New design standards intended to spur the construction of specialist disability housing (SDA) have been released.
Speaking at the launch of an innovative Ability SDA complex in Sydney, (see following story) NDIS Minister Stuart Robert said the new SDA guidelines will encourage further growth across the country for an emerging industry. “I am confident the market will provide everything we need in the terms of SDA accommodation within the next seven years,” he told F2L. “We expect at least 4000 houses will be built within that time frame and with design and price certainty confirmed, and an 11.6 per cent return on investment, everything the market requires is now in place.”
He acknowledged that SDA is an area that needs to be improved, “which is why the SDA Design Standard is such an important development and for the market to step up and build the accommodation we need.”
There are now over 1000 registered providers in the SDA market and the number of enrolled dwelling grew 9.5 per cent in the June quarter. There are currently 13,000 people in SDA and when the NDIS reaches full coverage, 28,000 people with disability will be receiving SDA assistance, representing 6.1 per cent of NDIS participants, he said. “As we move into more SDA it will also include people with very high needs.”
The minister also released an SDA Innovation Plan and Limited Cost Assumptions Review that puts participants at the centre of the new design approach, making it easier to access high quality specialist disability housing. The Innovation Plan outlines how the National Disability Insurance Agency will encourage participants and providers to develop innovative designs.
A new certification process will ultimately become mandatory in order for a new build dwelling to meet the criteria for enrollment as SDA.