Better Homes for people with disability

Accessible information for people with disability about Better Homes can be found here:

• Better Homes  plain language fact sheet (DOCX, 33.1 KB)
• Better Homes easy read (PDF, 1.7 MB)

Better Homes strategy intent

The NSW Government owns approximately 800 properties used for disability housing, respite care and day programs, supporting roughly 2,500 people with disability across the state.

These properties were generally purchased and/or constructed at a time when states and territories were directly responsible for the provision of specialist disability services. Since 2015, the provision of properties and services for people requiring specialist disability housing now falls under the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The NSW Government now funds the ongoing provision of specialist disability housing through its annual contribution to the NDIS – representing $4.3 billion in 2026-27.

Most of the NSW Government’s legacy disability properties are now leased and managed by non-government Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) providers, with daily living support provided by Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers, both of which are exclusively funded by the NDIS.

While some of these residents have lived in these properties for a long time, many of the legacy properties have aged, do not meet modern standards, and do not reflect the intent of the NDIS to provide choice and control.

Some of these properties no longer meet the current needs of residents, or require significant improvements to support people with disability into the future.

Under Better Homes, the NSW Government will support residents and work with NDIS providers to:

• Improve and increase disability housing
• Support people who live there now, and help residents plan future options
• Support day programs and respite services, where needed
• Create a small number of bespoke homes for people with complex needs.

The main goal is to provide long-term quality homes for people with disability.

Over time, properties will be upgraded for long-term disability housing. Where that is not feasible, the properties may be redeveloped for other government housing programs. A small number of properties not suitable for either purpose may be offered to the market to help fund capital improvements to other disability homes.

Better Homes will also seek to increase the number of homes available for people with disability through modern design and development options.

For residents and providers, Better Homes process will be carefully managed, with residents supported to live in homes that meet their needs.

Further implementation detail for residents and providers will be available before the end of 2026.

Consultation

DCJ has consulted with stakeholders between November 2024 and April 2025, including:

• Housing and support providers (SDA and SIL providers)
• Day program and respite providers
• Disability advocacy groups
• Groups who represent the interests and rights of people with disability
• Peak organisations and industry bodies

Their feedback has helped shape the Better Homes project.

Further consultation with residents and their support networks, SDA, SIL providers and representative organisations will take place as the project is implemented.

Supporting residents

DCJ is committed to helping people who live in legacy disability housing to move to better quality homes that meet their needs and provide greater comfort, independence and security.

We will support residents to understand their housing choices and help residents work through relevant NDIS processes and assessments.

DCJ will:

• Provide clear information
• Support choice and independence
• Make changes slowly and carefully.

Residents may:

• Stay in their current home, if it still meets their needs
• Move to a home that better meets their needs
• Temporarily move, whilst upgrades or redevelopment occurs.

Independent support

Residents will be offered independent support from People with Disability Australia (PWDA). This support will help them:

• Understand their housing options and make their own decisions
• Navigate the NDIS process
• Focus on protecting and respecting residents’ rights and choice.

When will these changes happen?

These changes will happen gradually over many years. DCJ will work with residents and their support networks, disability representatives, advocates and providers to design the approach for an initial group of properties to be offered under long-term leases.

Residents, their families and providers will be continually updated on the implementation of the Better Homes project. This includes talking to residents before there are any changes to their accommodation options.

Do existing residents need to move home?

This will depend upon individual resident needs, and suitability of the current home for ongoing use.

If existing residents need to move home, they will be supported to plan for where they want to live and who they want to live with.  

Why are the properties ageing or unsuitable?

Before the NDIS was introduced, the NSW Government provided and operated most accommodation and support services for people with complex disability support needs.

Many of the DCJ properties were built or purchased a long time ago and do not reflect the contemporary standards or design classifications of the SDA market.

Since the NDIS was fully implemented in 2018, these properties have been leased to a range of registered SDA providers through the NDIS. These providers are responsible for the delivery of accommodation services and general maintenance and upkeep.  

Legacy government properties now make up around one third of SDA housing in NSW.  To meet contemporary standards and to match the needs of residents now and into the future, upgrades and redevelopments are required. 

• Better Homes  plain language fact sheet (DOCX, 33.1 KB)
• Better Homes easy read (PDF, 1.7 MB)

Working with providers

The core purpose of the NSW Government’s legacy disability property portfolio will remain providing long-term housing for people with disability through SDA which is funded and regulated through the NDIS.

DCJ will support a strong SDA market and increased resident choice by making properties in the disability portfolio available to registered SDA providers to redevelop and manage under long-term arrangements. 

Through the consultations undertaken by DCJ, there has been strong interest in opportunities to redevelop these properties. 

Providers must comply at all times with any requirements of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, including provider registration and the separation of supports.

What support will be available for existing residents to explore housing options and plan?

DCJ has engaged People with Disability Australia (PWDA) as independent housing specialists to assist current residents to consider housing options, navigate NDIS processes, assessments and applications as needed.

PWDA will assist residents to identify and transition to fit-for-purpose housing in line with NDIS participant goals and funding.

Our objective is to ensure that residents of these properties are supported with long-term housing that meets their needs. This may be in a legacy property owned by the government, or in a different property, depending on what the person needs, wants and the options available.

Will all the properties be used to provide homes for people with disability?

There are some properties that are, or will become, financially unsustainable to operate and/or unsuitable to redevelop as specialist housing for people with disability.

Properties not suitable or needed for disability uses will be used for other government priorities where possible, such as providing homes for vulnerable children or providing housing through the NSW Government Property Framework. 

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