SDA funding is approved. That's a significant moment. And then, almost immediately, comes the next question: "Will my family member share a home with others, or live on their own?"

For many families, this is the first time they've heard there's even a choice. SDA shared living arrangements and sole occupancy homes are both fully funded options under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Neither is automatically better. The right answer depends almost entirely on your family member as a person: their social needs, their sensory sensitivities, their personality. This guide covers what each arrangement actually looks like, the practical differences between them, and the questions that will help you and your family member decide.

If SDA funding hasn't been confirmed yet, our SDA eligibility and your NDIS plan guide is a good place to start.

What Does Shared SDA Living Actually Look Like?

In shared SDA, a small number of participants (typically 2 or 3) live together in a purpose-built home that meets the NDIS SDA Design Standards. Each person has their own private bedroom and, in most cases, their own private bathroom. Common areas like the kitchen and living room are shared.

This is not the same as an old-style group home. In shared Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), participants hold individual tenancy rights. They choose their own living and support arrangements. And critically, housing and support are entirely separate: SDA covers the physical dwelling, while Supported Independent Living (SIL) covers day-to-day support. Each participant in a shared home independently chooses their own SIL provider. For a clear breakdown of that distinction, our SDA vs SIL comparison guide covers it in full.

One concern families raise immediately: "What if my family member ends up sharing with someone they don't get along with?" It's worth knowing that quality SDA providers do not place participants together without a compatibility process. Participants have the right to meet potential housemates before any commitment is made, and to decline a match that doesn't feel right. The NDIS SDA explained page confirms that living arrangement decisions rest with the participant. Our guide on how SDA tenant matching works explains the full matching process.

What Does Solo SDA Living Look Like?

In a sole occupancy arrangement, your family member is the only resident in the home. Every room is theirs. There are no housemates, no shared schedules in common areas, and no compatibility assessment needed.

Sole occupancy SDA is available when it genuinely suits the participant's disability-related needs and circumstances. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) makes this determination as part of the funding decision. For some participants, particularly those in the Robust design category with complex support behaviours, or those with significant sensory sensitivities, sole occupancy is the more appropriate arrangement and the NDIA will consider this when assessing the plan.

In sole occupancy, the participant still independently selects their own SIL provider for any support they need. Because Paramount is an SDA-only provider, we provide the dwelling and leave support decisions entirely in the participant's and family's hands.

A practical note: sole occupancy SDA tends toward apartments and smaller dwellings rather than larger house formats. In Melbourne, supply of sole occupancy properties is more limited than shared options, particularly in popular suburbs like Preston and Reservoir. We wish we could tell you both arrangements have equal availability everywhere. Being honest about that is more useful than pretending otherwise.

The Practical Differences Families Should Know

There is no universal answer to which arrangement is better. But there are four concrete differences worth understanding before you decide.

Cost contribution. In a shared home, the capital cost of the property is spread across multiple residents, which typically means a lower Reasonable Rent Contribution (RRC) for each participant. In sole occupancy, the full capital cost is reflected in the participant's contribution, so it is generally higher. The exact figures depend on your family member's design category and location. Our post on how to calculate your SDA rent contribution works through the calculation in detail, and the NDIS SDA pricing arrangements set out the underlying rates.

Privacy. Sole occupancy means complete privacy: every space belongs to your family member. In shared SDA, bedrooms are private and bathrooms typically are too, but the kitchen and living areas are shared. Whether that level of privacy is sufficient depends on the individual person.

Social and daily life dynamics. In a shared setting, housemates will be part of your family member's daily environment. For some people, that is a genuine positive: a source of company and connection. For others, it is a source of stress, particularly if noise levels or daily rhythms clash. This dimension is worth taking seriously. It is the one families most often underestimate.

Supply and waiting times. Shared SDA properties make up the larger portion of Melbourne's current supply. Sole occupancy options exist but are less common, and waiting times for a specific sole occupancy property in a preferred location can be longer. This is a practical reality, not a policy restriction.

Questions to Help You Work Out What Suits Your Family Member

You probably already know the answer to most of these. You know your family member better than anyone. These questions are here to help you confirm what you already sense.

1. Does your family member enjoy company, or do they need significant alone time to feel settled and calm?
2. Are there noise or sensory sensitivities that would make shared common areas genuinely difficult to manage day to day?
3. Does your family member have complex support behaviours that might be harder for a housemate to live alongside? (Particularly relevant for the Robust design category.)
4. Is cost contribution a meaningful factor in your family's long-term financial planning?
5. Is your family member at a stage where having housemates nearby would be a positive source of social connection, rather than stress?
6. Have you asked your support coordinator about realistic waiting times for each option in your preferred Melbourne suburbs?

If most of your answers point clearly in one direction, that direction is probably right. A good SDA provider will help you think through these questions without pressure and without steering you toward whichever option suits their current availability.

What to Ask an SDA Provider About Shared vs Solo Options

Once you're speaking with providers, these questions will help you understand what's actually available and what to expect:

1. What shared and sole occupancy properties do you currently have, or expect to have available soon?
2. How do you assess housemate compatibility for shared properties, and what does that process involve?
3. Can my family member meet potential housemates before any commitment is made?
4. What happens if a shared arrangement isn't working after move-in? What is the process for raising a concern?
5. What is the current difference in waiting time between shared and sole occupancy in our preferred area?

At Paramount, we discuss both options honestly and let families know what's actually available in Melbourne. We do not push one arrangement over another. Our SDA provider checklist covers the full list of questions worth raising with any provider before you commit.

Got questions about what's available? Call us on (03) 9999 7418. We're happy to talk through your family member's specific situation.

Conclusion

Shared and sole occupancy SDA are both valid, fully funded housing options under the NDIS. The decision comes down to your family member as an individual: their personality, their comfort with others, their support needs, and what daily life should genuinely feel like for them.

In our experience, families often know intuitively which option is right. SDA shared living or solo living, these questions and comparisons are here to help you confirm what you already sense about your family member.

Eligibility and funding decisions are made by the NDIA. This is general information only and does not constitute advice. Speak with your support coordinator or planner for guidance specific to your family member's situation.

If you'd like to see what SDA homes are available in Melbourne, browse our current SDA homes or get in touch directly.

Call us on (03) 9999 7418 or email admin@paramounthomes.com.au. We're happy to talk through your situation with honest answers and no pressure.