NDIS Supported Independent Living (SIL): Practical Guide

Kirsty Savage
Mar 28
5 min read

Supported Independent Living is one of the most significant supports the NDIS provides for participants who want to live as independently as possible. SIL is also one of the least understood, partly because it covers a range of living arrangements and partly because the funding, planning, and provider selection process is more complex than most other NDIS supports.

This practical guide explains what SIL is, how it works, who it suits, how it is funded, and how to move from interest to an actual SIL placement.

What Is Supported Independent Living?

Supported Independent Living, or SIL, is NDIS funding for support workers to assist a participant with daily tasks in their home. SIL is not the accommodation itself. It is the funded support provided in the accommodation.

SIL gives participants the support they need to live in a shared or individual home independently. Workers assist with personal care, domestic tasks, overnight supervision, and daily living activities. The level of support can range from a few hours of active support each day to a high-intensity model where workers are present continuously.

SIL is distinctly different from Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), which is NDIS funding for the physical dwelling. Some participants receive both SDA and SIL. Many SIL participants live in ordinary housing without any SDA involvement.

Who Is SIL Most Suitable For?

SIL is best suited to participants who need ongoing support to manage daily life independently but do not require the constant presence of a family carer at home. Participants in SIL arrangements have typically reached a point in their lives where greater independence is a priority, whether that means moving out of the family home for the first time, transitioning from a residential service to a more independent setting, or returning to a supported living arrangement after a life event.

SIL is not exclusively for participants with a particular disability type. It is relevant for participants with physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injury, autism, and psychosocial disability, among others, when support is needed to manage daily tasks at home and the participant's goals include independent living.

SIL participants typically live in one of three arrangements: a shared house with other participants and overnight support, an individual arrangement in their own home, or a host arrangement in some cases.

How SIL Funding Works

SIL is funded under the NDIS as a Capacity Building support and is one of the categories with specific NDIA oversight. Unlike most NDIS line items, SIL is not simply accessed by choosing a provider and making a booking. It requires a specific assessment and approval process.

To access SIL funding, the participant's support needs must be formally documented. The provider submits a Supported Decision Making SIL quote to the NDIA for review. The NDIA approves the quote and includes the agreed funding level in the participant's plan. This process can take time and typically requires input from support coordinators, occupational therapists, and sometimes a team around the person.

SIL is funded separately from Core Supports and does not come from the same budget as respite, community participation, or self-care assistance.

The Role of the Support Coordinator in SIL

A support coordinator plays a central role in helping a participant move into SIL. They can explain what SIL is and whether it suits the participant's situation, help gather the assessments and documentation needed to support the SIL request to the NDIA, identify suitable SIL providers and housing options, support the individual's decision-making process throughout the transition, and facilitate a supported transition into the new living arrangement.

If a participant is interested in SIL but doesn't yet have a support coordinator, a local area coordinator (LAC) can assist with initial information and referral.

Finding a SIL Provider

SIL providers host participants in shared living arrangements or provide support workers for individual living arrangements. When evaluating a SIL provider, consider the provider's experience with participants whose support needs are similar to yours, the staffing model including how workers are assigned and how consistent they are, the physical setting and whether it meets the participant's accessibility needs, the activities and daily program offered to participants in shared living arrangements, and how the provider communicates with families and support coordinators.

Visiting any proposed accommodation before committing is strongly recommended. Attending a trial stay or spending time in the house as an introduction can also help the participant and family make the right decision.

Transitioning Into SIL

Transitions into SIL need careful planning. Participants who have been in the family home for their whole lives are adjusting to a new environment, new people, a new routine, and a new level of independence at the same time. Even participants who are ready and excited for change need proper preparation.

A good transition plan includes several pre-move visits to the property, introductions to key workers before moving in, agreement on a communication schedule between the provider and family during the initial settling period, and a review process after the first few weeks to address anything that needs adjustment.

Support coordinators should be active during the transition period, not simply at the point of planning. Transition is where things are most likely to need support.

SIL and NDIS Short Term Respite

SIL participants can also access NDIS Short Term Respite. Respite gives SIL participants time in a different environment, a break from their usual SIL arrangement, and opportunities for community participation. It also provides the SIL house with the opportunity to manage staffing during public holidays and other periods when the usual arrangement may need to flex.

When It May Help to Speak With Visionary Respite and Care

Visionary Respite and Care provides Supported Independent Living and NDIS Short Term Respite. We can discuss SIL arrangements, answer questions about what a shared living arrangement looks like, and explain how respite and SIL can work together in a participant's plan.

Explore our supported independent living services or learn about assistance with self-care supports we provide to participants in every setting.

FAQ

Is SIL the same as group homes?

Not exactly. Some SIL arrangements are shared houses that resemble what people think of as group homes. But SIL includes individual living arrangements, host arrangements, and other formats. The term covers the support, not the type of housing.

How long does it take to get SIL approved by the NDIA?

The SIL approval process can take several months from the time the quote is submitted. It involves assessment, quote review by the NDIA, and sometimes back-and-forth between the provider and the NDIA. Starting the process early and having a support coordinator manage it is the most effective approach.

Can a participant change their SIL provider if the arrangement is not working?

Yes. Participants have the right to choose their providers and to change providers. However, transitions between SIL arrangements require planning to ensure continuity of support and to give the participant time to adjust. The support coordinator should guide this process.

Does SIL include transport and community activities?

SIL funding is specifically for daily living support in the home. Community participation activities and transport are funded separately through other NDIS support categories, such as Community Participation or Social and Recreational Activities.

Can SIL be organised in the participant's own home rather than a shared house?

Yes. Individual SIL arrangements where workers support the participant in their own private home are possible under the NDIS. These arrangements are assessed and funded in the same way as shared living arrangements but are tailored to a single individual's support needs.