Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Design Standard

Joanne HurstHuman Services & NDIS, Scheme / Program Update

Livable Housing Australia (LHA) is delighted to announce the launch of the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Design Standard.

The design standards were released by Minister for the NDIS, Stuart Robert yesterday afternoon at a function in Guildford, Sydney. The landmark design standard developed by LHA, the Expert Panel and Industry reference group will spur a new era of housing construction and enhancement for Australians with disability. The SDA Design Standard will guide architects, builders and the community as they look for new and better ways to build specialist housing for people with disability.

‘Specialist Disability Accommodation is a life-changing support that gives participants greater independence and control and we have heard loud and clear from Australians with disability that this is an area that needs to be improved. That is why the SDA Design Standard is such an important development and one I am proud to announce today,’ Mr. Robert said.

The SDA Design standards are now available online on LHA’s website. You can download the SDA Design Standards here.

The SDA Design Standard Implementation Plan will be published in the near future, outlining how from 1 July 2021, all dwelling enrolment applications for SDA will:

  • undertake pre-certification from a third party accredited SDA assessor at the design (pre-certification) and final as built stages
  • nominate the design category the dwelling to be enrolled satisfies, based on the standard

The Implementation Plan will also describe the transition period up to 1 July 2021 and how particular exemptions will apply during that period.