People with disability and complex needs frequently face long hospitalisations. They also risk being discharged without adequate housing and supports. Hospital discharge planning is crucial for a safe and effective transition to the community. The aim of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of hospital discharge and returning to the community for people with acquired disability and complex needs (e.g. acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury) in the Australian context. 

Fifteen people were interviewed and participants shared their experiences navigating the hospital system, disability services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. They identified factors that facilitated their community integration and highlighted barriers that hindered their ability to effectively navigate hospital and community settings. 

The findings highlight the complex interplay between hospital discharge and the transition back to the community, and opportunities to co-design solutions that improve the experience of leaving hospital and preparing for life after discharge.