NDS has provided a submission on the following four draft Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) policies and procedures around specialist disability accommodation (SDA).

• Business Practice Manual
• Offering Residency in SDA Manual
• Residency Management Manual
• Maintenance and Property Management Manual

Regarding the Business Practice Manual, NDS:

• welcomes the reference to the Victorian Human Rights Charter, the DFFH Client Services Charter and use of accessible language
• calls for clarity when the documents refer to ‘staff’ as to whether this is Homes Victoria staff or SIL staff
• seeks confirmation that any translation requirements will be funded by Homes Victoria

Regarding the Offering Residency in SDA Manual, NDS:

• welcomes the collaborative approach, clear principles and involvement of people with lived experience of disability in filling SDA vacancies
• calls for SIL providers to be funded in recognition of their vacancy coordination role and consulted regarding vacancies put on-hold
• recommends that the SDA tenancy safeguards be migrated from the Disability Act to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) under Part 12A

Regarding the Residency Management Manual, NDS:

• welcomes the regular review of collaboration agreements and the recognition that residents have choice regarding their SIL provider
• calls for the reference to Emergency Management to omit any requirement for double reporting of incidents and issues, and align with provider obligations under the SDA Design Standard

• NDS notes there is a lack of clarity between the RTA and SDA Standards. This issue has been raised by a number of providers as to respective SDA and SIL provider responsibilities in relation to provision of shared whitegoods and furniture, utilities, Internet, and home modifications. We recommend Homes Victoria provide further clarity in these areas and continues funding some items in its role as SDA provider