News
People with disability and disability advocates have warned proposed changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme could make it harder for some participants to access the housing and supports they need to live safely and independently.
The concerns were raised by the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Alliance as the Senate considers the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.
SDA Alliance CEO Jeramy Hope says the proposed reforms risk overlooking the critical relationship between housing, supports and a person’s ability to participate in the community.
“When we get housing right, people with disability live better lives,” Mr Hope says.
He says proposed mandatory assessments and changes to social and community participation funding could have unintended consequences, particularly for people whose support needs are closely connected to their home environment.
Around 15,000 people currently live in Specialist Disability Accommodation, with a further 9,000 people funded for SDA but not currently living in it, according to the SDA Alliance.
For participant James Brown, moving into SDA after spending 18 months in hospital following a severe illness was transformative.
“I needed 24/7 care when I first left hospital,” Mr Brown says. “As soon as you get into SDA, it’s you can get a bit more independence.”
Mr Brown says accessible, purpose-built housing enabled him to return to work and rebuild his family life.
“I got back into the workforce, so I got off the disability pension,” he says. “Once you get into SDA, it’s a whole new world. Suddenly, you can build your life.”
He is concerned the reforms could also affect supports that help people maintain their existing level of independence.
For Lisa, whose 23-year-old daughter Hannah has an intellectual disability, SDA provides both safety and long-term security.
“It keeps her safe,” she says. “Hannah, with her disability, she’s got more of a chance of being abused in her lifetime than not being abused.”
Her family is currently building a purpose-designed home that will allow Hannah to live close to her parents, who share her care.
Lisa says the arrangement also enables her family to continue supporting Hannah as they age.
“That is cost saving,” she says. “SDA is critically important to being able to support Hannah’s needs.”
Mr Hope says the NDIS needs to better recognise the individual circumstances behind a person’s support requirements rather than relying solely on standardised approaches.
“There’s no disability that is the same,” he says. “We’re all unique, and we all have value, and we all should have a voice.”
The SDA Alliance says the Senate inquiry is an opportunity to ensure the NDIS reforms improve sustainability without compromising the housing, safety and independence of people with disability. The Senate committee is due to hand down its final report on the Bill on 14 August.
