Understanding Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA): Categories, Funding and How to Apply

What is Specialist Disability Accommodation?

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a category of NDIS funding that pays for purpose-built or significantly modified homes designed for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. SDA funding covers the cost of the accommodation itself — not the support services.

Approximately 28,000 NDIS participants are estimated to have SDA funding in their plans, yet finding available SDA properties that match a participant's specific design category, location and lifestyle remains challenging.

The Four SDA Design Categories

1. Improved Liveability

Designed for participants with sensory, cognitive or intellectual disabilities. Features improved physical access, lighting, acoustics and layout to support daily living.

2. Fully Accessible

Designed for participants with significant physical disability. Provides comprehensive physical access including wider doorways, step-free access, and accessible bathroom and kitchen features.

3. Robust

Designed for participants whose disability involves extreme functional impairment or very high support needs, including reinforced construction and secure fencing for safety.

4. High Physical Support

The highest design standard — includes ceiling hoists, emergency power, structural provisions for complex assistive technology, suited to participants with very high physical support needs.

How SDA Funding Works

SDA funding is paid by the NDIS directly to enrolled SDA providers to subsidise the cost of building and maintaining specialist housing. Participants also contribute a Reasonable Rent Contribution (RRC) — currently approximately 25% of the Disability Support Pension.

SDA is separate from SIL. Many SDA participants also receive SIL funding to cover support worker costs.

Getting SDA in Your NDIS Plan

1. Gather evidence — work with an OT to document why standard housing can't meet your needs
2. Present at plan review — submit evidence at your next NDIS plan review or request an unscheduled review
3. Receive SDA approval — SDA funding will appear in your plan with a specific design category
4. Search for properties — use Housing Match to find enrolled SDA properties matching your category

Searching for SDA Properties

Housing Match provides a searchable directory of enrolled SDA properties across Australia. You can filter by SDA design category, location, number of places, and accessibility features.

Search SDA properties now or learn more about SDA.