NDIS Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) in Adelaide
MTA is NDIS funding for transitional housing while you wait for your permanent home, up to 90 days, accommodation only, Core Supports funded. Care Assure provides MTA in SA and Tasmania with rapid placement and hospital discharge coordination.
What is NDIS Medium Term Accommodation?
NDIS Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) is a Core Supports funding type that pays for temporary housing while you wait to move into your confirmed permanent home. The NDIS funds MTA for up to 90 days, though extensions are possible in exceptional circumstances, such as significant construction delays on an SDA build.
MTA is a housing bridge, not a support package. It covers the cost of the accommodation itself, the roof over your head. It does not cover personal care, meals, transport, or activities. If you need those during your MTA stay, they are funded separately from your existing Core Supports budget.
The NDIA introduced MTA specifically to prevent participants from being stranded in inappropriate settings such as acute hospital wards, residential aged care facilities, or unsuitable family homes while waiting for their permanent disability housing to become available.
Who is NDIS MTA For - Eligibility Criteria
MTA is not a general housing support. The NDIA has specific eligibility criteria that must all be met before MTA funding will be approved.
You must meet three conditions:
- Condition 1 — You have a confirmed permanent home: You must have a long-term housing solution already confirmed. This could be a signed SDA approval letter, a confirmed SIL placement, a signed tenancy agreement, or written confirmation that your home modifications will be complete by a specific date. You cannot access MTA as emergency housing if you have no plan for long-term housing.
- Condition 2 — You cannot yet move in: There must be a genuine reason why you cannot occupy your permanent home right now. Common reasons include your SDA home not yet being built or a vacancy not yet being available, your home modifications not yet being finished, or your SIL support roster not yet being in place.
- Condition 3 — Evidence supports the need: You will typically need supporting documentation from your support coordinator, an occupational therapist report explaining why your current situation is unsuitable, and written confirmation of your permanent housing timeline.
If you meet all three conditions, your NDIS planner or LAC can add MTA funding to your plan. A support coordinator is usually essential for navigating this process efficiently.
What Does NDIS MTA Include and What Is Not Covered?
This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of MTA. Unlike STA (respite), which is an all-inclusive package, MTA covers only the cost of your accommodation.
| What MTA Covers | What MTA Does NOT Cover |
|---|---|
| The accommodation itself, your room or unit | Meals and food you fund yourself |
| A safe and accessible place to live for up to 90 days | Personal care support funded from your Core Supports (Assistance with Daily Life) |
| Basic utilities were included in the accommodation rate | Transport is funded from your NDIS transport budget separately |
| A stable address for your support workers to come to | Activities or community access funded from your Core Supports |
| Access to shared spaces in the home | Groceries, toiletries, personal items |
Your support workers continue to visit you during MTA just as they would in any other home. The MTA funding simply covers where you are living while your permanent home is being prepared. Nothing about your existing NDIS supports changes during an MTA stay.
Four Common Reasons NDIS Participants Need MTA
MTA is designed for moments when your housing situation changes faster than your NDIS plan can. Here are the four most common reasons participants use it.
01
Waiting for an SDA vacancy
Your SDA funding is confirmed, but your home isn't ready yet. MTA gives you a stable, funded base in the meantime.
02
Hospital discharge
You are medically cleared, but your permanent home isn't ready. MTA lets you leave the hospital sooner, avoiding inappropriate aged care placement.
03
Home modifications not complete
Your home is being modified with a hoist, an accessible bathroom, or a ramp, and is temporarily uninhabitable. MTA covers you during work.
04
Breakdown of current living arrangement
A family carer has become unable to continue, or your current home is no longer suitable. MTA bridges the gap while a longer-term solution is arranged.
MTA vs STA vs SIL - What's the Difference?
These three NDIS support types are frequently confused. Here is a clear comparison:
| Feature | MTA | STA (Respite) | SIL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Transitional housing while waiting for a permanent home | Short break from home or regular care routine | Ongoing daily living support in your permanent home |
| Duration | Up to 90 days (one-off) | Up to 14 days consecutive, 28 days/year | Ongoing review of your NDIS plan |
| Meals included | No, you pay for your own food | YES all-inclusive | No, you manage your own meals |
| Personal care included | NO funded separately from Core Supports | YES all-inclusive | YES, funded through SIL supports |
| Activities included | NO funded separately | YES all-inclusive | Supported separately through Core Supports |
| Budget line | Core Supports | Core Supports | Core Supports |
| When to use it | Waiting for SDA, SIL, or home modifications | Carer needs a break; participant wants a new experience | Permanent ongoing supported living arrangement |
| Care Assure offers this | Yes, SA and TAS | Yes, SA and TAS | Yes, SA and TAS |
MTA and SIL can work together. While you are living in MTA, your SIL funding continues to pay for the support workers who come to assist you each day. MTA simply covers where you are living in the interim.
How to Get MTA Funding in Your NDIS Plan
MTA funding is not automatic; it must be requested with the appropriate evidence. Follow these five steps to get it in your plan and into a home as quickly as possible.
Confirm your situation qualifies
Make sure you have a confirmed permanent housing option and a specific reason you cannot yet access it. MTA is not for open-ended housing searches.
Gather your evidence
Collect an OT report if possible, a letter confirming your permanent housing timeline (SDA builder, SIL provider, or housing authority), and a summary of your current situation from your support coordinator.
Contact your NDIS planner or LAC
Request that MTA funding be added to your plan. You can do this through a plan review or, for urgent situations, an unscheduled review. Your support coordinator should lead this conversation if you have one.
Choose a registered MTA provider
From 2025, MTA must be provided by a registered NDIS provider. Care Assure is registered and operating across SA and TAS. Contact us while your funding is being arranged so we can check availability in parallel.
Arrange your stay
Once funding is confirmed and a home is matched, Care Assure coordinates the intake, shares your care needs with the home team, and ensures a smooth transition from your current location.
Using MTA for Hospital Discharge
One of the most important uses of MTA is enabling timely hospital discharge. Staying in a hospital bed when you are medically ready to leave is harmful; it delays rehabilitation, increases infection risk, and places pressure on the healthcare system. It is also demoralising.
If you are an NDIS participant in a hospital who is ready for discharge but does not yet have a permanent home to return to, MTA can fund a supported temporary placement while your long-term housing is finalised. The NDIA has specific provisions for this: participants eligible for SDA, SIL, or significant home modifications may have an MTA added to their plan for hospital discharge.
are Assure works with hospital discharge planners and support coordinators across SA and TAS to facilitate rapid MTA placements. If you are a discharge planner managing a patient with an NDIS plan, contact our team, and we will assess availability immediately.
MTA While Waiting for SDA Vacancy or Build Completion
SDA builds take time, and SDA vacancies in the right location and design category can be hard to find quickly. If you have SDA approval but are still waiting, whether because a specific home is under construction or the right vacancy has not yet come up, MTA can fund a suitable temporary placement in the interim.
This is a one-off support. The NDIA does not intend MTA to be an ongoing arrangement. But used correctly, it prevents participants from being left in inappropriate settings, such as hospitals or aged care facilities, simply because the right SDA home is not yet available.
Care Assure can discuss MTA-to-SDA pathways with participants and their coordinators. Our SDA provider partner, Care Casa, operates homes across SA and TAS, and we can coordinate a smooth transition from MTA into a Care Casa SDA vacancy when the timing aligns, with Care Assure support continuing throughout.
MTA While Your Home is Being Modified
Home modifications under the NDIS, such as ceiling hoist installations, accessible bathroom conversions, ramp construction, or major structural changes, can make your home temporarily uninhabitable for weeks or months. MTA funds a temporary placement during this period, so you are not forced to stay in unsafe or unsuitable conditions while work is completed.
To access MTA for home modifications, you will need written confirmation from your contractor or builder of the expected completion date, along with supporting documentation explaining why you cannot safely remain in the home during the works. Your support coordinator can help compile this.
Medium-Term Accommodations at Care Assure
Care Assure provides Medium Term Accommodation across Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Mount Barker, Port Augusta, Whyalla and Hobart, for participants who have a permanent home confirmed but cannot yet move in. Every placement includes accommodation, with daily supports funded separately.
- For Rent
- SDA - HPS
28 Matteo circle, Claremont Tas 7011
- For Rent
- SIL
2 Barrie Robran Gate, Whyalla Norrie SA 5608
- For Rent
- SIL
3 Barrie Robran Gate, Whyalla Norrie SA 5608
What our client says about us?
Care Assure’s Supported Independent Living program has given me a newfound sense of independence. Their team is so supportive and accommodating, ensuring my needs are met every step of the way. I finally feel empowered to lead my life on my terms!
Want to Get Started with Medium-Term Accommodation at Care Assure?
If Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA) is the right fit for you, starting your journey is simple and stress-free.
What You’ll Need
- An approved NDIS plan with Medium-Term Accommodation funding.
- A confirmed long-term housing solution (e.g., SDA approval or rental agreement).
How We Help
- Personalised matching to find the perfect MTA home for your needs.
- Seamless coordination with your NDIS plan and support network.
- Ongoing assistance to ensure your transition is smooth and comfortable.
NDIS MTA Homes Adelaide, SA
Care Assure operates medium-term accommodation homes across South Australia and Tasmania. Our properties are accessible, staffed, and designed for participants who may have complex care needs during their transitional period.
- Adelaide (SA): Our largest base of operations. MTA homes across greater Adelaide, with proximity to major hospitals, specialist medical services, and allied health providers.
- Mount Gambier (SA): Regional SA option for participants in the south-east of the state.
- Mount Barker (SA): Adelaide Hills location for participants in the eastern suburbs and Hills communities.
- Port Augusta (SA): Upper Spencer Gulf base for participants in the mid-north and far north of SA.
- Whyalla (SA): Industrial city on the Spencer Gulf with accessible housing and community services.
- Hobart (TAS): Tasmania's capital. MTA in Hobart provides access to Royal Hobart Hospital, specialist services, and Hobart's city infrastructure.
How to Arrange MTA with Care Assure
Call (08) 7071 9276 or submit an inquiry through this page. Tell us the location, expected timeline, and a brief summary of the participant's care needs.
We check availability across our SA and TAS homes and match the participant's support needs to a suitable property.
We confirm the participant's MTA funding is in place (or assist with the evidence gathering process if funding is still being sought).
We coordinate the move-in date with the current care team, hospital, or support coordinator. Our team ensures the participant is settled and support workers have the information they need before day one.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is NDIS Medium Term Accommodation?
NDIS Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) is funding that pays for temporary transitional housing for up to 90 days while you wait to move into your confirmed permanent home. It is funded under Core Supports and covers only accommodation costs.
- Does MTA include meals and personal care?
No. This is one of the most common misunderstandings about MTA. Unlike STA (respite), which includes meals, personal care, and activities, MTA covers only the cost of your accommodation. Meals and personal care during an MTA stay are funded separately from your Core Supports (Assistance with Daily Life) budget.
- How long can I stay in MTA?
The NDIS funds MTA for up to 90 days as a one-off support. In exceptional circumstances, such as significant delays in an SDA build beyond the participant's control, the NDIA may approve an extension. This is not guaranteed and requires evidence that the delay is genuine and unavoidable.
- What is the difference between MTA and STA?
STA (Short Term Accommodation) is a respite support that includes accommodation, meals, personal care, and activities for up to 14 consecutive days. It is for giving participants and carers a break. MTA covers accommodation only, for up to 90 days, specifically as a bridge to permanent housing. They serve entirely different purposes and are used in different circumstances.
- Can I use MTA after leaving the hospital?
Yes. Hospital discharge is one of the primary uses of MTA. If you are ready to leave the hospital but your permanent home is not yet available, MTA can fund a suitable temporary placement. This is specifically provided for in NDIS guidelines for participants eligible for SDA, SIL, ILO, or significant home modifications.
- What evidence do I need to get MTA funding?
You typically need: written confirmation that you have a permanent home to transition to (SDA approval, SIL placement confirmation, or tenancy agreement), evidence of why you cannot yet move in (construction timeline, modification works certificate), and an OT report supporting the need for transitional housing. Your support coordinator can help compile this documentation.
- Can MTA be extended beyond 90 days?
In some cases, yes. If there is an unavoidable delay, particularly where an SDA build has taken longer than expected, the NDIA may consider an extension. This requires evidence from the builder, SDA provider, or relevant authority, and is handled through a plan review. Extensions are not automatic and must be requested with supporting documentation.
- Can I choose my own support workers during MTA?
Yes. MTA covers your accommodation, but your existing support arrangements continue unchanged. Your rostered support workers come to the MTA home just as they would to any other home. If you need new support workers arranged during MTA, your support coordinator can help with this from your Core Supports budget.
- Is Care Assure a registered MTA provider?
Yes. Care Assure is a registered NDIS provider operating MTA homes in South Australia and Tasmania. From 2025, MTA must be provided by a registered NDIS provider. Our team works with support coordinators and participants directly to arrange MTA placements quickly and professionally.
- What locations does Care Assure offer MTA in?
Care Assure operates MTA homes in Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Mount Barker, Port Augusta, Whyalla, and Hobart. Contact our team for current vacancy availability in each location.
