Data, Design, and Desirability - represent a core framework used by experienced investors and advisors to analyze, select, and drive long-term success in SDA within the NDIS market. Data refers to the rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis that underpins every sound SDA investment decision: Current and projected demand for SDA by region, participant demographics, and NDIS eligibility trends.Vacancy rates, supply pipeline, dwelling approvals, recent sales, and rental yields.Government ...
In this episode, Debbie welcomes back Kevin Chen from Paramount Disability Homes for a conversation about the status of the Victorian Government NDIS Housing Crisis. This major crisis is unfolding in Victoria as state government subsidies for group home support workers which have already ended at the end of 2023, have leases for these properties set to expire on 31st December 2025. This impacts approximately 5,000 NDIS participants currently residing in 600 to 700 state government-owned...
This episode has Minh sitting down once again with Kevin Chen from Paramount Disability Homes. This discussion focuses on the most frequently asked questions from investors regarding Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) - particularly about properties, management, and participant needs. The conversation covers topics such as responsibility for damages, participant eligibility for different SDA categories, provider and occupational therapist (OT) requirements, furnishing and utiliti...
SIL Landscape: Challenges and Issues A significant challenge for SIL providers is the increasing difficulty in matching participants to vacancies for sustainable, long-term placements.Many providers lack the resources or contacts with other SIL providers or support coordinators to effectively find suitable participants for their vacancies.Providers face substantial financial pressure when vacancies exist, especially when they have multiple SIL houses but only one resident, making it difficult...
In this episode, Debbie sits down with Denise & Lenore from our Data and Research team to review the recently released Housing Hub Accessible Housing and Support Data Snapshot June 2025. They take a look at the Housing Hub figures and what the tell us about what housing seekers are actually looking for, versus what properties are available through the Housing Hub search portal. As of the March quarter, there are 24,761 participants with SDA funding (the NDIS report released mid-August not...
In this episode, Debbie catches up again with Tania Gomez to talk about the recent SIL Summits around Australia in 2025 + the upcoming National SIL Summit on the Gold Coast next month in late September. This event will take place on the Gold Coast at the Mantra Legends, Surfers Paradise, GC. While the primary summit days are 25 & 26 September, (lots of sponsors and guest speakers and main sponsors like RESOLVE etc), there will be a special beachfront "Welcome Drinks" Reception spons...
This episode has Minh chatting to Kirstie Shaw from Melbourne. Kirstie chats about the gaps in disability housing, from someone who is on the ground in Melbourne, and this episode gives our listeners a better awareness on this subject. Independent Living Options (ILO) Model The ILO model (aka ILA) is intended to be a flexible model where a person can live alone, with a flatmate, or in a co-designed arrangement. However, it fails in practice because it only funds support, not housing or ...
In this episode, Debbie dives into the oversupply of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in Mackay, Queensland. Initial data hinted at an imbalance, but deeper analysis reveals a 132% oversupply, with over 100 excess places. The episode serves as a critical warning for investors and providers eyeing projects in the area. Key Insights: Geography & Demand: Mackay (within the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday SA4) houses 75% of NDIS participants and up to 90% of SDA participants in its SA3 subre...
In this episode, Minh and Debbie analyse Barwon Investments' May SDA data report, drawn from the latest NDIS quarterly report (as of 31 March 2025). Moving beyond stats, they examine key trends reshaping the SDA market's current landscape. Risk of Unsuitable SDA Properties Requiring Divestment: A portion of newly developed SDA properties may become unsuitable due to oversupply in certain regions, poor access to care providers, or suboptimal design. This could force their sale into the mainstr...
The Right Fit Australia, recently launched by Jessica Dale, is a unique bridging housing brokerage service for NDIS participants. It finds participants first and then matches them with suitable properties and providers, effectively reverse-engineering support coordination. Background Jessica is a Melbourne-based Support Coordinator with expertise in complex cases since 2019. She specialises in advocating for Participants to ensure they receive appropriate funding and services tailored t...
In this episode, Minh and Debbie explore Appendix H—a pricing rule allowing SDA participants to live with non-eligible individuals (family, partners, or even SIL participants, with approval).! What Is Appendix H? Appendix H is a pricing provision within the SDA pricing arrangements that addresses how SDA funding is calculated when a participant lives with people who are not eligible for SDA. This most often occurs when an NDIS participant sharing a home wishes to live with non-SDA funded...
In this episode, we welcome back Tania from Tania Gomez Consulting. Tania chats with Debbie about the recent NDIS Pricing Arrangements & Price Limits (applicable as of 1st July 2025) and why there is so much concern within the NDIS community over financial viability and quality of service provision following a lack of insufficient pricing increases and in some cases price cuts for certain sectors, particularly Support Coordination, Plan Management and Allied Health operators in rural/remo...
In this insightful episode of The SDA Housing Podcast, Debbie goes and visits a local Brisbane SIL Provider. She sits down with Naeem Patel, Director of Hope & Care Community, to explore the critical relationship between Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). Naeem shares his journey into the NDIS space and provides valuable insights into what makes a strong SDA-SIL partnership. We discuss the features of SDA homes that truly impact p...
In this episode, Minh and Debbie review and discuss an email response from Bruce Bromley of Equal Access Group and SDA Consulting. The email letter addresses a question posed in a previous episode regarding his perspective on the current 2025 state of the play across Specialist Disability Accommodation. Bruce's expertise and leadership have made him a trusted authority in the field of Specialist Disability Accommodation assessment, ensuring safe, compliant, and accessible housing for people w...
In this episode, Minh & Debbie discuss an open letter from Katalin Jakus (Hand in Hand Support Coordination) to Ministers, outlining critical NDIS concerns: Unethical Referral Fee Practices Some NDIS providers pay referral fees to hospitals, government staff, and Support Coordinators.This practice, originating before the NDIS legislation, is described as unethical and undermines participants’ best interests.These incentives skew discharge decisions, limit provider choice, and risk care qu...
In this 4th instalment of our popular 'Ask Us Anything' series, we dive deep into an email from Andy, a builder from Adelaide who is a regular podcast listener, and has SDA build ideas for his son. We answer his questions and explore his theories. His questions sparked a discussion about the realities of SDA development, from financial considerations to design best practices, and even his theories on where the SDA market is headed. Below are some of the points of discussion in this episode: A...
In this episode, Minh chats with Tanisha Simunic, an SDA Assessor, accredited Access Consultant and OT, about her work, background and her view of the SDA world. Tanisha’s Professional Background and Role Tanisha is an accredited access consultant, registered occupational therapist, and SDA assessor with nearly a decade of experience in the SDA sector. Her career began in occupational therapy, where an interest in home modifications and architecture led her to access consulting. She now speci...
Goodbye Postcode Restrictions ... & Hello Distance Restrictions! Big changes (again) are reshaping NDIS lending landscape, and in this episode, Debbie sits down with Paul Grant from Axis Lending to unpack the latest finance requirements for NDIS property investing, from their perspective as a Mortgage Manager. This episode only relates to Origin, the largest wholesale NDIS lender across Australia, and this information discussed doesn't apply to other lenders in the SDA space, for in...
In this episode, Minh chats with Bill Kavvadas, Founder of The Fire Knight. Overview of the Fire Knight The product is an advanced, self-sustaining fire suppression system designed to proactively counter fires by detecting true flames and threats earlyIntended for residential use—including group homes and disability accommodations—offering an essential extra layer of safetyKey Product Features and Technical Design Self-contained unit with independent water (or eco-friendly fluid) stora...
Join Debbie and Denise from NDIS Property Australia’s feasibility team as they explain their groundbreaking nationwide research reports process in identifying the most promising suburbs for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) development. This project was a custom engagement from a NSW developer seeking a top 30 SDA locations report around Australia. This work took 2 months to finalise, and the 5 internal staff members were quite proud of their collaborative achievement in delivering th...