High Physical Support (HPS) is one of four Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) design categories funded by the NDIS. It’s the […]
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70+ five-starHigh Physical Support (HPS) is one of four Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) design categories funded by the NDIS.
Finding the right home when you have very high physical support needs is a big decision, and the language around it can feel technical fast. This guide explains High Physical Support SDA in plain terms: what the category includes, the conditions and support needs it’s designed for, how it’s different from Fully Accessible, what it costs and how to apply.
High Physical Support (HPS) is an SDA design category built for people with extreme functional impairment who need a high level of physical assistance with everyday activities. It’s the most comprehensive of the four SDA design categories, which means it carries the most physical access features and structural provisions of any category.
“Physical support” here means hands-on help and specialised equipment for daily tasks such as moving between rooms, transferring in and out of bed, showering and toileting. An HPS home is designed so that this support can be delivered safely, both for you and for the people who assist you.
One point worth clearing up early: HPS is defined by what you need to do day to day, not by your diagnosis. Two people with the same condition can qualify for different categories, because the NDIS looks at your functional capacity, not the label. For the wider picture, start with the SDA Design Categories hub.
See a real Enliven HPS apartment, including ceiling hoist provision, backup power and an onsite Support Hub. Sydney homes are available now.
Every HPS home must meet the requirements set out in the NDIS SDA Design Standard. On top of the accessibility features shared across categories, HPS homes include provisions that are specific to very high physical support needs:
At Enliven Housing, we build past the minimum of the SDA Design Standard. Our design philosophy treats the standard as the floor, not the ceiling, so every part of the home is as functional as possible.
| Requirement | Improved Liveability | Fully Accessible | High Physical Support | Robust |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step-free throughout | Partial | Yes | Yes | Varies |
| Minimum door opening | Standard | 90cm | 95cm | Standard |
| Hoist provision in bedrooms | Not required | Not required | Required | Not required |
| Emergency backup power | Not required | Not required | Required | Not required |
| Impact-resistant materials | Not included | Not included | Not included | Required |
| Wayfinding and contrast | Required | Included | Included | Varies |
| Minimum bedroom size | 3.1m × 3.1m | 4.07m × 3.1m | 4.07m × 3.1m | 3.1m × 3.1m |
| Minimum corridor width | 1m | 1.2m | 1.2m | 1m |
| Communication technology (intercom) | Not required | Reccomended | Required | Not required |
Indicative summary only. Enrolment requirements are set out in the NDIS SDA Design Standard.
A Fully Accessible home gives you comprehensive wheelchair access.
A High Physical Support home also adds:
– ceiling hoists
– emergency backup power
– on-site overnight assistance.
HPS is designed for people who need substantial physical assistance for most of the day and specialised equipment to stay safe and independent at home. Because eligibility is based on function rather than diagnosis, there is no fixed list of conditions. That said, people who often benefit from HPS design include those living with:
If you’re exploring housing for a specific condition, our housing by diagnosis guides go into more detail on how SDA design supports each one.
Being an NDIS participant does not automatically make you eligible for SDA. The NDIS funds SDA, and HPS specifically, when it is the best option for your support needs compared with other supports alone.
Usually a Functional Capacity Assessment and a housing report from your Occupational Therapist, plus a Home and Living Supporting Evidence Form prepared with your Support Coordinator.
No. The NDIS assesses your functional support needs, not your diagnosis alone. Your evidence should show what you need help with day to day.
Yes. If your function changes and you need a higher design category, you can request a change of circumstances. See our SDA eligibility and funding guide for detail.
Our calculator points you in the right direction in under 60 seconds. No paperwork needed.
HPS attracts the highest SDA payments of any design category, because it carries the most specialist features. That funding is paid by the NDIS directly to your SDA provider, who owns the home and rents it to you much like a landlord. You still make a smaller rent contribution.
Allied health reports, a functional capacity assessment and a home and living supporting evidence form.
Submit your Change of Situation form and supporting evidence to the NDIA.
An NDIS representative walks you through the planning process.
You discuss your circumstances, daily needs, safety requirements and goals.
Your funded design category is confirmed. If HPS is approved, you can start looking at HPS homes.
Enquire about open homes and register your interest.
The simplest way to hold it in your head: SDA pays for the building, SIL pays for the people. HPS is the home and its features. The personal support delivered inside it is usually funded separately through Supported Independent Living (SIL) or other NDIS supports.
At Enliven Housing we specialise only in housing and tenancy, not personal support. Separating the two is deliberate: you choose where you live and who supports you, independently of each other. Full detail in our SIL vs SDA guide.
Location matters as much as design. Our homes sit in well-connected suburbs close to transport, health services and the people you already know. Browse HPS and other homes by city.
"We become part of your team. We understand the value of including tenants in the decisions that shape where they live."
It means the home is built for people who need substantial hands-on help and specialised equipment for daily tasks, with the design and provisions to deliver that support safely.
Fully Accessible gives full wheelchair access. High Physical Support includes all of that plus ceiling hoists, emergency backup power and onsite overnight assistance for the highest support needs.
People with extreme functional impairment and very high physical support needs. Eligibility is based on function, not diagnosis.
HPS attracts the highest SDA payments of any category. The NDIS pays your provider directly and you make a capped reasonable rent contribution.
Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible, High Physical Support and Robust.
SDA funds the home and its features. SIL funds the personal support delivered inside it. You can have one, the other, or both.
No. SDA uses design categories, not support levels. High Physical Support is one of the four design categories set by the NDIS.
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