After Years of Waiting John and Paul Finally Have a Place to Call Home

When Leben Homes first began discussions about building Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in Emerald, the team knew the challenges were great…but the need was even greater. For NDIS participants John and Paul, this project would mark the end of a search spanning several years for a place to call home.

“Emerald is currently underserved for SDA. The challenges of material cost, regionality, and low SDA knowledge proved too limiting for others to build,” Leben Homes team member Danny McGrane explains. 

“We love a challenge and did everything we could to make it work.”

It kicked off with a tour of Leben Homes’ Rockhampton Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). Impressed by the design and functionality of the homes, a support coordinator from Yumba Bimbi reached out with an all too familiar story – two participants in Emerald had been waiting years for suitable SDA with no options in sight.

“We hit the ground running, looking for suitable land, working on the design, and starting the hunt for builders,” Danny recalls. 

“We wanted to ensure the best design standards whilst also engaging with the local workforce.”

The two Emerald SDA homes were designed to meet High Physical Support, Fully Accessible, and Improved Liveability specifications – providing not only safety and accessibility but comfort and independence. Each home includes spacious bedrooms, private ensuites, multiple living areas for privacy and social connection, and an Onsite Overnight Assistance (OOA) room for 24/7 support.

A strong line of communication between the Leben Homes team, Yumba Bimbi support coordinators and the participants was key to keeping the project moving despite the regional building challenges.

“A consistent communication line between us, the [coordinators] and participants meant we could ensure decisions could be made as quickly as possible whilst we navigated the challenges of getting the project off the ground,” says Danny.

For regional towns like Emerald, the barriers to constructing SDA are real and often prevent projects from getting started altogether.

“There are challenges everywhere,” Danny says. 

“Flood zones, high cost to build, limited resources all add to the challenges of building regionally in the current construction climate. The three-year delay in this case reflects all of these challenges.”

Despite these obstacles, Leben Homes was determined to deliver and, by April 2025, construction was complete. Just two months later John and Paul moved into their new homes.

The success of the Emerald SDA stands as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when collaboration meets commitment

The project has not only changed the lives of John and Paul but has also opened the door to new opportunities for SDA in other regional communities.

“Whilst there were challenges to overcome, we are creating a pathway to build more SDA in underserved townships all across Australia,” says Danny.

As Leben Homes continues to expand its footprint across regional Australia, projects like the Emerald SDA show how much impact can be achieved through collaboration, persistence, and community-minded design.

Are you or someone you care for looking for Specialist Disability Accommodation?

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