News

Amid Australia’s deepening housing crisis, finding suitable, affordable and accessible housing has become even more challenging for people with disability.  

While demand for housing skyrockets across the country, the availability of accessible homes that meet specific physical, sensory, or cognitive needs remains critically low in many areas across Victoria.   

About 15,000 Australians living with disability are waiting for housing despite having funding for accommodation approved in their NDIS plans. 

Melba’s new Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) apartments in Prahran and Kensington provide a beacon of hope in this landscape, illustrating how accessible and affordable housing can transform lives despite the economic challenges facing the sector. 

Australia’s SDA model, supported by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), is designed to address these gaps by creating homes that meet the accessibility needs of people with disability, allowing them to live with dignity and independence. 

Marc Sinclair, Melba’s Accommodation Development Manager, said having quality, accessible housing that matched the accommodation goals and support needs of people was essential to create a great home and why Melba was committed to expanding its suite of SDA and support options across Victoria. 

“The Prahran apartments offer a real opportunity for people to live their best life in a purpose-built home in a great location,” Marc said. 

“The ability for a person to have choice and control about where they live, who they live with and what support they receive is life changing.”   

Prahan and Melba’s upcoming development at Kensington (due to be completed early 2025) are wonderful opportunities in a housing market that is increasingly excluding people from having a home.   

“Projects like these are empowering,” Marc explains. “They give people not just a place to live, but the ability to manage their own space in a housing market that rarely considers their needs.” 

These apartments also reflect a broader trend toward universal design, with developers increasingly adopting inclusive principles to create homes that work for everyone.  

Universal design features include smooth flooring transitions, adjustable-height countertops, and smart home technology – all of which provide greater independence to residents.  

For people with disability, these technological enhancements allow them to control aspects of their environment, such as lighting and heating, fostering a greater sense of autonomy.  

These customisations are critical in a housing environment that increasingly fails to meet the basic needs of vulnerable populations, including those with disability. 

As house prices continue to surge and affordable options become scarcer, people with disability are among those hit hardest by the housing crisis.  

Australia’s housing crisis has intensified the push for policies that address accessibility in both public and private sectors. Melba, for example, continues to advocate for the social and economic benefits of accessible housing and services, to reduce the risk of re-creating institutional style care and to support a more inclusive society.  

In this challenging climate, projects such as Melba’s Prahran apartments are essential reminders of what’s possible when accessibility is prioritised. 

As rents and property prices continue to climb, the need for accessible, affordable housing becomes even more critical. For people with disability, having a home that meets their needs is transformative, offering both independence and a sense of connection to the community.  

As the country grapples with this crisis, accessible housing should be a central part of the solution, ensuring that vulnerable Australians, including those with disability, have the secure and supportive homes they deserve. 

For more information about Melba’s SDA apartments in Prahan, click here. 

For more information about Melba’s Liveability Apartments in Kensington, click here. 

For more information about Melba’s High Physical Support Apartments in Kensington, click here.