Challenging The Status Quo in Disability Housing
Jamie-Lee describes how Housing Hub’s first national event aims to reduce the challenges she and others face while navigating disability housing.
Join Housing Hub in challenging the status quo of disability housing.I was also worried whether I would be able to afford living on my own. When I had previously lived in a group home, I craved my own space and that was really the driving force behind my move. I remember the first property search we did in 2020 only took a few months as there were a number of properties available in Brisbane. However, last year I moved again to be closer to my family on the Gold Coast. There are a lot more options available now, but I still found it difficult to find a suitable SDA that was close to my parents. It’s extremely difficult for me to live anywhere as I require a lot of accessibility features and had to consider finding new support workers when I moved. I found the move last year really stressful, so much so that I ended up in hospital twice. There are lots of elements to consider when moving, and I couldn’t predict the delays in equipment installations and the impact this would have on my health.The team at Housing Hub know how daunting this journey can be, particularly right now at this time of change within the NDIS space.That’s why Housing Hub is hosting their first national event in Melbourne, on Tuesday 6th October called Disruptive Ideas in Disability Housing: Challenging the Status Quo. This one-day event is about creating space for people with disability and advocates to come together and be heard. The goal is to challenge how disability housing works, with bold and innovative ideas and honest and necessary conversations about what's not working and why.
Article Published: August 2026
The Housing Hub currently lists over 5,500 homes for people with disability. Search for a home that is right for you today!Or better still, create a Housing Seeker Profile and let the Housing Hub do the hard work for you. Sign up here!
Do you have choice and control over where and who you live with in disability housing? Disability Housing in Australia has changed so many lives but there is always room for improvement such as exploring new opportunities to expand choice and control. I’ve been living in disability housing for the last nine years, which has ranged from group homes to two Supported Disability Accommodations (SDA). When I was initially looking for an SDA in 2020, I really struggled to find what I was looking for because of the limited options available. I was terrified of choosing an SDA that was isolated and far away from my supports.
Join Housing Hub in challenging the status quo of disability housing.I wish this event was around when I was first exploring disability housing. If it was, maybe my journey wouldn’t have been so stressful.The event provides a platform for those with lived experience to talk to providers directly, challenge long-standing assumptions and explore ideas that push boundaries. There are a couple of sessions at the event that stand out to me and are important to discuss openly.
The right to a one-night stand
Human rights include the right to sexual expression and bodily autonomy for all of us and this means deciding who comes in and out of our home and why. This is an important topic to me, when I lived in the group home, we weren’t allowed to have overnight visitors and required parental consent. As a 27-year-old, it was horrible to be treated like a child in the place I was meant to call home.The right to live alone
Larger group homes for people with disability should be a relic of the past. Bel and Shanais are the new standard. Both thriving in their own SDA apartments, they show that by living according to preference, people can gain meaningful outcomes and live great lives.Finding an SDA for myself gave me the freedom I desired, it enabled me to live life on my own terms. I was able to have visitors and choose a support worker to assist me as a scribe, so I could continue my writing. Learning from people with lived experience about SDA is the best path forward to tackle the issues faced within the disability housing sector. Here at Housing Hub, we believe it’s vital to listen to the people most affected by the systems we design. You can find more information about the upcoming Disruptive Ideas in Disability Housing: Challenging the Status Quo event here.Article Published: August 2026
About The Author
Jamie-Lee loves to challenge stereotypes surrounding disability; her lived experience of growing up with a disability motivates her advocacy. Having studied journalism at university, she uses her writing skills to her advantage. She hopes to help other people with a disability along their journey, encouraging vulnerable people to find their voice. She believes that diversity will pave the way to equality for all.The Housing Hub currently lists over 5,500 homes for people with disability. Search for a home that is right for you today!Or better still, create a Housing Seeker Profile and let the Housing Hub do the hard work for you. Sign up here!
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Housing Seeker Profile
Creating a Housing Seeker Profile is a simple process which involves telling us what you are looking for and what is important to you.
Housing Roadmap
The Housing Hub has worked alongside people with disability to map out the stages of a housing journey and the information you need to know about when moving through each step.