Our AHPRA-registered occupational therapists conduct independent, clinically rigorous SDA assessments for NDIS participants across Australia. We evaluate your functional needs, document your housing requirements and prepare a comprehensive SDA eligibility report — giving you the strongest possible evidence for your NDIS plan.
What We Assess
A thorough SDA assessment examines the functional domains that most directly affect your housing needs and NDIS eligibility. Our occupational therapists carry out a detailed evaluation of how your disability impacts daily living across every critical area.
We assess the space required for assistive technology, wheelchair manoeuvring clearances, doorway widths, accessible bathroom and kitchen layouts, and smart home technology integration — identifying the specific environmental modifications your home must provide for you to live safely and independently.
We evaluate your independence with showering, toileting, dressing and grooming, identifying the physical support and specialist equipment your bathroom and personal care spaces need to meet your daily living requirements safely.
We assess your walking ability, wheelchair use, transfer capacity, balance and falls risk to determine whether your current or proposed home can safely support mobility aids such as ceiling hoists, standing frames or other specialised equipment.
Astrad Allied Health's occupational therapists are AHPRA-registered, NDIS-experienced and trained in the full spectrum of SDA design categories. We conduct mobile assessments in your home — removing the stress of travel — and produce clinical-grade SDA reports that meet NDIS requirements. With assessments delivered across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, we are one of Australia's most accessible SDA assessment providers.
Meet Our TeamWho Benefits From SDA Assessments
An SDA assessment may be appropriate if you are an NDIS participant with significant functional impairment whose disability means you cannot be adequately supported in standard or modified housing. If any of the following situations apply to you or a family member, contact us to discuss an assessment.
If you or your loved one requires ceiling hoists, advanced assistive technology or around-the-clock support, an SDA assessment can clinically evaluate whether High Physical Support accommodation is appropriate for your funding plan.
For NDIS participants with progressive neurological conditions or degenerative disabilities, our SDA assessment considers both your current functional limitations and your anticipated future care needs — ensuring your housing solution remains suitable long-term.
NDIS participants who display behaviours of concern and require durable housing materials, reinforced fixtures or enhanced safety provisions may be eligible for Robust category SDA accommodation. An assessment provides the clinical justification for this designation.
If you are moving from aged care, a group home or supported accommodation, an SDA assessment can identify housing solutions that provide greater autonomy and independence while still meeting your ongoing support requirements.
If your current home cannot be reasonably modified to meet your needs, lacks space for essential equipment, or creates ongoing barriers to your independence, an SDA assessment generates the clinical evidence needed to justify specialist accommodation.
Wheelchair users with complex access requirements, or people with progressive conditions that affect mobility, may qualify for Fully Accessible SDA accommodation. Our assessment determines whether this design category is clinically justified for your situation.
Navigating NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation funding does not have to be overwhelming. Our structured, three-step assessment process removes the guesswork and gives you a clear pathway from initial referral to a finalised clinical report.
We begin by reviewing your referral, existing medical history, NDIS plan and current living situation. This ensures your occupational therapist arrives fully prepared and can focus the assessment on your most critical functional needs.
Your AHPRA-registered occupational therapist conducts an in-depth functional capacity evaluation in your home or current living environment. The assessment covers mobility, transfers, personal care, communication, cognition and environmental access — all areas directly relevant to SDA eligibility.
Following the assessment, you receive a detailed clinical report that documents our findings, analyses your housing needs against the NDIS SDA eligibility criteria and includes clear recommendations for the most appropriate SDA design category. This report can be submitted directly to the NDIA in support of your plan or plan review.
NDIS participants who require purpose-built or specialist housing
Your SDA assessment includes a comprehensive functional capacity evaluation covering mobility, transfers, personal care, communication, cognition and environmental access needs. The assessment concludes with a written clinical report and housing recommendations submitted to the NDIA.
Face-to-face SDA assessments typically take between two and four hours, conducted in your current home environment. Your completed eligibility report is generally provided within five to ten business days of the assessment.
The NDIS recognises five SDA design categories: Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible, Robust, High Physical Support and Basic. Your assessment will identify which category — or combination of categories — best matches your functional needs and long-term housing goals.
Yes. An independent SDA assessment provides the clinical evidence of your functional impairment and housing needs that the NDIA requires during plan reviews. Our reports are specifically written to meet NDIS evidentiary standards.
We provide mobile SDA assessments throughout Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Our team travels to your home or current living environment, removing the need for you to attend a clinic or travel for your assessment.
SDA assessment costs vary depending on complexity, location and assessment duration. Many NDIS participants can use their Capacity Building — Support Coordination or Improved Daily Living budget to fund the cost of the assessment. Contact us for a personalised quote.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a category of NDIS funding reserved for participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. An SDA assessment determines whether you meet the eligibility criteria for this specialised housing support. It is not the same as standard NDIS housing assistance or home modification assessments.
SDA funding exists for participants whose disability creates housing access requirements that standard accommodation simply cannot meet, even with reasonable modifications. Purpose-built dwellings with features like ceiling hoists, reinforced structures and integrated assistive technology become necessary to support safe daily living.
The assessment examines your abilities across multiple functional domains. Your AHPRA-registered occupational therapist evaluates mobility, transfer capacity, personal care independence, communication and assistive technology needs. This clinical evaluation establishes whether your requirements exceed what standard residential modifications can achieve.
Understanding the distinction between SDA and other NDIS housing supports is critical before pursuing an assessment. Where home modifications address specific barriers within existing housing, SDA represents a higher level of support for participants whose needs genuinely require purpose-built accommodation designed from the ground up.
Many NDIS participants achieve greater independence through occupational therapy services combined with targeted home modifications. Grab rails, ramp installations and bathroom redesigns can transform existing dwellings. However, some disabilities demand purpose-built accommodation with features that cannot be retrofitted into standard housing.
If you need ceiling hoists installed throughout your home, extensive wheelchair circulation space in every room, advanced environmental control systems, or 24-hour support worker access points, an SDA assessment provides the clinical evidence to justify this level of housing support. These features require structural integration from the design stage rather than post-construction modification.
The distinction between home modifications and SDA often centres on the extent and permanence of required features. A home assessment may recommend grab rails, ramps or accessible bathroom fittings. SDA becomes relevant when you need wider doorways throughout the entire dwelling, reinforced ceiling structures for hoisting systems, or integrated assistive technology requiring specialised electrical and structural design.
Standard housing cannot accommodate modifications of this scale. Purpose-built SDA accommodation designed with these features from inception is necessary to support your functional needs, safety and long-term independence in the community.
The core of every SDA assessment is a detailed functional capacity evaluation. Your AHPRA-registered occupational therapist examines how your disability impacts daily activities and environmental access across every relevant domain. This comprehensive evaluation considers cognitive function, sensory processing, communication abilities and behavioural support requirements alongside physical capacity.
For participants with progressive conditions, the evaluation also considers anticipated future needs. This forward-looking approach helps ensure housing solutions remain appropriate as your disability evolves, preventing the disruption and cost of repeated housing transitions. Your occupational therapist documents the trajectory of your condition to support forward planning.
All assessment findings are measured against NDIS SDA eligibility criteria, which require demonstration of extreme functional impairment. This threshold is intentionally high, reflecting SDA’s role as housing for participants whose needs genuinely cannot be met through standard accommodation with reasonable modifications.
Your occupational therapist documents specific functional limitations, quantifies support requirements and provides detailed clinical justification for why standard housing is inappropriate. This evidence forms the foundation of a strong SDA funding application to the NDIA. Our functional capacity assessment methodology follows established clinical protocols.
The NDIS recognises five distinct SDA design categories, each addressing different functional needs with specific design standards and funding levels. Understanding these categories helps you know what to expect from your assessment and what type of accommodation may be recommended for your circumstances.
Improved Liveability provides enhanced accessibility features for participants with sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairment. Fully Accessible accommodation is designed for wheelchair users requiring accessible layouts throughout the entire dwelling. Robust category features durable, impact-resistant materials for participants with complex behavioural needs requiring reinforced construction.
High Physical Support includes advanced features such as ceiling hoists, power-assisted doors and integrated assistive technology for participants with the most significant physical support requirements. Improved Liveability with High Physical Support combines sensory and cognitive accessibility features with advanced physical support infrastructure for participants with combined needs.
Your SDA assessment identifies which design category aligns with your functional needs. The report provides detailed justification linking your specific functional limitations to required housing features. This clinical evidence forms the basis of your SDA funding request. If you also need equipment recommendations, an assistive technology assessment can complement your SDA report.
SDA funding is not automatically included in NDIS plans. If you believe you need specialist disability accommodation, it must be specifically requested during your plan review. An independent SDA assessment from a qualified occupational therapist can significantly strengthen this request by providing objective clinical evidence of your housing needs and functional limitations.
The NDIA reviews assessment evidence alongside your support needs, stated goals and current living situation when determining whether to include SDA funding. The more comprehensive and clinically robust your assessment documentation, the stronger your application becomes. Incomplete or poorly documented assessments are a common reason for SDA funding requests being declined.
The assessment report must clearly articulate why standard housing cannot meet your needs, even with reasonable modifications. Your occupational therapist explains the relationship between your functional limitations and housing requirements, demonstrating how SDA features may support greater independence and community participation aligned with your NDIS goals.
Strong clinical reasoning throughout the report provides the NDIA with evidence needed to make informed funding decisions. This reduces the likelihood of plan review delays, appeals or funding rejections that can leave participants without appropriate housing for extended periods.
SDA assessments rarely occur in isolation. Many participants requiring specialist disability accommodation also need assistive technology assessments to identify appropriate devices and equipment for their new dwelling. Your SDA assessment considers these technology requirements, ensuring any recommended accommodation can support the installation and daily use of your assistive technology.
Your housing solution works alongside other NDIS supports to maximise independence. NDIS occupational therapy services help you develop skills and strategies within your accommodation. Support workers provide direct assistance with daily activities. The SDA assessment considers this broader support ecosystem to ensure recommended housing facilitates effective service delivery.
For participants with communication support needs, coordination with speech pathology services ensures your housing accommodates augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and provides appropriate acoustic environments. Housing design must support every aspect of your daily support requirements.
This integrated approach ensures all NDIS supports work together cohesively. Your accommodation becomes the foundation that enables every other support to function effectively, helping you achieve your NDIS goals and participate fully in community life with the right housing infrastructure in place.
SDA assessments typically take place in your current residence. This allows your occupational therapist to directly observe how you navigate your existing environment and identify specific housing barriers you face daily. The assessment includes practical observation of mobility, transfers, personal care routines and daily living tasks in your real-world setting.
Your therapist discusses your goals, support arrangements, current housing challenges and ideal living situation. This conversation provides essential context for clinical observations and ensures recommendations align with what matters most to you, your family and your support network.
We also assess your current accommodation’s limitations, support worker access and scheduling, assistive technology use, and any barriers to community participation your housing creates. Your occupational therapist may photograph environmental features, measure doorway widths and circulation spaces, and document specific access challenges with your consent.
Face-to-face assessments typically take 2 to 4 hours, depending on the complexity of your support needs and living situation. All information gathered contributes to a comprehensive clinical picture of your housing needs and forms the evidence base for your final report and SDA funding recommendations.
Following your assessment, you receive a detailed clinical report within 10 to 15 business days documenting findings, analysis and recommendations. This report becomes a key piece of evidence for your NDIS plan review. Your occupational therapist explains the assessment outcomes, discusses the recommended SDA design category, and provides guidance on using the report in your planning conversations.
If the assessment supports SDA eligibility, the report guides your search for appropriate accommodation matching your identified functional needs. It includes specific housing features required, the recommended design category and comprehensive justification for why specialist accommodation is clinically warranted based on your individual circumstances.
The assessment process does not end with report delivery. Your occupational therapist remains available to clarify assessment findings, provide additional information to the NDIA if requested, and support your transition into SDA if funding is approved. This ongoing professional relationship ensures continuity of care throughout your housing journey.
For participants with progressive conditions, we may recommend periodic reassessment to ensure your accommodation continues to meet changing needs. Proactive reassessment helps you stay ahead of evolving requirements and maintain your independence long term. Contact our team to discuss your SDA assessment needs.
NDIS participants with extreme functional impairment who cannot be adequately supported in standard or modified housing may be eligible for an SDA assessment. This includes people who require ceiling hoists, high levels of personal care, robust housing materials due to behaviours of concern, or fully accessible layouts for complex mobility needs. An SDA assessment by a qualified occupational therapist provides the clinical evidence needed to determine whether you meet the NDIA’s eligibility criteria for Specialist Disability Accommodation funding.
Your SDA assessment report is prepared by an AHPRA-registered occupational therapist and covers a comprehensive functional capacity evaluation across mobility, transfers, personal care, environmental access needs and cognition. The report documents your functional impairment, analyses your housing needs against NDIS SDA eligibility criteria, and recommends the most appropriate SDA design category, such as Fully Accessible, High Physical Support or Robust. This report can be submitted directly to the NDIA to support your SDA funding application or plan review.
The face-to-face SDA assessment is conducted in your home and typically takes between two and four hours, depending on the complexity of your needs. Following the visit, your occupational therapist prepares your clinical SDA eligibility report, which is generally completed and returned to you within five to ten business days. Astrad Allied Health provides mobile assessments across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, so the assessment comes to you.
Take the first step toward housing that genuinely meets your needs. Our AHPRA-registered occupational therapists provide mobile SDA assessments across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania — coming to you so you can be assessed in your own environment. Request an assessment today and receive a clear, evidence-based SDA eligibility report to support your NDIS plan.
Request Your SDA AssessmentAstrad Allied Health offers a full range of NDIS assessments to support your funding applications and plan reviews:
A comprehensive evaluation of your physical, cognitive and functional abilities to support NDIS funding applications, plan reviews and care planning.
Professional assessment identifying home modifications, equipment and environmental changes to improve safety, accessibility and your independence at home.
Specialist assessment and prescription of assistive technology — from communication devices and power wheelchairs to environmental controls — to maximise your independence.
Mobile occupational therapy services supporting NDIS participants with daily living skills, goal achievement, equipment trials and functional capacity evaluations.
Coordination of allied health services, equipment prescription and specialist housing solutions for participants with complex, high-support needs.
Clinical support for NDIS plan reviews, including evidence-based reports, goal setting, functional documentation and funding justification for complex support needs.
