An occupational therapist assesses your functional capacity and housing needs. This OT report is the main evidence the NDIS uses to decide SDA eligibility. A thorough, well-written report significantly impacts the outcome. Serene Life can connect you with experienced OTs familiar with the SDA system.

Step 3: Apply for SDA Funding
Your support coordinator submits evidence to the NDIS, including your OT report and other documents. The NDIS then decides whether to include SDA funding in your plan and what design category and funding level you qualify for.

Step 4: Find the Right Serene Life Home
Once funding is confirmed, you can view registered SDA properties. Serene Life matches you with a home based on your support needs, goals, and preferred location.

Step 5: Move In and Settle Well
Serene Life supports your move, sets up in-home support, and ensures everything works from day one. The team stays in contact to make sure the home continues to meet your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I am eligible for SDA?

Eligibility is based on your disability and support needs. You need very high support needs that cannot be met in standard housing. Start by speaking with your support coordinator or contact Serene Life directly.

What is the difference between SDA and SIL?

SDA is the physical home; SIL (Supported Independent Living) is the day-to-day support inside it. Both are funded by the NDIS but separately.

Can I choose who I live with in an SDA home?

In many cases, yes. SDA homes are often shared between two or three participants. Serene Life matches housemates based on lifestyle, support needs, and compatibility. Participants have input in this process.

What happens to my SDA funding if I want to move?

Your SDA funding follows you, not the property. If you move to another registered SDA home, your funding moves with you. Serene Life supports participants through this process.

How long does it take to get SDA in my plan?

The process from OT assessment to NDIS decision can take several months. A thorough OT report and supporting evidence can speed things up. Serene Life has seen participants move through in three to four months, though timelines vary.

Does SDA funding cover modifications to an existing home?

No. SDA funding is for purpose-built or purpose-modified registered SDA properties. Home modifications for standard properties are funded under the NDIS Home Modifications category.

I am a support coordinator. How do I refer a participant?

Serene Life works with support coordinators across Sydney on SDA planning and placement. Call or email directly. The team can join planning meetings, provide property information, and support OT and NDIS applications from start to finish.

Talk to the Serene Life team today.

Let’s Create Something Amazing Together.