Welcome to Nest

Nest has been almost two years in the making. It all started with a design-led project focussed on the needs of young people living in residential aged care, or nursing homes. Through this project, NI heard carers describe the exhausting process of finding disability housing matched to their loved ones needs. We also heard people with disability talk about how distressing it was to phone multiple specialist disability housing providers only to be told time after time their support needs weren’t matched to the vacancies available. Their stories were raw and powerful, and they pointed to a gap where innovation could take place.

In response, NI created Nest.

Our vision was to develop a way for people with disability and their carers to easily search, review and choose housing options they know would meet their needs and wants based a profile they created of their ideal home. We wanted to build a system where people with disability could describe the physical accessibility requirements they needed, as well as the support they may need to live as independently as possible. We also believe it's important for users to be able to specify other features that mattered to them when choosing a home, such as the location and special features of the house like a backyard or that it's pet friendly.

At the same time we wanted Nest to be a place where disability housing providers could post information about their accommodation vacancies. Just as users could create a profile of their ideal home, we wanted providers to be able to list out the accessibility features of their SDA properties, the levels of care and support available at each home through their Supported Independent Living (SIL) provider, and any other amazing features of the property, like a pool or it's location overlooking a bushy reserve.

Then with profiles created on the supply and demand side, it made sense to us that Nest could match the two together. Just like an online dating site!

From there, NI was adamant that control must sit with the person with disability and their family, carers and supports – something not available previously. As such, the Nest you see now is a platform we believe empowers people with disability to explore housing options based on the best matches available, choose the home (or homes) they feel best meet their needs and wants, and apply. All in the one spot!

As NI is not a disability service provider, nor a housing provider, we have been able to create a space that's completely provider neutral. This means Nest brings together a large number of SDA providers, so people with disability can have greater control, variety and choice.

We are so excited to launch Nest to the disability community. After two years of hard work we can’t wait to open the doors so people with disability can start to find their new forever homes!

Happy searching!

Sam Frain Executive Director, Northcott Innovation