Specific challenges and solutions for NDIS housing in rural and remote areas, including accessibility and provider availability
NDIS options in rural and remote areas
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a program of the Australian federal government, designed to support the needs of people with disability. To be eligible for the NDIS, a person must have a disability that significantly affects their ability to participate in everyday activities. They must also be aged under 65 years of age. They must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a Special Category Visa.
There are no eligibility requirements related to where the participant lives within Australia. All state and territory governments participate in the NDIS. People with disability who live in remote parts of the country are fully entitled to receive NDIS funding for the services and supports they require.
Findings on the NDIS in remote parts of Australia
At 31 March 2021, the NDIS noted 6,664 people with disability living in remote and very remote locations were receiving NDIS support. This figure was an increase of 342% over the past three years.Â
In 2016, the NDIA Rural and Remote Strategy was developed to provide direction for the implementation of the NDIS in rural and remote parts of Australia. The Strategy acknowledged that individuals with disabilities in these regions, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, might need extra assistance to engage with the NDIS, obtain an NDIS plan, and effectively utilise their supports.
Challenges for NDIS delivery in regional and remote areas
Geographic isolation can be a significant obstacle for NDIS participants living in remote Australia, as they may have limited access to essential services due to their distance from urban centers. This can result in difficulties accessing allied health professionals, support workers, and specialised services. The NDIS has detailed higher price limits for some supports in remote and very remote areas as a response to higher operational costs to deliver services in these areas.
Service delivery in rural and remote Australia
Many remote communities often lack the necessary infrastructure and resources to support the delivery of disability services. This includes limited transportation options, inadequate healthcare facilities and no local hospital, plus a scarcity of community resources. These problems can be compounded by the sheer size, isolation and harsh climatic conditions experienced in Australia.
As a result, individuals with disabilities living in these areas may experience barriers to accessing the support they need to participate fully in their communities.
Supporting cultural diversity
Cultural and linguistic diversity present another challenge, as remote places often have diverse populations with unique language and cultural needs and preferences. This requires accredited service providers to offer culturally appropriate services and have the capacity to communicate effectively with individuals from various cultural backgrounds.
NDIS housing in remote Australia
Accommodation supports and options can be provided by the NDIS. Types of accommodation funded include:
Specialist Disability Accommodation SDA
Supported Independent Living SIL
Medium term accommodation
Finding suitable housing options outside of major cities is another challenge for NDIS participants, people living with mental illness or disability, and service providers.
SDA funding is a particular funding stream for scheme participants with very high support needs and extreme functional challenge and impairment. Although there is a considerable demand for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in Australia, there is currently a lack of SDA certified homes. This is especially true in regional locations, with a noticeable shortage of SDA homes in these parts of the country.
Reasons for housing scarcity in regional areas
Several factors contribute to the scarcity of SDA homes, including the high expenses associated with constructing or modifying homes to adhere to SDA design standards, the absence of incentives for property developers and investors to engage in SDA housing, and the protracted and intricate certification procedures for SDA providers.
These challenges make it difficult to construct new SDA housing, particularly in regional places where demand is substantial but costs pose a significant barrier. This results in the creation of a thin market. The term ‘thin markets’ is used to describe the situation of a lack of clarity and unknown demand due to the recognised shortage of housing options available in a remote community.
Building capacity in remote areas
Community Connectors are people who help identify and engage with people with disability and their representatives. The National Disability Insurance Agency has employed 173 Remote Community Connectors in their workforce, covering 274 areas in rural and remote Australia. This means there are specialised staff in 90 local government areas throughout NT, SA, WA and QLD.Â
Strengths of rural and remote communities
Despite the challenges of life in remote locations, many regional and remote communities are very strong and supportive. People living in remote places have often developed their own strategies for providing social support and community participation opportunities. Many families and neighbours work together to support a person with disability in their community.
Social respite and support programs provide meaningful opportunity for social connection. Contact us to learn more.
Nursed Care services in New South Wales
We are Nursed Care, accredited NDIS providers based in Paramatta. We provide a broad range of personal and social services to participants and My Aged Care scheme participants. We play a part in ensuring equitable access to disability services for all Australians. We manage and provide accommodation services, that provide safety and independence for residents.
Our SDA homes are located in the community and feature spacious bedrooms with accessible ensuites
Our accessible SIL home are modern and fully furnished, with comfortable shared living spaces and a bedroom for each participant
Our medium term accommodation options are suitable for people waiting to live into a more permanent home
Our respite services provide access and support to carers who need a break or are unable to care due to poor health
Read our coverage of NDIS housing options, or check our list of current available properties, located in many different suburbs around New South Wales.
Related questions
Addressing the significant challenges of delivering disability services in remote parts of the country is essential to ensure that individuals with disabilities in these regions receive the support they need to achieve good health and participate fully in society.
A thin market refers to a market with low trading activity, so there are relatively few buyers and sellers of SDA properties. In a thin market, the number of transactions taking place is limited, and there may be a lack of readily available information about overall supply and fair pricing. As a result, thin markets often display higher price volatility compared to more active markets.
National Disability Insurance Scheme support coordinators can help identify and secure services for NDIS participants that live outside of metropolitan areas. Service such as personal care, community participation, training and home care.
Occupational therapist and other allied health services and supports can also be made available to scheme participants during outreach visits and programs.
