Supported Independent Living (SIL)
NDIS Core support
Supported Independent Living is help with daily tasks in a shared home, so a person can live as independently as possible.
The short answer
Supported Independent Living is help with daily tasks in a shared home, so a person can live as independently as possible. It covers the support provided, not the housing itself.
About Supported Independent Living (SIL)
SIL supports people who need regular help with tasks such as personal care, meals, household jobs and getting out and about, and who live in a shared home. The support is designed to build independence, not to do everything for the person, and it can include overnight support.
SIL is separate from the housing. A person might live in a home they rent, a home owned by the provider or Specialist Disability Accommodation, and the support provider delivers the support. The aim is that residents choose who they live with and who supports them.
Choosing a SIL provider is an important decision. Visit homes, meet staff and housemates and ask how decisions are made in the home. Ask about the roster, how staff are trained and how you can change or end the arrangement if it is not working.
Who is this service for?
People who need help with daily tasks in a shared home, so they can live as independently as possible.
What a typical session looks like
In supported independent living, workers help you live in your own home, often a shared house, by providing help with daily tasks. A typical day may include help getting up, personal care, preparing meals, taking medication, going to work or activities and relaxing at home. Support is arranged around your routines and preferences, and workers are present at agreed times.
A good service treats the house as your home, not a facility. You choose how to decorate your room, who visits and how you spend your time. Staff work in teams and record what happens, and a manager keeps in touch with you and your family to make sure the arrangement is working.
Who delivers this support
SIL is provided by registered disability providers who employ teams of support workers and coordinators. The provider is responsible for staffing, training and rosters, and the housing may be arranged separately with a landlord or housing provider. Ask about staff turnover, training and how the provider gets to know each person.
How to choose a provider
- Visit the home and meet staff and housemates.
- Ask how the provider decides who lives together.
- Check how you have a say in decisions about the home.
- Ask about staffing, training and the roster.
- Understand how the arrangement can be changed or ended.
Questions to ask a provider
- How are staff rostered, and how do you keep the team consistent?
- How do you decide on housemates, and can I meet them first?
- How can I have a say in the running of the house?
- What is the tenancy arrangement, and how is it separate from the support agreement?
- How do you handle disagreements and complaints?
- What happens if I want to change provider or move?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a home without meeting the housemates and staff.
- Not understanding the difference between the tenancy and the support agreement.
- Not asking about staffing levels and turnover.
- Accepting house rules that limit your choices without question.
- Not knowing how to make a complaint.
Getting started
- Talk to your planner or support coordinator about whether SIL is right.
- Compare providers and visit homes.
- Discuss what a typical day would look like.
- Agree the arrangement and plan how it will be reviewed.
How it fits with the rest of your plan
SIL relates to housing options such as SDA and to daily living supports, therapy and community access. Because it is such a large part of your life, it is worth being clear about who provides the housing and who provides the support, and how the arrangements can be changed. Regular reviews are important as needs change.
Eligibility
You can use NDIS funding for Supported Independent Living (SIL) 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 Supported Independent Living (SIL) 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 Supported Independent Living (SIL) 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
- Supported holidays and camps
- Transport to activities and appointments
- Volunteering and community groups
- Yard maintenance and gardening
Frequently asked questions
What is Supported Independent Living?
Help with daily tasks in a shared home, so a person can live as independently as possible. It covers the support provided, not the housing itself.
What is the difference between SIL and SDA?
SIL is the support delivered in the home. SDA is the specially designed housing. They are separate, though some people receive both.
How do I choose a SIL provider?
Consider the home, the housemates, the staff and how the provider involves you in decisions. Visiting and meeting staff helps.
Can I choose my housemates?
You should have a say. Ask how the provider handles this.
Is SIL the same as SDA?
No. SIL is support; SDA is housing.
What if I want to move?
Ask about notice and how a move would be planned.
How does SIL relate to specialist disability accommodation?
SIL is the support provided in the home, and SDA is specially designed housing. Someone might have one, both or neither.
Can I live alone with SIL?
SIL is often used in shared homes, but individual arrangements are possible in some cases. Discuss options with your coordinator.
Can I choose my own support workers?
You should have a say. Ask the provider how workers are matched and how you can request changes.
Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Supported Independent Living (SIL)?
If Supported Independent Living (SIL) 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 Supported Independent Living (SIL) 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
Helpful reading
- How to choose an NDIS provider: 12 questions to ask before you commit: A practical checklist for comparing providers, from how a service fits your plan to what happens when something goes wrong.
- Registered or unregistered? What it means when you choose an NDIS provider: Registered and unregistered providers can both be legitimate, but the rules, checks and options for your plan are not the same. Here is how to think about the difference.
- How to change NDIS provider without losing support: You are allowed to change providers. A little planning means the new service is ready before the old one ends, and nothing falls through the gap.