Group / shared living support

NDIS Core support

Support for people who live with others in a shared home, covering the everyday help each person needs while living as part of a household.

The short answer

Shared living support is help for people who live together in a shared home. It covers the everyday support each person needs, arranged around the household as well as each individual.

About Group / shared living support

In a shared home, several people live together and receive support from a provider. The support might include help with personal care, meals, household tasks, medication and getting out into the community. Because people share staff, rosters and sometimes vehicles, the provider plans the day so that everyone gets the support they need.

The quality of a shared home depends heavily on how well people get on and how much say each person has. Good providers ask people about their preferences, involve them in decisions about the household and make sure people can choose how to spend their time, who visits and how their room is set up.

Shared living is one of several housing and support options. Others include living alone with support, living with family and specialist housing. It helps to compare the options and to ask questions about how the home is run, who else lives there and how staff are chosen and trained.

Who is this service for?

People who live with others in a shared home and need everyday support as part of that household.

What a typical session looks like

In a shared home, support is organised around the household as well as each person. Workers help with everyday tasks such as meals, personal care, cleaning and getting to appointments, and they support people to get along, make shared decisions and keep the home running smoothly.

Each person keeps their own goals, routines and choices. A good service makes time for individual attention while also encouraging friendships, household meetings and a sense of being at home. Staff change over shifts, so handovers, written notes and consistent practices are important.

Who delivers this support

Support in shared living is provided by teams of support workers, coordinated by a manager or team leader. Some homes involve nurses or allied health professionals for particular needs. Because you live with the people who support you, it is important to ask about staff training, how many workers are present, and how the provider handles changes in staffing.

How to choose a provider

• Visit the home, if you can, and meet staff and housemates.
• Ask how the provider decides who lives together.
• Find out how you can personalise your room and make decisions about the household.
• Ask how staffing is arranged, including nights and weekends.
• Check how complaints are handled and how you can change arrangements later.

Questions to ask a provider

• Who will I be living with, and how are housemates matched?
• How many staff are there at different times, and how consistent is the team?
• How can I have a say in the house rules, meals and daily routines?
• What happens if I have a disagreement with a housemate or staff member?
• Can I have visitors, and what privacy will I have?
• What are my options if I want to move on?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Agreeing to a home without meeting the housemates or seeing the house.
• Not asking about staffing levels and how often staff change.
• Mixing up the support agreement and the tenancy agreement.
• Not finding out how decisions are made in the house.
• Overlooking how easy it will be to leave if the arrangement does not suit you.

Getting started

1. Think about the kind of home and housemates you would like.
2. Talk to your planner or support coordinator about housing options.
3. Visit a few homes and ask questions.
4. Agree what support you will receive and how it will be reviewed.

How it fits with the rest of your plan

Shared living can be part of a wider housing arrangement and may involve a tenancy agreement as well as a support agreement. Think about who you would live with, where the home is and how it fits with your work, study, family and community. It is good to know how you can change your arrangements later if things do not work out.

Eligibility

You can use NDIS funding for Group / shared living support if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

Funding

Core supports help with everyday activities and are usually the most flexible part of an NDIS plan. If Group / shared living support is in your plan, it is normally paid from a Core budget. Your plan shows how much you have and how it can be used. Many NDIS supports have price limits, so ask providers for a quote and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.

What it costs

Supports such as Group / shared living support that are funded by the NDIS are paid at rates that follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which the NDIA reviews regularly. Many items have a maximum price, and some prices are higher in remote areas. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.

Housing (SDA & SIL) providers on the NDIS register

12,965 NDIS providers list housing (sda & sil) supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.

Providers listing housing (sda & sil)

• 1 Abbira Care Services - VIC; includes Fraser Rise, VIC
• 1 All Care - SA; includes Findon, SA
• 1 Care Connect - NSW; includes Manly, NSW; Rooty Hill, NSW; Rosehill, NSW
• 1 Circle Of Care - VIC; includes Pakenham, VIC
• 1 Heart Care Services - NSW; includes Orange, NSW
• 1 In Town Services - SA; includes Mansfield Park, SA
• 1 The Helpers - NSW; includes Parramatta, NSW
• 1-Care - NSW; includes Lalor Park, NSW
• 10 Plus Care - VIC; includes Camberwell, VIC
• 121 Best Care - QLD; includes Calamvale, QLD
• 121 Supports Hunter - NSW; includes Hamilton, NSW; Newcastle, NSW; Newcastle West, NSW
• 123 Community Support - NSW; includes Ermington, NSW

See all 12,965 housing (sda & sil) providers

Listings by state and territory

• New South Wales (4,358)
• Victoria (3,830)
• Queensland (2,292)
• South Australia (1,277)
• Western Australia (1,098)
• Northern Territory (303)
• Australian Capital Territory (284)
• Tasmania (216)

Suburbs with the most listings

• Brisbane, QLD (597)
• Melbourne, VIC (462)
• Sydney, NSW (354)
• Central Coast, NSW (274)
• Perth, WA (259)
• Adelaide, SA (244)
• Blacktown, NSW (229)
• Parramatta, NSW (207)
• Liverpool, NSW (200)
• Tarneit, VIC (184)
• Ipswich, QLD (171)
• Canberra, ACT (169)

Listings covering the most areas

• Permalink Support Services - 503 areas
• Nurse Next Door Canberra - 189 areas
• Huge Care - 188 areas
• Aligned Assist - 184 areas
• Amazing Procare Toowoomba - 171 areas
• Allabilities Cares - 170 areas
• Allied Horizon Disability Services - 154 areas
• Number 1 Care Provider - 134 areas

Checking credentials

• Check registration Search the NDIS Commission's register of registered providers to see whether a provider is registered and for which types of support. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use unregistered providers.
• Ask about worker screening Ask whether workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check where their role requires one, and how the provider checks its workers' identity and qualifications.
• Get it in writing Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that describes the support, the prices, how to change or end it and how to make a complaint.

Regulation and safeguards

NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulates NDIS providers and handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports. Phone: 1800 035 544.
• National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Runs the NDIS. Contact them about your plan, your funding and eligibility. Phone: 1800 800 110.

Related services

• Group and centre-based activities
• High-intensity personal care
• House cleaning and household tasks
• Household management

Frequently asked questions

What is shared living support?

Support for people who live together in a shared home. It covers the everyday help each person needs, arranged around the household as well as each individual.

How is it different from Supported Independent Living?

They are closely related. Supported Independent Living is the name used for help with daily tasks in a shared home. Ask providers to explain exactly how they describe and deliver their service.

Can I choose who I live with?

You should have a say. Ask providers how they match housemates and how decisions about the household are made, and check that the arrangement suits you.

How are housemates matched in a shared home?

You should have a say. Ask providers how they match housemates and what happens if things do not work out.

Can I have visitors?

Ask how visitors are handled. You should be able to have people you care about visit, within reasonable household arrangements.

What if I want to move out later?

Discuss how arrangements can change and what notice is needed before you agree to move in.

How much say do I have in who shares my home?

You should have a say, and a good provider takes compatibility seriously. Ask about how housemates are matched and whether you can meet them before deciding.

What is the difference between shared living and supported independent living?

The terms are often used for similar arrangements in which support is provided in a shared home. Ask the provider exactly what is included, how staffing works and how the arrangements are documented.

Can I have my own room and keep my own belongings?

That is normally expected, and it is important to confirm it in the agreement. Ask what furniture, storage and privacy you will have.

Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Group / shared living support?

If Group / shared living support is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

How do I find a Group / shared living support provider near me?

Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.

Sources and further reading

• NDIS: how the NDIS works, plans and price limits
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: find a registered provider, make a complaint

Browse the NDIS and aged care provider directory