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THE UNITY IN DESIGN (BY FORMSPACE) MISSION
To unite Australians living with a disability, creating discerning design for the countries most deserving.
⮬ ROBUST HOUSING DUPLEX, FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
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'PARTNER WITH A REGISTERED NDIS PROVIDER'
About UID
Our Statement
Unity in Design is a recent subsidiary to Formspace Building Design. Unity in Design begins with the desire and passion to do better.… to do better for Australians living with a disability. The ‘design to build market’ has a gratuitous need to deliver above considered industry standards to provide a level of design that knowingly, is transforaminal for participants. For too long this has been undervalued.
Unity in Design has been recognised as the exemplar for a new type of rationale for disability led design and the impacts these designs have on local community, mainstream integration and broader wellbeing/social fabric.
Unity In Design (by Formspace) are also proud to be one of the first Registered Providers for the NDIS in Queensland for building design. Our meaningful approach, is a response to what can be achieved with progressive foresight and a collaboration that is vested to innovate for a clear manifestation of a participant lead program. Unity In Design seamlessly integrate the design typologies, regardless of disability that provide a strong uplift on equality.
⮬ HIGH PHYSICAL SUPPORT, FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
'NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME, LIVABLE HOUSING AUSTRALIA,
SPECIALIST DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION, SUPPORTED INDEPENDENT LIVING'
About NDIS/SIL/LHA/SDA
The NDIS
The National Disability Insurance Scheme provides support for persons with disability, their families and carers. The NDIS provides all Australians with a permanent and significant disability, aged under 65, with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live an ordinary life. Eligible individuals, known as participants, are provided a plan of support which is developed to their specific needs.
SIL Provider
Supported Independent Living is assistance with and or supervision of everyday responsibilities to develop the skills of an individual to live as independently as possible. Assistance provided to a participant will be included as part of their plan depending on the level of support they require to live independently in the housing option of their choice.
Providers working with participants who require SIL assistance in their plan, can use the provider SIL pack to assist them in developing the necessary documentation. The provider SIL package contains a calculation tool and submission templates that allow providers to detail and cost supports that allows a participant to build their capacity to live more independently, the SDA funding can become available to an eligible participant. Building designers typically work with SIL providers to identify gaps in market trends.
LHA Design
Livable Housing Australia consults with the National Disability Insurance Scheme Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Design Standards. LHA was engaged by NDIS and developed the standalone SDA Design Standards and the certification model that are now required for SDA. The terms LHA and their performance levels Silver, Gold & Platinum are often referred to throughout the design process.
SDA Design
Specialist Disability Accommodation denotes to housing for participants who require specialist housing solutions to assist with the delivery of supports that cater for their condition and/or support requirements. SDA is not support services, but the homes in which these are delivered.
In building design, the SLLHA (Livable Housing Design) Guidelines & NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation Design Standard is used as basis for minimum design requirements.
Participants with very high needs require special accommodation that enables them to receive the supports they need. The NDIS refers to this as SDA. Participants who are assessed as needing SDA as part of their reasonable and necessary supports will receive funding to cover the costs of SDA.
'THIS STANDARD HAS FOUR CATEGORIES OF SDA DESIGN WHICH ARE SET OUT IN THE SDA RULES'
SDA Design Categories
Improved Livability
Housing that has been designed to improve ‘Livability’ by incorporating a reasonable level of physical access and enhanced provision for people with sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairment
Minimum Design Standards:
Livable Housing Australia ‘Silver’ level
One or more ‘Improved Livability’ design features such as luminance contrasts, improved wayfinding or lines of sight
⮬ NEW BUILD, IPSWICH, QUEENSLAND, FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
Fully Accessible
Housing that has been designed to incorporate a high level of physical access provision for people with significant physical impairment
Minimum Design Standards:
Livable Housing Australia ‘Platinum’ level
External doors and external outdoor private areas to be accessible by wheelchair
Bathroom vanity/hand basin to be accessible in seated or standing position
Power supply to doors and windows (blinds), for retrofit of automation as necessary
Consideration must be given to whether it is appropriate for the kitchen sink, cooktop, meal preparation bench area and key appliances (dishwasher, oven, microwave oven, laundry appliances) to be accessible in seated or standing position
⮬ INFILL/RESUBDIVISION BUILDING DESIGN, LOGAN, QUEENSLAND, FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
⮬ NEW BUILD, GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND, BUILDING DESIGN FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
High Physical Support
Housing that has been designed to incorporate a high level of physical access provision for people with significant physical impairment and requiring very high levels of support.
Minimum Design Standards:
All requirements listed in the ‘Fully Accessible’ design category, plus:
Structural provision for ceiling hoists
Assistive technology ready
Heating/cooling and household communication technology (e.g. video or intercom systems) appropriate for the needs of residents
Emergency power solutions to cater for a minimum two hour outage where the welfare of participants is at risk
950mm minimum clear opening width doors to all habitable rooms
⮬ INFILL/RESUBDIVISION, GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND, BUILDING DESIGN FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
⮬ DUAL FRONTAGE GROUP HOME, YAMBA, NEW SOUTH WALES, BUILDING DESIGN FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
⮬ INFILL/RESUBDIVISION DUPLEX, LOGAN, QUEENSLAND, BUILDING DESIGN FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
Robust
Housing that has been designed to incorporate a high level of physical access provision and be very resilient, reducing the likelihood of reactive maintenance and reducing the risk to the participant and the community.
Minimum Design Standards:
Livable Housing Australia ‘Silver’ level
Resilient but inconspicuous materials that can withstand heavy use and minimises the risk of injury and neighbourhood disturbance including:
High impact wall lining, fittings and fixtures (e.g. blinds, door handles)
Secure windows, doors and external area
Appropriate sound proofing if residents are likely to cause significant noise disturbances (if required must retrofit in new builds if not previously installed at building stage)
Laminated glass
Layout with areas of egress and retreat for staff and other residents to avoid harm if required
Consideration must be given to providing adequate space and safeguards throughout the property to accommodate the needs of residents with complex behaviours
⮬ CORNER DUPLEX DESIGN, PIMPAMA, QUEENSLAND - BUILDING DESIGN FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
SDA Building Types
Typologies Explained
The SDA Guidelines set out the requirements for NDIS participants to have SDA funding included in their plan, including the type of dwelling that SDA funding can be used on and the way payments will be paid to registered providers of SDA.
The amount paid on SDA is dependent on the type of dwelling and performance level. This is specified by the Building Type that is enlisted by the registered provider.
The SDA Guidelines provide descriptions of five applicable Building Types, and the Price Guide contains further details on accommodation types and pricing. This is critical in understanding the role in which the design can value up against the feasibility studies undertaken by developers and builders. It is also crucial in the conceptual design phase to fully understand what can be extracted from a design, vs feasibility, vs vested interests in participant wellbeing.
Note that an On-site Overnight Assistance room is not classified as a bedroom under the rule.
The Building Types that have separate SDA prices are as follows:
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Apartment, 1 bedroom, 1 resident
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Apartment, 2 bedrooms, 1 resident
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Apartment, 2 bedrooms, 2 residents
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Apartment, 3 bedrooms, 2 residents
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Villa/ duplex/ townhouse, 1 resident
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Villa/ duplex/ townhouse, 2 residents
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Villa/ duplex/ townhouse, 3 residents
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House, 2 residents
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House, 3 residents
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Group home, 4 residents
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Group home, 5 residents
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Legacy stock, 6+ residents (the SDA price for legacy stock depends on the number of residents).
Apartment
Description:
Apartments are self-contained units occupying only part of a larger residential real estate building. Typically complex in form, i.e multiple levels or medium rise in form
Typical Building Classification:
Class 2, Class 7, Class 9
⮬ SDA APARMENT COMPLEX, SOUTHPORT, QUEENSLAND - BUILDING DESIGN FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
Villa/DuplexTownhouse
Description:
Villas, duplexes and townhouses are separate but semi-attached properties within a single land title or strata titled area. The dwelling will be separated from one or more adjoining dwellings by a fire-resisting wall.
Typical Building Classification:
Class 1(a)(ii), or Class 3
⮬ SDA TOWNHOUSE COMPLEX, KIPPA-RING, QUEENSLAND - BUILDING DESIGN FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
House
Description:
Houses are detached low-rise dwellings with garden or courtyard areas.
Typical Building Classification:
Class 1(a)(i), Class 1(b)(i), or Class 3
⮬ SDA NEW BUILD, PIMPAMA, QUEENSLAND - BUILDING DESIGN FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
Group home
Description:
Group accommodation is distinguished from other forms of accommodation by the larger number of residents (4 or 5)
Typical Building Classification:
Class 1(b)(i), orClass 3
⮬ DISABILITY RENOVATION, RAISE & BUILD HOME, TOOWONG, QUEENSLAND
More Information
⮬ SDA NEW BUILD, PIMPAMA, QUEENSLAND - BUILDING DESIGN FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
⮬ FULLY ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM, SDA NEW BUILD, PIMPAMA, QUEENSLAND - BUILDING DESIGN FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE
⮬ SDA TOWNHOUSE COMPLEX, INTERIOR CUT THROUGH, KIPPA-RING, QUEENSLAND - BUILDING DESIGN FROM UNITY IN DESIGN BY FORMSPACE