Agenda
Day 2
Wed 2nd July 25 

Registration and Arrival 

Welcome and Introductions

Emergencies and disasters don’t impact everyone equally. For people with disabilities, events like bushfires, floods, and power outages often come with elevated risks and barriers to safety. In this 30-minute session, we introduce the Person-Centered Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) approach—an evidence-based, strengths-focused framework that enables individuals with disability to lead their own emergency planning.

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This session will explore how SIL providers and hospital teams can embed the P-CEP approach into everyday planning, service delivery, and discharge processes. Attendees will learn how to support individuals to identify their functional support needs, build strong support networks, and prepare for real-world scenarios through inclusive, practical strategies.

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We will highlight key components of P-CEP planning—from understanding risk and mapping resources, to practising emergency scenarios and using accessible communication tools. The session will offer a snapshot of how to align with NDIS and health system responsibilities, while promoting dignity, safety, and continuity of care before, during, and after a crisis.

Effective transitions of care are critical for individuals with disabilities, particularly when moving between hospital settings and home-based care.

The risk of harm can be significant if transitions are not managed carefully, especially when it comes to managing medication errors, post-discharge follow-up, and ensuring appropriate care after hospital discharge. This session will focus on how SIL providers can support the safe and coordinated movement of participants from hospital to home, while meeting the necessary compliance and quality standards set by the NDIS.

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The presentation will address the challenges associated with managing transitions, particularly for high-intensity care needs, and how SIL providers can ensure they are equipped to meet these demands. We will discuss the importance of clear communication, timely documentation, and collaboration between hospital staff, families, and support workers to reduce risks and safeguard participants' well-being.

Emphasizing the key role of the NDIS Practice Standards and the High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors (HISSDs), the session will guide providers through strategies to ensure that they meet their obligations and provide high-quality care.

Key discussion points will include:

• Risk Management and Safety: Identifying and mitigating risks during transitions from hospital to home, focusing on medication management, follow-up care, and the need for accurate health documentation.

• Role of SIL Providers in Coordination: Ensuring clear communication and coordination with hospital staff, support networks, and the participant to guarantee that care plans are followed and needs are met.

• NDIS Compliance: Navigating the NDIS Practice Standards and ensuring that high-intensity care requirements, such as those for daily personal activities (HIDPA), are adequately met, and that the provider is fully prepared to deliver the necessary care.

• Best Practices for Documentation and Communication: Effective strategies for documenting and sharing participant health information, including medical records, medication summaries, and support plans, with hospital staff to ensure continuity of care.

• Training and Workforce Capability: The need for SIL providers to invest in staff training to meet the demands of transitioning high-needs participants and comply with the NDIS Workforce Capability Framework.

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Who is involved:

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• SIL Providers: Responsible for ensuring the continuity of care and safe transitions for participants from hospital to home.

• Hospital Discharge Teams: Including doctors, nurses, and social workers who provide discharge planning and care coordination.

• Support Coordinators: Working to ensure that participants receive the right supports and that all necessary services are in place post-discharge.

• Allied Health Professionals: Such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and other health experts involved in assessing and preparing participants for post-hospital care.

• NDIS Representatives: Ensuring that providers comply with practice standards and provide appropriate care for participants.

• Families and Caregivers: Key supporters in facilitating communication and ensuring the patient’s needs are met throughout the transition.

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By attending, providers and stakeholders will gain insights into managing hospital-to-home transitions, ensuring compliance with NDIS standards, and ultimately improving the quality of life for participants through well-managed, safe transitions.

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This session delves into the critical challenges of housing availability and accessibility in the context of Specialist Disability Accommodation . It examines the impact of limited SDA supply on timely hospital discharges, explores key bottlenecks in the hospital-to-SDA transition process, and analyses how policy and funding gaps contribute to delays.

Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the systemic barriers and potential solutions to ensure smoother transitions and improved outcomes for participants requiring accessible housing.

The strategic location of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) homes near hospitals is more than a matter of convenience—it’s a powerful way to improve outcomes for participants with complex health needs, support timely hospital discharge, and reduce pressure on the acute care system.

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This presentation will explore how placing SDA homes within close proximity to major and regional hospitals benefits NDIS participants, SDA providers, hospital discharge planners, and health services. We’ll unpack how these homes enable faster discharge pathways, better access to outpatient and allied health services, and improve coordination of complex care. For participants with high physical support or chronic medical needs, being near medical facilities can mean safer living, faster emergency response, and improved wellbeing.

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We’ll also highlight examples of how hospital-linked SDA placements can reduce discharge delays, prevent re-admissions, and create a more integrated model of care. Finally, the session will explore planning considerations, partnerships, and advocacy strategies for developers and providers to prioritise SDA builds in health precincts and growth corridors.

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This session is ideal for SDA providers, hospitals, discharge coordinators, and health precinct planners seeking to align health, housing, and disability supports more effectively.

Bariatric care within Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) and Supported Independent Living (SIL) is an urgent and growing need. Individuals with extreme obesity often require tailored housing, specialised equipment, and complex support models to ensure safety, dignity, and continuity of care—particularly during hospital discharge or emergency transitions.

This session brings together hospital discharge planners, SIL providers, occupational therapists, and SDA developers to explore how to meet the care and housing needs of bariatric participants under the NDIS.

We’ll examine the intersection of clinical care, built environment design, and 24/7 support planning. Topics include safe manual handling, space and structural requirements in SDA builds, bariatric-friendly assistive technology, risk mitigation strategies, and staff training considerations. We'll also cover transitional pathways from hospital to home, highlighting the role of individualised care planning, cross-agency collaboration, and timely approvals.

Attendees will gain insight into how to future-proof SDA design for higher physical support needs, align with NDIS funding streams, and improve outcomes for one of the most complex and underserved populations in disability housing.

COLLABORATE AND CONNECT NETWORKING LUNCH