On Wednesday, April 24th, My Ability Pathway (MAP) officially opened MAP HQ. We welcomed...
MAP Team Members and presenters at the SDA Seminar. From left Kylie Hanna, William Fryer, Taryn Thompson, Sally Kennedy, Nicole Martin, Alanna Felby, Charlotte Williams, Karen Healey, Tari Wagland and Greg Barry
Overview
On Friday, August 23rd, MAP HQ in the Barossa Valley was the venue for a highly anticipated Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Seminar, hosted by My Ability Pathway (MAP). The event drew an engaged crowd of approximately 50 attendees, including support coordinators, investors, SDA providers, people with disability, carers, families, and support workers. The seminar served as a vital platform for sharing knowledge, discussing key issues, and fostering valuable connections within the disability services community.
Presenters
The seminar featured presentations from notable experts in the field, including Greg Barry from SDA Services, Taryn Thompson from Your Home SDA and Disability Housing Pathways, William Fryer from New Dawn Housing, and Charlotte Williams from My Ability Pathway, who stepped in for MAP Director Barbara Lightburn due to her unexpected absence. Each presenter brought a wealth of information on topics ranging from SDA eligibility and funding pathways to SDA design categories and housing opportunities in South Australia.
Highlights
There was lively and informative discussion during the Q&A session. Attendees delved into critical topics such as:
Security of Tenure: A robust discussion emerged around the importance of choosing an SDA provider that is truly client-centric. Presenters emphasised that securing tenure in SDA housing should not depend on existing relationships between SDA and SIL providers. Instead, attendees were encouraged to engage SDA providers who practice service delivery with values and integrity, ensuring housing stability tailored to individual needs.
Navigating Appendix H. With the inclusion of new “APPENDIX H” funding in the 2023-24 NDIS SDA Pricing Arrangements, eligible SDA participants now have the opportunity to live with their non-NDIS family members or loved ones in their selected property. This change has been met with widespread relief from people seeking SDA housing, the broader disability community, and disability advocates.
Networking
Following the formal presentations and discussions, the event transitioned into a networking session. This provided attendees with an excellent opportunity to connect with one another, share experiences, and build relationships that could lead to future collaborations. The informal setting allowed for the exchange of ideas and the establishment of connections that will undoubtedly benefit everyone moving forward.
Barossa SDA
Barossa Specialist Disability Accommodation (Barossa SDA) is a subsidiary of MAP and has now gone live with a dedicated webpage. This dynamic resource will continuously be updated with information, resources, and links to connect users with SDA providers, NDIS research, available vacancies, and more. This initiative underscores MAP’s commitment to providing ongoing support and valuable tools for the community.
Thank you
The team at MAP extend their gratitude to all who attended the seminar and contributed to its success. We value the feedback from attendees and are eager to hear suggestions for future seminars within the NDIS framework. The goal is to continue offering relevant, informative, and impactful events that meet the evolving needs of the disability services community.
As we look forward to future events, MAP invites everyone to stay engaged and share your insights, helping to shape the next chapter of our collective journey towards better disability services and accommodation solutions.
For more information, resources, and updates, be sure to visit the new Barossa SDA webpage, and don’t hesitate to reach out with your ideas and feedback.
