Insight + Resources
Adelaide Lunch, Learn and Connect with Greg Barry: Key Takeaways for Support Coordinators and NDIS Participants
Support Coordinators, NDIS professionals, participants and their families gathered in West Croydon, Adelaide for a Lunch, Learn and Connect session with SDA Services founder Greg Barry, hosted by Vera Living and Claro Disability Services. The session provided expert insights and best-practice guidance on Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding and eligibility, evidence for SDA reports, hospital discharge pathways, and Supported Independent Living (SIL) in-home supports.
The event took place in a brand-new two-bedroom shared SDA home, allowing attendees to explore the thoughtfully designed space and experience SDA living firsthand.
SDA and SIL Takeaways for Support Coordinators
The Full SDA Journey, Unpacked:
Navigating SDA Eligibility and Evidence Requirements
Greg Barry opened the session by outlining SDA eligibility, including the clinical and non-clinical evidence required for SDA reports, and key considerations in the appeals process to help achieve the best outcomes for NDIS participants.
He also highlighted the free SDA Eligibility Tool developed by SDA Services and Vera Living as a useful starting point for providers and participants to check potential eligibility. Try the SDA Eligibility Tool here.
For more detailed guidance, read Vera Living’s Complete Guide to SDA.
Supporting Participants: SIL, Nurse-Led Transitions and Hospital Discharge
Guest speaker Frank Maffia from Claro Disability Services, discussed how SIL providers support participants living in SDA homes, including nurse-led transitions and hospital discharge pathways.
He explained that hospital discharges can sometimes occur unexpectedly, making careful planning and coordination between SIL and SDA providers essential to ensure participants transition safely and comfortably into their new homes.
SDA in Action: Driving Positive Outcomes for NDIS Participants
The Impact of SDA
David Sims from Vera Living spoke about the broader impact of SDA on participants and their families. He shared tenant stories and highlighted the outcomes created through SDA housing, including increased independence and stronger community connection.
He also noted that Vera Living has supported several families to live together through Appendix H funding, and the significant positive impact this has had on participants and their families.
Learn more about how Vera Living has supported families through Appendix H here.
Q&A Session
Guests asked sector experts questions and gained practical insights on what makes effective SDA and SIL providers, how to manage complex participant situations, and how to adapt to the evolving NDIS housing landscape.
Key takeaways from the discussion included:
- SDA and SIL providers should work closely and collaboratively with participants and their support networks to understand their needs, goals and preferences.
- Providers must remain informed, empathetic and ethical in their practice to ensure the best outcomes for participants.
- Staying engaged with the sector and learning from other providers can help organisations reflect on and continuously improve their services.
Lunch, Learn and Connect Highlights
Attendees then had the opportunity to network over lunch and take a guided tour of the SDA home, exploring its accessible design features and thoughtful layout.
The Importance of SDA and SIL Events
The NDIS housing landscape is continually evolving, and this session highlighted the importance for sector professionals and providers to stay equipped with up-to-date knowledge and collaboration across the sector. Attendees left the session equipped with:
- Greater clarity on SDA and SIL requirements, SDA eligibility and hospital-to-home transitions
- Stronger understanding of SDA funding, applications, and appeals
- Expert insights from sector professionals
- Practical tips that can be applied immediately to support participants
Next Steps: Applying SDA Knowledge in Your Practice
Following the event, Support Coordinators and NDIS professionals can apply their learnings with actionable next steps:
- Assess SDA Eligibility: Review participant needs against SDA eligibility criteria and determine the most suitable housing type.
- Support Applications: Guide participants in preparing evidence-based SDA applications, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Navigate Funding and Appeals: Use insights from experts to address funding challenges and understand the appeal process for unsuccessful applications.
- Integrate SIL Planning: Apply knowledge of hospital discharge, nurse-led transitions and SIL supports to ensure participants receive the right level of care in SDA homes.
- Share Knowledge with Peers: Use practical tips from the event to support colleagues, participants, and families in navigating SDA and SIL pathways.
These steps can assist support coordinators to utilise skills and knowledge learnt from events to better support their participants housing journey.
Get in touch with our friendly team for any guidance on supporting your clients into SDA.
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