Beginning in 2021, NDIS participants and providers saw an increasing number of people who requested SDA funding receive decisions that do not align with their needs and preferences. The resulting uncertainty around eligibility criteria and opaque administrative processes causes stress and frustration for participants, their family and friends, and providers. 

The Housing Hub has supported over 600 participants along the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding pathway. In order to understand and engage with the SDA decision-making and appeals process, the Housing Hub and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) commenced a collaborative project in mid-2021, providing legal help to NDIS participants who are seeking reviews of SDA funding decisions at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). This report presents early findings from this project.