Bridging Impact Housing 2025 brings together national and South Australian leaders in disability housing, mental health accommodation, and social impact innovation.

Hosted by NDISDA in partnership with Impact Housing and SILSDA, this half-day Summit is designed to address the evolving intersection of housing, health, and support for people with disability and psychosocial needs.

As the NDIS and housing sectors navigate significant reform and financial challenges, this event provides a strategic platform for collaboration, policy insight, and best-practice sharing.

Delegates will gain critical updates on SDA and SIL sustainability, mental health accommodation design, transitional housing models, and hospital-to-home initiatives transforming South Australia’s support landscape.

With leading experts, government representatives, and frontline providers presenting real-world innovations and sector solutions, this summit offers essential knowledge and actionable strategies for organisations driving better outcomes in housing and care.

Who should attend?

This event is designed for professionals and leaders working at the intersection of disability, housing, health, and community support, including:

• NDIS and SDA Providers – including SIL, STA, MTA, and respite operators

• Mental Health and Wellbeing Services – supporting individuals with psychosocial or behavioural needs

• Housing and Homelessness Organisations – crisis, transitional, and community housing providers

• Government and Policy Teams – from housing, social services, and health portfolios

• Hospital Discharge and Health Networks – connecting patients to sustainable housing pathways

• Community and Support Coordination Teams – assisting clients with housing navigation and tenancy sustainment

• Developers, Architects, Access Consultants, and SDA Assessors – focused on accessible and robust design

• Allied Health and Support Professionals – including OTs, recovery coaches, and case managers

If your work touches disability housing, mental health accommodation, or system-level reform - this summit is a must-attend.

Why attend?

• Gain Insight: Understand emerging SDA and SIL trends, funding sustainability, and provider expectations in 2025 and beyond.

• Learn from Innovators: Hear how leading organisations are transforming hospital discharge pathways, transitional housing, and mental health accommodation.

• Strengthen Partnerships: Connect with industry peers, government representatives, and thought leaders driving systemic change.

• Shape Future Direction: Contribute to discussions on bridging SDA gaps, reusing underutilised housing, and creating community-integrated solutions.

• Walk Away with Solutions: Leave equipped with practical frameworks, collaboration models, and design innovations that can be applied within your organisation.

Program Overview

8.00am – 8.25am | Arrival and Registration

8.30am – 8.45am | Welcome and Introductions

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Session 1 : Bridging Impact Housing

8.00am - 8.25am

Arrival and registration

8.30am - 8.45am :

Welcome and introductions

8.45am - 9.15am

Housing Pathways in South Australia: Connecting people to homes and support

Anna-Kate from the South Australian Housing Trust will provide an in-depth overview of housing pathways across South Australia, highlighting strategies to connect individuals with appropriate housing and supports.

Her presentation will cover how the Trust addresses challenges such as housing availability, accessibility, and social inclusion, particularly for vulnerable populations, including people with disability and mental health needs.

Attendees will gain insight into:

• Statewide Housing Initiatives: Current and upcoming programs to improve housing access and supply.

• Inclusive Housing Strategies: Approaches to ensure homes meet diverse needs, including disability, mental health, and social vulnerability considerations.

• Collaborations and Partnerships: How the Trust works with community organizations, service providers, and government bodies to enhance housing pathways.

• Challenges and Opportunities: Addressing housing shortages, system limitations, and strategies for long-term sustainable solutions.

This session will offer practical insights and sector perspectives on how South Australians are supported to access safe, suitable, and sustainable housing.

9.20am - 9.50am

From Hospital to Home: Transitional Accommodation and Wraparound Support for people experiencing social vulnerability

Kim Herbert | Program Manager, Salvation Army SA

The partnership between The Salvation Army and SA Health is transforming hospital discharge pathways for individuals experiencing homelessness in South Australia. This initiative provides safe, supportive transitional accommodation for patients medically cleared for discharge but without a home, alleviating hospital bed pressures and reducing readmissions.

Residents benefit from private bedrooms, shared facilities, and on-site amenities such as art studios and gyms, alongside wraparound support services that connect them to long-term housing and community resources.

This session will explore:

The design and operation of the transitional accommodation model
Collaborative strategies between health services, housing providers, and community organisations
Impacts on hospital efficiency, patient recovery, and long-term housing outcomes
Lessons learned in delivering holistic, person-centred support for vulnerable populations

Attendees will gain practical insights into cross-sector collaboration and innovative approaches that bridge healthcare and housing to improve both health and social outcomes.

9.55am - 10.10am

Morning tea

10.15am - 10.45am

Strengthening Supported Independent Living and SDA in South Australia: Ensuring Trust, Quality, and Stability

With several SDA and SIL providers across Adelaide facing financial and operational pressures, sustainability and participant protection are more important than ever.

This session explores the evolving SDA and SIL landscape in South Australia, focusing on provider accountability, tenancy stability, and the balance between housing quality and viable service delivery.

Attendees will gain practical insights into NDIA expectations, risk mitigation strategies, and collaborative approaches that secure participant outcomes while maintaining business resilience. The session provides a roadmap for maintaining trust, delivering consistent quality, and building a stable future for South Australia’s disability housing sector.

10.45am - 11.15am

Reimagining SDA and Mental Health Accommodation in South Australia: Balancing Safety, Choice, and Community Integration – Designing for Resilience

South Australia is leading the way in evolving Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). Mental Health and Short Term Accommodation (STA). Individuals with complex psychosocial or behavioural needs often face limited housing options, long wait times, and placements that do not fully meet their goals.

This session explores how robust SDA design can balance safety, durability, and dignity, moving beyond compliance to create stable, homely environments that support independence and recovery. Attendees will examine real-world challenges in community integration, regulatory compliance, and participant-centred outcomes.

Key discussion points include designing for risk reduction without compromising comfort, integrating safety measures for tenants and staff, and innovations in materials, layouts, and technologies that enhance SDA sustainability and effectiveness.

Delegates will gain practical insights into delivering housing that prioritises choice, wellbeing, and long-term resilience.

11.15am - 11.25am

Delivering Robust SDA: From Design to Occupancy

This session explores how Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) providers transform robust architectural designs into fully operational homes that meet the needs of NDIS participants, including those with complex mental health or psychosocial needs. It highlights how design principles—such as accessibility, safety, and durability—are implemented in practice to create functional, safe, and supportive living environments.

Attendees will gain insight into the practical steps involved in equipment installation, compliance, maintenance, and operational management, ensuring SDA homes perform as intended.

The session also emphasizes participant-centred outcomes, demonstrating how operational strategies can support independence, daily living, mental wellbeing, and long-term resilience, ensuring that homes are safe, empowering, and conducive to recovery and stability.

11.30am - 12.15pm 

Panel Topic

Unlocking Potential: Collaborative Solutions for Empty SDA Homes

Across Australia, empty or underutilised SDA homes represent both a lost opportunity for participants and a potential resource for addressing urgent housing needs. At the same time, the demand for crisis and short-term accommodation continues to grow, putting pressure on service providers and the broader housing system.

This panel will explore how SDA providers, impact housing organisations, and support services can collaborate to repurpose vacant homes, create safe and responsive short-term housing solutions, and optimise outcomes for participants.

Discussions will cover practical strategies, regulatory considerations, funding opportunities, and lessons learned from successful collaborations, highlighting innovative approaches to bridging the gap between SDA availability and crisis housing demand.

Attendees will gain insights into cross-sector collaboration, sustainable housing models, and ways to maximise the impact of existing SDA stock while meeting the urgent needs of people experiencing housing instability.

12.15pm - 12.30pm

Networking and Depart

The above program is a guide.

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Join the Conversation

Be part of this important dialogue as South Australia shapes the next phase of impact housing, SDA innovation, and mental health accommodation reform.

Whether you’re a NDIS/SDA/SIL/Community Housing provider, designer, or advocate, this summit will equip you with the insight, connections, and strategies to drive meaningful impact in 2025 and beyond.