Hayley's NDIS Home Modification Melbourne: An Accessible Bathroom for Greater Independence
The Project
Seven-year-old Hayley and her family needed to rethink their Melbourne home as her condition made transfers and personal care increasingly difficult. An accessible bathroom, together with a front-door ramp, was funded through the family's NDIS plan to help Hayley remain at home and build more independence.
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Before the work, the family relied on a commode and difficult manual transfers. The small shower could not accommodate the equipment, and Hayley's parents sometimes had to assist inside the shower. Hair-washing had become so stressful that the family was taking her to a hairdresser instead.
Home Modification Victoria, a service of Architecture & Access, completed the assessment, concept plan and quotes. Its design response rearranged the bathroom layout, added a sliding door from the adjacent bedroom, moved storage outside the bathroom, and selected fittings that created more circulation space within the small room.
What Made It Work
- Accessible bathroom designed around Hayley's transfers and personal-care needs
- Front-door ramp included in the NDIS home-modification plan
- Bathroom layout rearranged to improve circulation in a compact space
- Sliding doorway connecting the bathroom directly to the adjacent bedroom
- Storage moved outside the bathroom to free up usable floor area
- Additional family-funded upgrades included wider access, a cavity slider and underfloor heating
The NDIS approved the plan in early 2017, while the assessment, concept design and quotations were completed in March. Construction took about six weeks and was finished in August 2017. The family chose to pay for several upgrades beyond the funded scope, including upgraded tiles and underfloor heating, after discussing them with the home-modification team.
The Outcome
After the modification, Hayley could shower herself with greater privacy and safety. Her father described the change as “night and day”, saying the bathroom gave her ownership and choice while reducing the family's anxiety and caring burden. The result was designed to function as a family bathroom as well as an accessible space, helping the home remain suitable as Hayley grew.
The case also highlights the planning required for an NDIS-funded modification. The family needed home modification clearly included in the plan, detailed evidence about the access and care challenges, and an assessment that connected the design to Hayley's changing needs. The source does not publish the total project cost.
Read more about accessible bathroom modifications, home ramps, and Melbourne home modifications.
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Conclusion
Hayley's Melbourne home modification shows how an NDIS-funded bathroom can support privacy, safety and independence when the design starts with the person's everyday routine. Thoughtful layout changes also allowed the new bathroom to work for the whole family.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Always consult a licensed builder and occupational therapist for your specific situation, budget, access requirements, and funding pathway.