The four SDA design categories in plain language
July 7, 2026
Every SDA home is built to one of four design categories set out in the NDIS SDA Design Standard. Your SDA funding names the category you are eligible for, so understanding them helps you search for the right home.
Improved Liveability
Homes with better amenity for people with sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairment — think clear lines of sight, good natural light, and layouts that are easy to understand and move through.
Fully Accessible
Designed for significant physical impairment: step-free access throughout, bathrooms and kitchens usable from a wheelchair, and doors and corridors wide enough for mobility equipment.
Robust
Built with resilient, low-maintenance materials to reduce the risk of injury and neighbourhood disturbance — durable walls and fittings, secure outdoor space, and layouts that support both privacy and line of sight for support staff.
High Physical Support
Everything in Fully Accessible, plus provisions for very high support needs: structural capacity for ceiling hoists, assistive technology readiness, emergency power to essential equipment, and clinical care-friendly design.
See our full breakdown of each category, or browse current vacancies to see the categories available near you.