Supported Independent Living — commonly referred to as SIL — is NDIS funding for support workers who assist participants to live as independently as possible in their home. It is designed for people with higher support needs who require assistance or supervision throughout most or all of the day.
For providers, SIL is one of the most operationally demanding support types in the NDIS. It involves ongoing, rostered support delivery in participants’ homes, significant workforce management responsibilities, and — from 1 July 2026 — mandatory registration with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Understanding what SIL is, what it covers, and how it differs from related supports is the foundation for delivering it well.
How Supported Independent Living Works
SIL sits under Core Supports in an NDIS plan, funded through the Assistance with Daily Life budget. The funding pays for the support workers who deliver hands-on assistance inside the participant’s home. It does not cover rent, the physical property, utilities, or groceries — these remain the participant’s own costs unless separately funded through other mechanisms.
Support under a SIL arrangement can be shared between multiple participants in the same home or provided individually, depending on the participant’s assessed needs and the support model in place. The level of support can range from active assistance with personal care and daily tasks through to overnight and 24-hour supervision. What matters is that the participant receives the support they need to live safely and, where possible, build skills toward greater independence over time.
The funding amount for a SIL participant is determined through a Roster of Care — a document that outlines the specific support hours, staffing ratios, and tasks required. This is assessed and approved by the NDIA. Providers are expected to deliver support in line with the approved Roster of Care and to manage any changes through the appropriate NDIA process.
What Does SIL Cover?
SIL funding covers the cost of support workers assisting participants with the activities of daily living in their home. In practice, this includes:
- Personal care — showering, dressing, grooming, and hygiene
- Meal preparation and support with eating or drinking
- Household tasks — cleaning, laundry, and maintaining a safe living environment
- Medication management and prompting
- Supporting participants to access the community and maintain social connections
- Overnight supervision or active night support where assessed as necessary
- Skill development — supporting participants to build capacity in areas such as cooking, budgeting, or using public transport
- Supporting participants during behaviours of concern, in accordance with any behaviour support plan in place
SIL does not fund Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) — the physical housing itself. Participants can receive both SIL and SDA funding concurrently, but they are assessed and funded separately. A participant might live in an SDA-funded home while also receiving SIL-funded support workers. Understanding this distinction is important for providers when assessing eligibility, discussing housing arrangements with participants, and structuring service agreements.
Who Is SIL For?
SIL is intended for NDIS participants with higher support needs — those who require regular assistance or supervision throughout most of the day to live safely at home. The NDIA applies the reasonable and necessary test when assessing SIL eligibility, and the support must be the most appropriate and cost-effective way to meet the participant’s goals.
SIL is typically appropriate for participants who:
- Require daily assistance with personal care and household tasks they cannot manage independently
- Need active supervision or support at night
- Live in shared accommodation with other participants who have similar support needs
- Have complex health or behavioural support needs requiring consistent, trained staff
- Are working toward developing independent living skills over time
SIL is not a one-size-fits-all support, and it is not the right fit for every participant who wants to live away from family. Participants with lower support needs may be better suited to Individualised Living Options (ILO), which allows more flexibility in who provides support and how it is structured. Providers should be familiar with the difference and be able to discuss options clearly when a participant or their family is exploring housing and support arrangements.
SIL vs SDA: What Providers Need to Know
One of the most common sources of confusion in this sector — for participants, families, and newer providers — is the distinction between Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation.
Supported Independent Living (SIL) funds the support workers who deliver assistance inside the home. It is a Core Support, funded through the Assistance with Daily Life budget.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funds the physical dwelling for participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs who require housing with specialist design features. It is a Capital Support, funded separately from SIL.
A participant can hold both. In a typical arrangement, the NDIS pays the SDA provider for the participant’s housing, and pays the SIL provider for the support workers who assist the participant inside that housing. The two funding streams are distinct, the providers may be different organisations, and the contractual arrangements are separate.
For SIL providers, this distinction matters when:
- Discussing housing options with participants or their families — the SIL provider is not responsible for sourcing the physical accommodation unless they also operate as an SDA provider
- Drafting service agreements — the agreement must clearly reflect the support being delivered, not the housing arrangement
- Responding to the new SIL Practice Standards — the tenancy and housing domain specifically addresses the need to keep housing and support arrangements clearly separated
SIL vs ILO: Understanding the Difference
Individualised Living Options (ILO) is an alternative home and living support that gives participants greater flexibility in how their support is structured. Unlike SIL — which uses rostered support workers — ILO can involve a range of support arrangements including family, friends, host arrangements, and paid workers in various combinations.
ILO is better suited to participants who have lower or more variable support needs and want more control over their living arrangements. SIL is appropriate where the participant requires consistent, ongoing support at a level that needs a structured workforce and management system.
As a SIL provider, understanding ILO matters because participants and their planners may ask about it, and because the NDIS is actively encouraging the use of a broader range of home and living supports. Being able to explain the difference — and honestly assess which option fits a participant’s goals — is part of operating with integrity.
What SIL Providers Are Required to Do
Delivering SIL under the NDIS carries significant obligations. From 1 July 2026, all SIL providers must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Registration is no longer optional regardless of the provider’s size, operating model, or history.
As a registered SIL provider, the key obligations include:
Compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards
All registered providers must meet the Core NDIS Practice Standards. SIL providers must also meet the new SIL-specific Practice Standards introduced from 1 July 2026, which cover supported decision-making, safeguarding, practice governance, and agreements about tenancy, housing, and support.
Independent certification audits
SIL providers are assessed at certification audit level — a more rigorous process than a verification audit, involving an on-site review by an approved auditing body. Audits occur at initial registration, at a mid-term point, and at renewal every three years.
NDIS Worker Screening
All support workers delivering SIL must hold a current NDIS Worker Screening check. This applies to employees and contractors. Providers are responsible for verifying and maintaining records of screening checks for their workforce.
Incident reporting and management
SIL settings carry a higher incidence of reportable incidents than lower-intensity support environments. Providers must have a functioning incident management system, report notifiable incidents to the NDIS Commission within required timeframes, and demonstrate that incidents are reviewed and used to improve practice.
Roster of Care management
Providers must deliver support in accordance with the participant’s approved Roster of Care and manage any changes through the correct NDIA process. Delivering support that deviates significantly from the Roster without approval creates both compliance risk and payment risk.
What the 2026 Reforms Mean for SIL Providers
The regulatory environment for SIL changed significantly on 1 July 2026. Mandatory registration is now in effect, and the new SIL Practice Standards apply to all providers — both those already registered and those now entering the system.
The reforms reflect findings from the NDIS Review, the Disability Royal Commission, and two NDIS Commission Own Motion Inquiries, all of which identified consistent gaps in participant safety, quality of care, tenancy rights, and provider accountability in SIL and group home settings.
For providers already operating, the practical implication is clear: the standards against which you will be audited have changed, and the time between now and your next audit is preparation time, not a grace period. Providers who conduct an internal gap analysis, update their policies and agreements, and embed the new requirements into daily operations will be significantly better placed than those who wait.
For providers entering the SIL market, registration is now a prerequisite. There is no pathway to delivering NDIS-funded SIL as an unregistered provider from 1 July 2026 onwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SIL and SDA?
SIL funds support workers who assist participants with daily tasks inside their home. SDA funds the physical dwelling for participants who need specialist housing. A participant can receive both at the same time, but they are funded separately and the provider arrangements may differ.
Does SIL funding cover rent?
No. SIL funding covers the cost of support workers only. Rent, utilities, and food are the participant’s own costs, paid from their own income or through separate funding mechanisms.
Who decides how many support hours a participant receives under SIL?
The NDIA assesses the participant’s support needs and approves a Roster of Care that outlines the hours, staffing ratios, and tasks to be delivered. Providers must deliver support in line with the approved Roster and seek NDIA approval for any changes to the support model.
Do SIL providers need to be registered with the NDIS Commission?
Yes. From 1 July 2026, all providers delivering NDIS-funded SIL must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Providers who have not commenced registration by that date cannot continue to deliver SIL supports.
What audits do SIL providers need to complete?
SIL providers are assessed at certification audit level. This involves an on-site audit by an approved auditing body at initial registration, a mid-term audit approximately 18 months later, and a renewal audit every three years. The audit assesses compliance with both the Core NDIS Practice Standards and the new SIL-specific Practice Standards.
How VCCG Supports SIL Providers
VCCG works with SIL providers across Australia on every stage of registration and compliance — from initial registration and audit preparation through to the new SIL Practice Standards requirements introduced in 2026.
If you are delivering SIL and are not yet registered, or if you want to understand where your current operations stand against the new standards, a gap analysis with VCCG is the right starting point.