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AAmetz Community CareNDIS, allied health & aged care

Accommodation

NDIS accommodation: SIL, SDA, short & medium term stays

Housing is the part of the NDIS people find hardest to decode. Here are the four options in plain language, what each one actually pays for, and how to get the evidence together.

Talk about housing options

The four options at a glance

OptionWhat the funding pays forWho it suitsHow long
SILSupported Independent LivingThe support hours in your homeDaily or overnight support, often in a shared homeOngoing
SDASpecialist Disability AccommodationThe building itself, not the supportExtreme functional impairment or very high support needsOngoing tenancy
STAShort Term AccommodationSupport, meals and activities as a daily rateRespite, planned breaks and trying out new placesUp to 14 days at a time
MTAMedium Term AccommodationAccommodation only, while you wait for your homeHospital discharge, builds and modifications in progressUp to 90 days

SIL and SDA are separate budgets. Most people in SDA housing also hold SIL funding for the support inside the home.

Each option in detail

Supported Independent Living (SIL)

Support category 1 — Daily living, SIL line items

Shared or individual living arrangements with rostered support so you can run your own home with the right level of help.

Who it's for: People who need support across the day and night, often in a shared home with housemates they choose.

What's included

  • 24/7, active night or sleepover rosters
  • Skill building for cooking, budgeting and self-care
  • Housemate matching and compatibility planning
  • Coordination with SDA and housing providers
  • Roster of care design and review

Good to know: SIL funding is quoted, not automatic. We help you assemble the evidence: a roster of care, functional assessments and provider quotes.

Short Term Accommodation & respite

Support category 1 — STA including respite

Up to 14 days at a time away from home with support included, giving you a break and your family or carers time to recharge.

Who it's for: Participants and families who need planned or occasional breaks.

What's included

  • Overnight and weekend stays
  • Support ratios matched to your needs
  • Meals, activities and transport included
  • Emergency and unplanned respite where available

Good to know: STA is usually funded for up to 28 days per year. It is claimed as a daily rate that bundles support, food and activities.

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

Support category 24 — SDA (Capital)

Purpose-built, accessible housing for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.

Who it's for: Participants whose plan includes an SDA capital budget and who need a home built to a specific design category.

What's included

  • Design categories: improved liveability, fully accessible, robust and high physical support
  • Vacancy search and property tours
  • Coordination between your SDA and SIL providers
  • Help gathering the housing evidence your plan needs
  • Tenancy paperwork explained in plain language

Good to know: SDA pays for the dwelling, not the support in it. You usually pay a reasonable rent contribution on top and hold SIL funding separately.

Medium Term Accommodation (MTA)

Support category 1 — MTA

Up to 90 days of accommodation when your long-term home is confirmed but not ready yet.

Who it's for: Participants leaving hospital, waiting on home modifications or on an SDA build to finish.

What's included

  • Furnished, accessible short-stay housing
  • Support hours arranged separately from your existing plan
  • Hospital discharge and transition planning
  • Weekly check-ins while you wait for your home

Good to know: MTA covers accommodation only — support workers are funded from your Core budget. It needs evidence that a long-term home is on the way.

Getting housing funded

Housing decisions are evidence decisions. For SIL you need a roster of care, a functional assessment and provider quotes. For SDA you need a housing report from an allied health professional that explains why no other option is suitable, plus your preferred design category. Our team assembles this with you, and we tell you honestly if we think the evidence isn't there yet.

If you are in hospital, ask about MTA early — discharge planning moves faster than building work, and MTA is what bridges the gap.