In Part One of this series, we shared how every SDA journey begins with a conversation.
Once that first meeting takes place and a participant decides to explore the possibility of Specialist Disability Accommodation, the real work begins.
For Regional Tenancy Manager Jenelle, the next step is about gathering the information that will help shape the entire search.
Finding the right SDA home isn’t simply about locating a vacant property. It’s about understanding the participant’s life, their supports, and the environment that will allow them to thrive.
So, Jenelle begins by working closely with the participant and their support team to gather important information.
This often includes reviewing key documentation such as:
• Functional assessments
• Behaviour Support Plans (BSP)
• Any reports that explain the participant’s support needs
But paperwork is only part of the picture.
Jenelle also spends time understanding why a participant may be requesting a particular area. Sometimes the reason is proximity to family. Other times it may be access to medical appointments, therapies, or existing community supports.
Another important conversation early in the process is helping everyone understand that many SDA homes are shared environments.
This means compatibility matters.
The goal isn’t just to find a home that suits one participant, but to ensure the living arrangement works well for everyone who may share that space.
What if SDA funding hasn’t been approved yet?
This is something Jenelle encounters regularly.
When a participant approaches the team without SDA funding already in place, the first step is usually to connect with their Support Coordinator.
Jenelle will ask to review the participant’s NDIS plan and assessments to better understand their current funding and support structure.
From there, conversations often extend to guardians, family members, and the broader support team to determine whether SDA funding is being pursued and what challenges may be occurring along the way.
Sometimes the process requires patience. Other times it simply requires the right conversations to get the journey moving forward.
Advice for anyone beginning this journey
For Jenelle, there are three things she believes are essential for participants and families starting their SDA journey:
Be honest about your needs and expectations.
Understanding care needs, preferred living arrangements, and long-term goals helps the team find a home that truly supports independence.
Stay open to different options.
The first idea or location might not always end up being the best solution.
Share your story.
Talking openly about life, goals, and experiences living with disability helps the tenancy team understand what will make a house feel like home.
Because ultimately, SDA isn’t just about buildings.
It’s about people, their lives, and the future they are building.
And with the groundwork now in place, the next stage of the journey begins.
The property search.
✨ Next in Part Three:
Where does the search for an SDA home actually start and what happens when the perfect property is hard to find?
