NDIS Short Term Accommodation (STA) vs Supported Independent Living (SIL): What Is the Difference?

Kirsty Savage
1 day ago
8 min read

If you have been trying to understand the difference between STA and SIL under the NDIS, you are not alone. These two supports are some of the most commonly confused terms in the NDIS, and getting them mixed up can lead to the wrong planning conversations. NDIS Short-Term Accommodation (STA), now officially known as Short-Term Respite (STR), is a temporary support. Supported Independent Living (SIL) is an ongoing one. They serve different purposes, are funded differently, and suit different circumstances. For a detailed overview of what NDIS STA involves, see our guide to NDIS Short Term Accommodation.

This guide explains what each support is, how they compare, where Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) fits into the picture, and how to work out which option may be right for a participant.

What Is NDIS Short Term Accommodation (STA)?

NDIS Short Term Accommodation is a funded support that allows participants to stay in accommodation away from their usual home for a short period, typically up to 14 days at a time. During the stay, the participant receives personal care, meals, daily living assistance, and access to community activities as part of a bundled daily rate.

NDIS STA sits within the Core Supports budget under the Assistance with Daily Life category. The funding covers the full package of accommodation and support together, rather than billing each element separately.

Common reasons a participant might access NDIS STA include:

Giving informal carers a planned break while the participant receives supported care
Practising daily living skills in a different environment
Maintaining stability during a disruption at home, such as renovations or family changes
Building social confidence through time spent with peers and support workers
Trying supported living away from home before considering longer-term options

The key feature of NDIS STA is that it is temporary. It has a clear start and end date, and the participant returns to their usual living arrangement after the stay.

What Is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is an NDIS-funded support designed for participants who need ongoing, regular assistance to live as independently as possible in shared or individual housing. Unlike NDIS STA, SIL is not about short stays. It is the day-to-day support a participant receives in their home on a continuing basis.

Supported Independent Living typically involves support workers helping with personal care, household tasks, meal preparation, medication management, and community access. The level of support varies depending on the participant's needs and may range from a few hours per day to 24-hour assistance.

SIL is also funded through Core Supports under the Assistance with Daily Life category, but it is assessed and funded differently from NDIS STA. A participant's SIL funding is usually determined through a detailed assessment process called a roster of care, which maps out the specific support hours and staffing required across a full week.

Key characteristics of SIL include:

It is an ongoing, long-term arrangement rather than a time-limited stay
The participant usually lives in a shared arrangement with other NDIS participants, though individual setups are possible
Support is planned around a weekly roster based on assessed needs
The focus is on building and maintaining daily living skills over time

Key Differences Between NDIS STA and SIL

While both supports involve accommodation and daily living assistance, they are built for different purposes and funded through different processes.

Purpose

NDIS STA is a temporary support. It gives participants a short stay away from home with care included, often to support carer sustainability, skill development, or transition planning. SIL is a permanent or long-term living arrangement. It provides the ongoing daily support a participant needs to live in their own home or a shared house.

Duration

NDIS STA stays are typically up to 14 days at a time and can be used multiple times throughout the year. SIL is continuous and does not have a set end date. It runs for as long as the participant's plan includes it and their needs require it.

Funding Structure

NDIS STA is funded as a bundled daily rate that covers accommodation, meals, personal care, and activities together in one amount per day. SIL funding is based on a roster of care assessment that calculates the specific support hours needed across the week. The two are separate funding allocations within the Core Supports budget.

Living Arrangement

During NDIS STA, the participant stays temporarily at an STA property or facility and then returns home. In a SIL arrangement, the property is the participant's home. They live there on an ongoing basis with regular support from a team of support workers.

Staffing Model

NDIS STA staffing is arranged for the duration of the stay and is based on the bundled rate and the provider's support model. SIL staffing follows a structured roster that is designed around the participant's weekly routine, with consistent support workers who know the participant over time.

Plan Requirements

NDIS STA can be accessed through existing Core Supports funding without a separate assessment in many cases, though it is always best to confirm with a support coordinator or plan manager. SIL typically requires a more detailed assessment process and may involve an NDIA review to determine the appropriate level of funding.

Where Does SDA Fit In?

Another term that often comes up alongside NDIS STA and SIL is Specialist Disability Accommodation, or SDA. People often ask whether SDA is the same as SIL, and the short answer is no.

SDA is about the building. It is a funding category that covers the cost of specialist housing designed or modified for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.

SIL is about the support. It is the funding that pays for the support workers who help the participant with daily living tasks inside the home.

NDIS STA is about temporary stays. It covers short-term accommodation and support together for a limited period.

A participant receiving SIL might live in an SDA property if they qualify for both. In that case, SDA pays for the specialist housing, and SIL pays for the support staff. But not every SIL participant lives in SDA housing, and not every SDA resident receives SIL. They are independently assessed and funded.

The simplest way to remember the difference is that SDA is the property, SIL is the support, and NDIS STA is the temporary stay.

How to Know Whether NDIS STA or SIL Is Right

Deciding between NDIS STA and SIL depends on the participant's current situation, goals, and the level of support they need on a day-to-day basis. In some cases, both supports may be relevant at different stages.

The Need Is Temporary

If the participant's usual living situation is working well and the need for supported accommodation is short-term, NDIS STA is likely the more appropriate option. This might apply when a carer needs a break, the participant wants to try living away from home, or there is a temporary disruption to informal supports.

The Need Is Ongoing

If the participant requires daily living support on a continuing basis and their current arrangement is not meeting their needs, SIL may be worth exploring. This is especially relevant for participants who are looking to move out of the family home, who need more consistent support than informal carers can provide, or who have goals around long-term independence.

Transition and Trial

NDIS STA can also serve as a stepping stone toward SIL. Some participants use STA stays to experience supported living in a different environment before committing to a longer-term arrangement. This can help both the participant and their support team understand what level of ongoing support may be needed and what kind of living arrangement would work best.

Skill Building vs Ongoing Support

If the primary goal is to build specific daily living skills in a supported setting, NDIS STA can provide that opportunity in a focused, time-limited way. If the participant already needs a consistent level of daily support that cannot be met at home, SIL is designed to provide that structure.

How NDIS Funding Usually Applies

Both NDIS STA and SIL fall under the Core Supports category in a participant's NDIS plan, but they are funded and assessed through different processes.

NDIS STA funding is generally allocated as part of the participant's Core Supports budget. The support is billed as a bundled daily rate. Costs are generally covered through NDIS plan funding where the support is included in the participant's plan. It is worth confirming with a support coordinator or plan manager how STA funding appears in the specific plan and how many days are available.

SIL funding is typically determined through a more detailed process. The NDIA usually requires a roster of care that outlines the participant's weekly support needs, which helps determine the appropriate level of funding. Whether SIL funding is included depends on the participant's assessed needs, goals, and plan decisions.

Because the two supports are funded separately, accessing one does not automatically affect the other. A participant who receives SIL may still have NDIS STA funding in their plan for short breaks, and a participant using NDIS STA does not need to be on SIL.

For more on how STA rules and compliance requirements work, see our NDIS STA guidelines.

When It May Help to Speak With Visionary Respite and Care

If you are trying to work out whether NDIS STA, SIL, or a combination of both might suit a participant's needs, it can help to talk through the options with a provider who understands how each support works in practice.

Visionary Respite and Care works with participants, families, and support coordinators to help clarify what support may fit the participant's goals, routines, and plan funding. Whether the participant is considering a short-term stay or using STA as a trial before exploring SIL, Visionary Respite and Care can discuss what that process involves.

To learn more about how Visionary Respite and Care delivers short-term supported stays, visit our respite care services page. For help comparing providers, see our guide to comparing NDIS STA providers.

FAQ

What is the main difference between NDIS STA and SIL?

NDIS STA is a temporary support that provides short stays with care included, typically up to 14 days at a time. SIL is an ongoing arrangement that provides daily living support in a participant's long-term home. STA is time-limited while SIL is continuous.

Can a participant access both STA and SIL?

Yes. A participant who receives SIL can also have NDIS STA funding in their plan. STA may be used for short breaks in a different setting or as a planned change of environment. The two supports are funded separately.

Is SDA the same as SIL?

No. SDA funds the specialist housing itself. SIL funds the support workers who help the participant with daily living inside the home. A participant may receive SIL without living in an SDA property, and not every SDA resident receives SIL.

How do I know if a participant needs SIL instead of STA?

If the participant needs daily supported care on a continuing basis and their current living arrangement is not meeting those needs, SIL may be more appropriate. If the need is temporary - such as carer respite, a change of environment, or skill-building - NDIS STA is likely the better fit. A support coordinator can help assess the right option.

Can NDIS STA be used as a trial before moving to SIL?

In many cases, yes. NDIS STA can give a participant the opportunity to experience supported living away from home before committing to a longer-term SIL arrangement. This helps the participant and their support team understand what ongoing support looks like in practice before making a longer-term decision.