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The SDA HOUSING Podcast
Exploring Specialist Disability Accommodation in Australia
The SDA Housing Podcast is a leading voice in Australia’s Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) sector, delivering in-depth discussions, expert insights, and the latest updates related to housing solutions for people with disabilities. Through interviews with industry leaders, advocates, and lived-experience voices, we explore policy developments, innovative best practices, and real-world stories shaping the future of disability housing.
Listeners will gain valuable knowledge on emerging trends, sector challenges, and inspiring success stories, making this podcast an essential resource for investors, providers, advocates, and anyone passionate about inclusive housing.
Meet Your Hosts
Debbie Kindness – General Manager, NDIS Property Australia
With over 20 years of expertise in tourism, finance, and property, Debbie has played a pivotal role in transforming NDIS Property Australia from a two-person team to a 22-member powerhouse. Her leadership drives the successful marketing, sales, and development of SDA properties nationwide, working closely with builders, designers, lenders, and support providers to ensure high-quality, compliant housing solutions.
Minh Le – Founder & Director, NDIS Property Australia
A visionary in the SDA space, Minh is dedicated to accelerating the delivery of purpose-built disability housing across Australia. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders, investors, and NDIS participants, he champions choice, control, and dignity for people with disabilities, ensuring they have access to homes that truly meet their needs.
Together, Debbie and Minh are committed to ethical, sustainable, and impactful solutions in the SDA sector, bridging gaps and driving meaningful change.
Engaging with the SDA Community
Each week, we feature guest speakers from across the sector—sharing their expertise, experiences, and contributions to social impact in SDA. From innovative housing designs to policy advocacy, our conversations highlight how we can collectively improve living options for NDIS participants.
As the SDA landscape evolves, we invite you—our listeners—to join the journey. Whether you're an investor, provider, advocate, or simply passionate about inclusive housing, this podcast equips you with the knowledge to make a difference in the lives of People with Disabilities (PWDs).
Share Your Story
Have an SDA journey you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you!
📞 Call us: 1300 254 397
📧 Email us: podcast@ndis.property
🌐 Visit us: www.ndis.property
Join the conversation and help shape a more inclusive future in disability housing.
The SDA HOUSING Podcast
EPISODE 305 - NDIS Commission meets with different SDA Providers
- Recently the NDIS Quality & Safeguards Commission have been going around to meet with several large SDA Providers, and Paramount was one such Provider who welcomed the NDIS Commisson into their office to give industry feedback.
- In this episode, Minh talks to Kevin Chen, from Paramount Disability Homes, about their recent meeting with the NDIS Commission. Representatives from the NDIA flew into Melbourne to meet Paramount at their Box Hill office to chat about the SDA sector.
- Historically, the NDIA has not prioritised the SDA sector, focusing more on SIL or Support Coordination. However, the recent 'Cocoon scandal' has prompted them to direct more attention to SDA due to safety concerns. This indicates a positive shift, with the NDIA beginning to delve deeper into this niche sector.
- Kevin points out a "massive pitfall" in the NDIA's understanding of the SDA market, particularly regarding the financial sector and the process of borrowing for SDA development. He notes that the NDIA seemed unaware of tightening financing issues, mistakenly attributing investment challenges solely to high land costs, and that his team had to shed light on these "blind spots."
- The NDIA commission was surprised by how advanced the SDA sector has become in a short period. The scheme was not initially designed to anticipate such rapid growth and significant investment from sophisticated investors, developers, and institutions.
- SDA providers face challenges when contacting the NDIA's general team for queries on funding or delays, often receiving non-specialized feedback. Kevin suggested the crucial need for a dedicated SDA team within the NDIA to provide accurate answers and support, given the industry's rapid growth and niche nature.
- Kevin's impression is that the NDIA's SDA specialist team is definitely under-resourced and understaffed. The increased volume of SDA properties and claims has led to significant administrative delays, particularly for NDIA-managed cases, indicating a lack of sufficient staff to handle the growing demand.
- The NDIA didn't understand why it is very hard to get multiple SIL providers under one roof. Despite idealistic guidelines suggesting one SDA provider could manage three SIL providers under one roof, this is practically 'impossible' due to the complexities of funding support workers. Providers avoid such arrangements because they are extremely difficult to manage effectively.
https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/
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NDIS PROPERTY AUSTRALIA:
Our team conducts thorough research on Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) and provides appropriate technical advice through premium and strategy-based solutions. We also use complex feasibility calculation spreadsheets to help investors understand the expected annual income of an SDA dwelling, the timeline stages of construction of their property, as well as revealing the hidden costs. By staying up-to-date with the latest SDA data and pricing payments information, we help clients make better-informed decisions and achieve their investment goals.
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