Improved Liveability (IL) SDA Homes
SDA homes designed to be calmer, clearer and easier to navigate for participants with sensory, intellectual or cognitive support needs.
What Is IL Housing?
Improved Liveability (IL) is an SDA category for participants whose wellbeing and function are significantly affected by their environment.
This includes people with sensory sensitivities, intellectual disability, autism, acquired brain injury, or other conditions where lighting, noise, layout and visual design directly impact daily life.
IL homes are designed to reduce overwhelm. Better natural light, improved acoustics, clear sightlines and predictable layouts create spaces that are easier on your senses and your brain.
Who IL Housing suits
If your environment significantly affects how you feel and function each day, then IL might be the best housing option for you.
You might need IL if:
- Noise from other rooms or outside makes it hard to concentrate or stay calm
- Fluorescent lights or poor natural lighting affects your mood or triggers headaches
- Confusing layouts or visual clutter makes it hard to find your way or complete tasks
- Sensory overload (too much noise, light or activity) leads to shutdowns or meltdowns
- Your current home feels chaotic and you can’t regulate or settle
- You need predictable spaces and routines to function well
- Standard housing constantly overwhelms your senses or cognition
IL is not about physical access. It’s about whether your environment helps or hinders your ability to live well.
IL home features
IL homes include specific design features required by the NDIS SDA Design Standard. Here’s what matters and why:
Better natural lighting
Windows positioned to bring in natural light without glare. Reduces reliance on harsh artificial lighting. Helps regulate circadian rhythms and mood.
Improved acoustics
Sound doesn't travel between rooms the way it does in standard homes. Walls, floors and ceilings absorb noise. You get genuine quiet when you need it.
Clear sightlines and open layouts
You can see through spaces without confusion. Fewer blind corners or surprises. Easier to orient yourself and understand your environment.
Reduced visual clutter in design
Simple, clean finishes. Not busy patterns or overwhelming colours. Visual calm built into the design, not just the furniture choices.
Better temperature control and ventilation
Comfortable temperatures without stuffy or overheated rooms. Fresh air without relying entirely on opening windows near noisy streets.
Slip-resistant, sensory-friendly flooring
Safer surfaces that also feel better underfoot. Not cold, harsh or echoey.
Step-free access where needed
Many IL homes include accessible entry even though IL isn't primarily about physical access. This reduces barriers for participants who have both sensory and mobility needs.
Are You Eligible for IL? SDA Housing
The NDIA decides SDA eligibility and category, not providers.
IL eligibility typically requires:
- You’re an NDIS participant under 65 years old
- You have sensory, intellectual or cognitive support needs
- Your environment significantly affects your wellbeing and function
- Standard housing creates sensory or cognitive overwhelm that impacts daily life
- Better environmental design would help you manage better, reduce risks, or maintain stability
Your Occupational Therapist, psychologist or other allied health professionals typically provide evidence about how your environment affects you and why IL design would help.
Your Support Coordinator can help you understand whether IL is the right category to explore with your NDIA planner.
We can’t write evidence or apply to NDIA on your behalf. What we can do is help you understand what IL homes feel like and whether our homes might suit your needs when they become available.
For families and support coordinators
For families:
We know you’ve seen how much the environment affects your loved one’s wellbeing. You’ve probably adapted your current home as much as possible.
When IL homes become available, you’re welcome to attend inspections and assess whether the design genuinely creates the calm, predictable environment your loved one needs.
For Support Coordinators:
We can provide detailed design specs, acoustic reports if available, and photos showing lighting, layout and finishes.
We understand you need solid information to help your participant assess whether IL design will actually make a difference to their daily function and wellbeing.