SPECIALIST DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION (SDA)
Image Source: Department of Social Services
We have been working on a number of projects in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast, Sydney, and Canberra where houses and units will be used for Specialist Disability Accommodation under the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme). Currently, this includes some assessment to the Livable Housing Design Guidelines, but the new NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation Design Standard (Edition 1.1, 25 October 2019) has now been released, containing all the requirements to be incorporated for new SDA dwellings. Dwellings assessed against this standard can begin to be enrolled from 30 April 2020 and enrolment will become mandatory from 1 July 2021. There is an implementation guide explaining this process. Aja and Wendy have commenced the process of becoming Accredited SDA Assessors, with a one-day course, in order to assess projects under the new SDA Design Standard. In the meantime, we remain Registered LHA Assessors and able to assess under the existing SDA Price Guide provisions. The SDA Design Standard has some similarities with the existing SDA Price Guide; both referring to four design categories: Improved Liveability, Robust, Fully Accessible and High Physical Support. Some of the requirements are also similar, many are more onerous and the SDA Design Standard is completely independent of the Livable Housing Design Guidelines. Strict compliance remains key, with there being no room for tolerance and no scope for performance solutions (other than a couple of very specific scenarios). Assessors will also be governed by stringent rules where dwellings must be assessed at both design and as-built stages to enable eventual enrolment. Final as-built sign-off will require every element to be completed and inspected. Later rectification and subsequent assessment of evidence will not be accepted, although there are some elements where evidence will be required in the form of certification from suitably qualified professionals, including builders and structural engineers. Any new SDA projects should now consider the SDA Design Standard to ensure suitable time for completion.