Hospital Discharge and NDIS Housing: A Guide for Health Professionals

Hospital Discharge and NDIS Housing

Delayed discharge from hospital is a significant challenge for health services across Australia. When a patient with disability is ready for discharge but has no suitable housing to go to, they remain in an acute bed — costing the health system, risking hospital-acquired complications, and delaying access for other patients.

Housing Match helps hospitals and health professionals find suitable disability housing for patients who are ready for discharge, reducing delayed discharges and improving patient outcomes.

Why housing matters for discharge planning

Discharge planning should begin at admission, not when the patient is medically ready to leave. For patients with disability, housing is often the primary barrier to timely discharge.

Common housing-related discharge barriers include:

• The patient's previous home is no longer suitable (e.g., they now need wheelchair access)
• The patient needs SIL support that wasn't previously required
• The patient needs SDA housing and is not yet approved
• The patient's NDIS plan doesn't include the right housing funding
• There are no vacancies in the patient's preferred area
• The patient needs a specific household composition (e.g., single-gender, quiet household)

How Housing Match helps

Housing Match provides a single platform where health professionals can:

1. Search for available disability housing — SIL vacancies, SDA properties, and community housing from NDIS-registered providers
2. Submit referrals — refer a patient for housing consideration
3. Track referral outcomes — monitor the status of housing referrals
4. Connect with providers — communicate directly with SIL and SDA providers
5. Access compatibility assessments — AI-powered matching to identify the most suitable housing options

Learn about hospital discharge pathways →

The referral process

Step 1: Register on Housing Match

Hospital staff can register on Housing Match. If you're a health professional (social worker, discharge planner, allied health), select the appropriate role during registration.

Step 2: Submit a referral

Submit a referral through the platform. You'll need:

• Patient details (de-identified where possible)
• Current housing situation
• Support needs and funding type (if known)
• Accessibility requirements
• Preferred location
• Timeline for discharge

Step 3: Matching and provider review

Housing Match identifies suitable properties and providers. The AI compatibility assessment evaluates the patient's needs against available housing options.

Step 4: Provider contact

Providers review the referral and contact the hospital or patient's Support Coordinator to discuss next steps.

Step 5: Placement

Once a suitable property is identified and the patient (or their guardian) agrees, the placement is arranged directly between the provider, patient, and Support Coordinator.

What if the patient doesn't have NDIS funding?

If the patient is not an NDIS participant, housing options are more limited. Hospital staff should:

1. Contact the patient's Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIA to discuss access requests
2. Explore community housing options
3. Consider private rental with support

For NDIS participants whose plans don't include the right housing funding, a plan review may be needed. Speak to the patient's Support Coordinator.

Preventing delayed discharges

To reduce the risk of delayed discharge:

1. Start housing planning early — ideally at admission
2. Identify the patient's housing funding — check if they have SIL, SDA, or other housing funding in their NDIS plan
3. Submit referrals early — don't wait until the patient is medically ready for discharge
4. Be flexible on location — the more flexible the location, the more options available
5. Consider STA/MTA — Short Term or Medium Term Accommodation can bridge the gap between hospital and permanent housing

Privacy and consent

Patient privacy is paramount. Housing Match uses de-identified data for AI compatibility matching, and all data sharing is consent-gated and recorded in an immutable audit trail.

Learn more about our privacy and consent framework → Read our Trust Centre →

Contact us

Book a demonstration to see how Housing Match can support your hospital's discharge planning process.

Contact us →

---

This article is for general information for health professionals and does not constitute medical or clinical advice.