Strengthening Hospital to Home Pathways Through Education, Collaboration and Good Governance
 

Why the Program exists

​A successful transition from hospital to home requires far more than medical readiness.​

It relies on effective communication, clearly defined responsibilities, coordinated planning and a shared understanding of the health, disability and housing systems that support people living with disability beyond discharge.

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Recognising the need for stronger collaboration between hospitals and the disability sector, NDISDA SDA Housing & Disability®, a registered Australian trade mark, established the NDISDA Hospital to Home Engagement Program to improve communication, strengthen partnerships and support more coordinated, participant-centred hospital-to-home transitions.

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The program has one clear objective:

To improve outcomes for people living with disability by helping the health and disability sectors work together more effectively.

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Our Background

​The NDISDA Hospital to Home Engagement Program has evolved through NDISDA's national education, research and stakeholder engagement activities since 2020.

Over this period, NDISDA has delivered:

• 39 National Specialist Disability Accommodation Conferences across Australia;

• More than 200 workshops, executive forums, roundtables, networking events and professional development programs; and

• National engagement activities throughout Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart.

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As Australia's leading professional network dedicated to Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), Supported Independent Living (SIL) and disability housing pathways, NDISDA has established one of the country's most significant national platforms for collaboration across the disability housing, health and community sectors.

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Our conferences, executive forums, roundtables and education programs have brought together Federal and State Government agencies, Disability Ministers, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), hospital executives, Disability Liaison Officers, hospital-based NDIS Liaison Officers, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) providers, Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers, Support Coordinators, allied health professionals, researchers, housing organisations, builders, developers, advocates and many other leaders working across Australia's disability sector.

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In addition, NDISDA operates Australia's only dedicated national Specialist Disability Accommodation contact centre – 1300 NDI SDA (1300 634 732).

The contact centre provides a central point of connection for participants, families, hospitals, Support Coordinators, health professionals and the disability sector seeking information, connections, education and guidance regarding Specialist Disability Accommodation, Supported Independent Living and disability housing pathways.

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Together, these initiatives have provided NDISDA with a unique national perspective on the challenges affecting disability housing, hospital discharge, service coordination and participant outcomes.

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Understanding the Challenge

​Across every conference, workshop, executive forum and roundtable, a consistent message emerged.

While the disability sector was working hard to support participants, many of the barriers affecting successful hospital discharge could not be resolved without stronger engagement between hospitals, community providers and government.

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Stakeholders consistently identified challenges including:

• delayed discharge due to housing shortages and limited support availability;

• communication gaps between hospitals and community providers;

• uncertainty regarding organisational roles and responsibilities;

• limited understanding of disability housing and NDIS pathways;

• difficulties navigating Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), Supported Independent Living (SIL), Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA) and Short-Term Accommodation (STA);

• fragmented transition planning; and

• inconsistent knowledge of the NDIS across sectors.

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These discussions highlighted the need for a coordinated national approach that supports collaboration, education and shared understanding across both the health and disability systems.

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Responding to Industry need

In 2025, NDISDA commenced dedicated Hospital to Home engagement through specialised summits held in Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane.

These forums were established to identify the practical challenges affecting hospital-to-home transitions, strengthen collaboration across sectors and better understand the barriers experienced by participants, hospitals and community providers.

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During this period, Queensland Health issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) through NDISDA, seeking assistance to identify suitable disability housing and support providers to help address the growing number of vulnerable people - including people living with disability—who remained in hospital awaiting appropriate accommodation and supports.

​At the time, more than 1,000 vulnerable individuals were reported to be experiencing delayed discharge due to housing and support constraints.

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This highlighted the importance of strengthening communication between hospitals, community organisations and the disability sector—not only to assist with housing pathways, but also to improve coordination, discharge planning and participant outcomes.

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Building on these insights, 2026 marked the formal establishment of the NDISDA Hospital to Home Engagement Program, expanding NDISDA's engagement to directly include hospital personnel through dedicated Hospital to Home Summits, professional development workshops, executive forums and collaborative education initiatives.

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Connecting the right people and departments 

The Hospital to Home Engagement Program brings together professionals involved in every stage of the hospital-to-home journey, including:

• Hospital Executives

• Discharge Planners

• Patient Flow Teams

• Disability Liaison Officers

• Hospital-based NDIS Liaison Officers

• Allied Health Professionals

• Social Workers

• Support Coordinators

• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Providers

• Supported Independent Living (SIL) Providers

• Government representatives

• NDISDA Platinum Members

• NDISDA Strategic Growth Housing Partners.

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By bringing these sectors together, the program creates opportunities to improve communication, increase understanding of respective roles and responsibilities, and support more coordinated, participant-centred transitions.

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What we learned;

The feedback from both hospital personnel and the disability sector was remarkably consistent.

Hospital professionals sought a greater understanding of disability supports, NDIS funding pathways, housing options and the role of community providers following discharge.

Likewise, disability providers identified opportunities to improve communication with hospitals, clarify responsibilities and strengthen collaborative discharge planning.

These shared discussions reinforced one important principle: Better communication creates better transitions.

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Our Purpose

The NDISDA Hospital to Home Engagement Program has been established to:

• strengthen communication between hospitals and community providers;

• improve understanding of disability support pathways;

• support safe, timely and participant-centred hospital discharge;

• improve multidisciplinary collaboration;

• provide practical education for hospital professionals;

• encourage ethical and participant-focused practice; and

• contribute to improved transition outcomes through shared learning and continuous improvement.

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The program is centred on education, collaboration and professional engagement.

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A Governed Participation Model

To maintain the highest professional standards, participation by disability organisations within the Hospital to Home Engagement Program is limited to NDISDA Platinum Members and NDISDA Strategic Growth Housing Partners.

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Participating organisations have committed to:

• the NDISDA Code of Conduct;

• ethical and participant-centred practice;

• professionalism, transparency and accountability;

• collaborative engagement with hospitals and health professionals;

• continuous improvement; and

• protecting participant choice and control.

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This governance framework provides hospitals with confidence that participating organisations have committed to professional standards and collaborative practice.

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Where hospitals, participants or families request information regarding disability housing or community support options, NDISDA may facilitate introductions in accordance with its governance framework.

Any assistance provided supports informed decision-making and does not limit a participant's right to choose their preferred provider.

Participant choice and control remain fundamental principles of every engagement.

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Professional Education

Professional education is at the heart of the Hospital to Home Engagement Program.

NDISDA's Hospital to Home Workshops have been specifically developed for hospital professionals involved in discharge planning, patient flow and community transition.

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Workshop topics include:

• Hospital-to-home transition pathways;

• The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS);

• Support Coordination;

• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA);

• Supported Independent Living (SIL);

• Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA);

• Short-Term Accommodation (STA);

• multidisciplinary communication;

• collaborative discharge planning; and

• practical case studies based on real-world transition scenarios.

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The workshops provide practical knowledge and tools that hospital professionals can immediately apply within their own services to support safer, more coordinated and participant-centred transitions.

 

Our Commitment

NDISDA believes that successful hospital-to-home transitions are achieved through collaboration, education, good governance and shared responsibility.

Through national engagement, professional education, Australia's only dedicated Specialist Disability Accommodation contact centre 1300 NDI SDA (1300 634 732), and a governed network of participating organisations, NDISDA continues to strengthen communication between hospitals and the disability sector while supporting better outcomes for people living with disability.

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Together, we are helping ensure people living with disability transition from hospital into the right home, with the right supports, at the right time.