Supported Independent Living (SIL) provides 24/7 assistance with daily tasks for NDIS participants with very high support needs. SIL represents some of the most significant funding in NDIS plans, often $200,000 to $400,000 annually.

Key Points

  • SIL funds 24/7 support assistance in shared or individual accommodation, not the building itself
  • Only participants with very high ongoing support needs who cannot live safely without 24/7 assistance qualify
  • SIL is separate from Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), which funds the physical building
  • Average SIL funding is $200,000-$400,000 per year depending on support intensity and roster arrangements
  • You choose your SIL provider and can change providers if dissatisfied with service quality
  • SIL does not have to be in group homes; individualised arrangements are possible
  • Transitioning to SIL from family home is a gradual process requiring planning and readiness assessment

What is SIL?

Supported Independent Living funds staff support to help you with daily living tasks around the clock. SIL funding pays for support workers to assist with:

  • Personal care (showering, toileting, dressing)
  • Meal preparation and eating
  • Medication management
  • Household tasks (cleaning, laundry)
  • Community participation
  • Skill development and independence training
  • Safety monitoring and support

SIL is the support delivery, not the house. The building you live in is funded separately through Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) if you qualify, or you rent privately like anyone else.

Who Qualifies for SIL?

SIL is only for participants who cannot live safely without 24/7 assistance due to very high support needs.

Eligibility Criteria

The NDIA assesses:

  • Functional impairment level: Severe limitations in self-care, mobility, communication, or safety awareness
  • Support needs intensity: Requiring staff availability 24 hours per day
  • Risk without supports: Significant safety risks if left without staff support
  • Informal support gaps: Family or friends cannot safely provide required support level
  • Goals alignment: SIL supports your goals for community living and independence

Common disabilities qualifying for SIL include:

  • Severe intellectual disability requiring extensive assistance
  • High support physical disabilities requiring full assistance with all ADLs
  • Acquired brain injury with cognitive and behavioral support needs
  • Complex autism with high support requirements
  • Multiple disabilities creating compound support needs

What Does Not Qualify

SIL is not appropriate if:

  • You can live safely with lower-intensity supports (such as a few hours daily assistance)
  • Family members can provide required support safely without burnout
  • Needs are primarily health-related (nursing care rather than disability support)
  • Support needs are temporary rather than ongoing

Lower intensity options include:

  • Regular Support Worker visits for specific tasks
  • Supported Independent Living arrangements with rostered staff less than 24/7
  • Short Term Accommodation for respite
  • Independent living with intensive Capacity Building supports

SIL Funding Levels

SIL funding varies enormously based on your support needs, roster type, and whether accommodation is shared or individual.

Funding Components

ComponentWhat It CoversTypical Annual Cost
Day-to-day assistancePersonal care, meals, household tasks$150,000-$300,000
Overnight assistanceActive overnight support or sleepovers$20,000-$80,000
Irregular SIL supportsManagement, rostering, training$10,000-$20,000
Total SIL fundingCombined package$180,000-$400,000+

Shared vs Individual Arrangements

Shared SIL (2-6 participants in one residence):

  • Lower per-person costs due to cost-sharing
  • Typical funding: $180,000-$250,000 per participant
  • Staff support multiple residents simultaneously
  • Less privacy but more social connection with housemates

Individual SIL (1:1 support):

  • Higher costs as you fund full staff rosters yourself
  • Typical funding: $300,000-$500,000+ per participant
  • Dedicated staff for you alone
  • Maximum privacy and flexibility
  • Harder to justify as reasonable and necessary unless very high needs

Active Overnight vs Sleepover

Active overnight support:

  • Staff awake and actively providing support during night
  • Required if you need toileting assistance, repositioning, or frequent support
  • Significantly higher cost (~$70,000-$80,000 annually more than sleepovers)

Sleepover support:

  • Staff sleep on-site and available if needed
  • Suitable if overnight needs are minimal and predictable
  • Lower cost option for overnight coverage

How to Access SIL

Accessing SIL is a gradual process involving assessment, plan variation, provider selection, and transition planning.

Step 1: Assessment

Request SIL assessment at your planning meeting or plan review. The NDIA will arrange assessment by:

  • Support needs assessment by independent assessor
  • Review of functional capacity reports from allied health professionals
  • Discussion of informal support availability and sustainability
  • Analysis of current support arrangements and gaps

Assessments determine whether you need SIL and at what intensity.

Step 2: Plan Variation

If assessed as requiring SIL and you do not currently have it, request plan variation (Section 33 reassessment) to add SIL funding to your current plan.

SIL funding is added to a separate Home and Living budget category, not Core or Capacity Building.

Step 3: Provider Selection

Once SIL funding is in your plan, research SIL providers in your area. Consider:

  • Location: Do they operate where you want to live?
  • Vacancy: Do they have openings? Many SIL providers have 12+ month waitlists
  • Support model: Active support, person-centered approaches, behavior support capability
  • Roster arrangements: Staff-to-participant ratios, continuity of workers
  • Culture and values: Participant choice emphasis, community inclusion focus
  • Current residents: Who would you potentially live with (in shared arrangements)?

Visit potential SIL homes, meet staff and current residents, and request trial stays before committing.

Step 4: Transition Planning

Transitioning to SIL from family home takes months of planning:

  • Gradual introduction through respite stays
  • Skill building (budgeting, household tasks, community navigation)
  • Family adjustment and ongoing involvement planning
  • Belongings and personal items setup
  • Routine establishment and communication systems

Most successful transitions involve 6-12 months of gradual adjustment.

SIL vs SDA

Many people confuse SIL (the support) with SDA (the building).

FeatureSILSDA
What it isFunding for support workersFunding for accessible building
What it coversAssistance with daily tasks 24/7Rent for high-spec accessible housing
Who qualifiesVery high support needsExtreme functional impairment + high physical support building requirements
Typical funding$180,000-$400,000/year$60,000-$100,000/year rent equivalent
Can you have one without the other?YesYes
Common combinationsSIL in non-SDA houseSDA with lower support level (not SIL)

You might have:

  • SIL + SDA: Very high support needs + extreme functional impairment requiring accessible building features
  • SIL only: Very high support needs but standard housing is accessible enough
  • SDA only: Extreme functional impairment needing accessible housing but support needs met with less than 24/7 assistance
  • Neither: Lower support needs met with regular Support Worker visits

Choosing a SIL Provider

Quality SIL providers deliver person-centered support that respects your choice and control despite high support needs.

Quality Indicators

Look for providers who:

  • Support genuine choice in daily decisions (meals, routines, activities)
  • Employ qualified staff with disability-specific training
  • Maintain consistent staffing (same regular workers, not constant roster changes)
  • Actively support community participation (not isolating you in the house)
  • Have clear complaints procedures and respond well to feedback
  • Demonstrate financial transparency in billing and service agreements
  • Support family involvement at a level you want

Warning Signs

Avoid providers who:

  • Limit choices unnecessarily (“House rule is everyone eats dinner at 6pm”)
  • Have high staff turnover or unfilled shifts
  • Prioritize provider convenience over participant preferences
  • Restrict community access due to staffing constraints
  • Resist family involvement or feedback
  • Have complaint histories with NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

Quality Control Concerns in Group Homes

Recent data reveals growing concerns about quality control in group home settings, underscoring the importance of careful provider selection.

Rising Reports of Neglect and Abuse

Internal documents from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission show reportable incidents have surged dramatically in recent years. In 2025, the regulator dealt with 107,325 reportable incidents, up sharply from 74,791 in 2023.

Specific concerns include:

  • Neglect reports: 9,688 in 2025 (up from 6,550 in 2023)
  • Abuse reports: 6,131 in 2025 (up from 5,076 in 2023)
  • Serious injury reports: 12,089 in 2025 (up from 7,350 in 2023)
  • Unauthorized restrictive practices: 71,485 in 2025 (up from 48,772 in 2023)

The NDIS Commission attributes increases partly to stronger compliance with mandatory reporting and improved detection, alongside growth in participant and provider numbers.

Why Quality Varies

Advocates point to fundamental structural issues in shared living arrangements:

  • Participants often have no control over who they live with
  • Cost-cutting pressures lead to severe understaffing
  • Participants may lack choice in support workers
  • System enables neglect of basic needs despite worker intentions

Protecting Yourself

Given these concerns, prioritize:

  1. Registered providers only: Ensure your SIL provider is registered with the NDIS Commission
  2. Thorough research: Check complaint histories with the NDIS Commission before committing
  3. Trial stays: Insist on multiple visits and trial stays before moving in permanently
  4. Family involvement: Maintain strong family connections and oversight
  5. Know your rights: Understand reporting procedures if concerns arise
  6. Consider alternatives: Explore independent living options with support workers rather than group homes where possible

The disability royal commission made clear that abuse risks increase in shared living arrangements with limited participant control. While quality SIL providers exist, careful selection is essential given the vulnerability of 24/7 support situations.

Source: The Guardian, March 18, 2026 - NDIS group home neglect reports surge

Your Rights in SIL

SIL participants have the same rights as all NDIS participants, plus specific protections given vulnerability in 24/7 support.

Choice and Control

You retain the right to:

  • Choose where you live (within provider locations)
  • Choose who you live with (in shared arrangements)
  • Change providers if dissatisfied
  • Make daily decisions about routines, meals, activities
  • Spend time alone or with visitors
  • Manage your own money (with support if needed)
  • Be involved in staff recruitment for positions supporting you

Safety and Quality

Providers must:

  • Conduct worker screening for all staff
  • Maintain appropriate insurance
  • Follow behavior support plans if you have one
  • Report incidents to NDIS Commission
  • Respond to complaints promptly
  • Respect your privacy and dignity

Restrictive Practices

If providers use restrictive practices (physical restraint, seclusion, medication to manage behavior), these must be:

  • Authorized in a Behavior Support Plan developed by qualified practitioner
  • Used only as last resort when immediate risk of harm
  • Reported to NDIS Commission
  • Regularly reviewed for reduction and elimination

Unauthorized restrictive practices are serious breaches reportable to NDIS Commission immediately.

SIL and Family Involvement

Transitioning from family home to SIL is emotional for families and participants.

Maintaining Family Connections

SIL should not replace family involvement. Quality providers:

  • Welcome family visits at times convenient for you
  • Involve family in major decisions (with your consent)
  • Provide regular updates if you want family informed
  • Support visits home or family outings
  • Respect family cultural practices and preferences

Adjusting to Transition

Common family concerns include:

  • Loss of control: You now make decisions previously made by family
  • Quality concerns: Are staff providing support as well as family did?
  • Communication gaps: Not knowing daily details
  • Guilt: Feeling they “gave up” on supporting you

Address concerns through:

  • Clear communication protocols (how often updates occur, what information is shared)
  • Trial periods with gradual transition
  • Regular family meetings with SIL provider
  • Ongoing family involvement in level you want

FAQ

How long does it take to access SIL?

From requesting SIL to moving in typically takes 12-24 months. This includes assessment (2-4 months), plan variation (1-3 months), finding a provider with vacancy (6-18 months), and transition planning (3-6 months). Start early if you anticipate needing SIL.

Can I have SIL in my family home?

Rarely. SIL typically requires purpose-built arrangements optimized for shared support delivery. Individual SIL in family home is possible but expensive and must demonstrate value for money compared to moving to dedicated SIL accommodation.

What if I don’t get along with my housemates in shared SIL?

Discuss with your provider about different accommodation arrangements. You can request to move to different house within same provider or change providers entirely. SIL funding is portable.

Can I choose my own support workers?

You should have input into worker selection, especially key workers. However, providers manage overall recruitment and rostering. Express preferences for worker characteristics, communication styles, and specific workers you connect with.

What happens to my SIL funding if I go to hospital?

SIL funding continues during hospital stays, though providers may reduce billing for extended absences. Ensure providers understand you intend to return so your spot is held. Short absences (days to weeks) should not affect funding.

Can I have a partner or family member live with me in SIL?

In individual SIL, possibly yes if the arrangement meets everyone’s needs. In shared SIL, typically no due to agreements with other residents and provider capacity. Discuss with providers.

Do I pay rent in addition to SIL funding?

If you have SDA funding, that covers rent. If living in non-SDA property, you pay standard rent through Centrelink payments (typically DSP covers some rent and you may receive Commonwealth Rent Assistance). SIL funding only covers support worker costs.

Can I cook my own meals in SIL?

Absolutely, if you have capacity and choose to. SIL should support your independence, not create dependency. Staff can provide whatever level of assistance you need, from full meal preparation to simply supervising for safety.

Key Resources

Supported Independent Living enables people with very high support needs to live in community rather than institutional settings. Quality SIL respects your choice and control, supports independence skill development, and facilitates community participation while providing safety and assistance you need.

Looking for SIL providers in your area? Find SIL providers near you to compare registered SIL providers with detailed service information, or browse SDA accommodation options if you also need funded housing.