Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) offers NDIS participants a valuable opportunity to transition out of hospital settings and explore long-term housing solutions, particularly when moving toward Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). At MediStays, we’ve helped many participants use MTA strategically as a pathway to their perfect SDA placement, with some MTA properties even having the potential to become permanent SDA homes. This article explores how MTA can be utilised effectively in your journey toward permanent, appropriate housing.
Understanding the MTA-to-SDA Pathway
What is MTA?
Medium Term Accommodation provides housing support for participants typically for 90 days. It bridges the gap between hospital stays, and permanent housing solutions, offering a crucial step in reducing unnecessarily prolonged hospital admissions.
What is SDA?
Specialist Disability Accommodation refers to housing designed specifically for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.
The Connection
MTA serves multiple important functions in the SDA journey:
- As a “try before you buy” opportunity when considering long-term SDA options
- A temporary solution while awaiting SDA construction or renovations to be completed
- A chance to experience a new neighbourhood before committing to a permanent location
- A stepping stone out of hospital when your permanent housing isn’t ready yet
Importantly, some MTA properties are designed in accordance with SDA categories, meaning you could potentially transition from MTA to SDA within the same property if it meets your needs.
Benefits of Using MTA as an SDA Pathway
Facilitating Hospital Discharge
- Provide a suitable housing solution to leave hospital when medically ready
- Reduce the risk of hospital readmission through appropriate housing and supports
- Allow recovery and rehabilitation to continue in a more homely-like environment
- Bridge the gap while your permanent SDA home is being built or renovated,.
Neighbourhood Testing
- Experience daily life in a potential neighbourhood before making a permanent commitment
- Evaluate local amenities, services, and healthcare facilities
- Assess opportunities for community participation, community accessibility and inclusion
- Determine if the location meets your lifestyle and support needs
- Make an informed decision about permanent SDA location based on lived experience
Real-Life Experience in Similar Environments
- Test different housing designs and features before committing
- Understand how various housing features impact your daily living
- In some cases, stay in the exact property that could become your SDA home
- Transition from clinical support to community-based support models
- Experience the importance of compatible tenancy matching in shared living situations
Gathering Evidence for SDA Funding
- Document how specific housing features impact your independence
- Collect real-world examples of how appropriate housing improves outcomes
- Strengthen your SDA application with concrete experiential evidence
Case Studies: MTA to SDA Pathways
Case Study 1: Hospital Discharge to MTA While Awaiting SDA Construction
NDIS participant with physical disabilities following a spinal injury, used MTA as a bridge from hospital to a new-build SDA home:
- Initial situation: Completing rehabilitation in hospital but unable to return to previous housing
- Hospital discharge challenge: Extended hospital stay despite being medically ready for discharge
- Future housing plan: Approved for SDA funding with a new home under construction (estimated 3-month completion)
- MTA solution: Moved into an MTA property near the construction site of his future SDA home
- Benefits: Continued rehabilitation in community setting, monitored construction progress, familiarised himself with neighbourhood
- Outcome: Successfully transitioned to his permanent SDA home upon completion with minimal adjustment challenges
Case Study 2: Testing an MTA That Is Already SDA Approved
NDIS participant considering several potential SDA locations, used MTA to evaluate an SDA property.
Fatima, Specialist Support Coordinator says “My participant has the opportunity to use his MTA funding in an SDA registered property was an excellent option presented by MediStays. He could test the apartment before making a commitment. And stay permanently without needing an additional move. We found this approach was the best way to evaluate the accommodation arrangement.”
- Initial situation: Approved for SDA funding but unsure about preferred location and housing type
- MTA opportunity: MediStays identified a property that was SDA approved but available as MTA in the interim
- Trial approach: Three– month stay in the MTA to test both the specific property and its neighbourhood
- Decision: Determined the property met their needs and requested to remain as an SDA participant
- Outcome: Transitioned from MTA funding to SDA funding within the same property, eliminating the need for another move
How MediStays Can Support Your MTA-to-SDA Journey
As specialists in NDIS disability accommodation, MediStays can:
- Facilitate timely hospital discharge by quickly connecting you with suitable MTA options
- Connect you with MTA properties in neighbourhoods where you’re considering permanent housing
- Provide MTA options close to your future SDA home while it’s being built or renovated
- Coordinate with hospital discharge planners and allied health to ensure smooth transitions
- Arrange MTA that aligns with your expected SDA design category
- Manage timing between MTA stays and SDA readiness to prevent housing gaps and avoid hospital readmission
- Support documentation of neighbourhood suitability for future SDA applications
We are committed to supporting NDIS participants on their housing journey, with a particular focus on creating seamless transitions between different accommodation stages. Call 1300 085 036 or email contact@MediStays.com.au for personalised support.
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