What Is Supported Independent Living (SIL)? A Guide for NDIS Participants and Families
For many NDIS participants, living independently doesn’t mean living without support — it means having the right support in place to make independence possible. That’s the idea behind Supported Independent Living, one of the more misunderstood parts of the NDIS. Here’s what it actually involves, who it suits, and how to work out if it’s the right fit.
What Does SIL Actually Mean?
Supported Independent Living, usually shortened to SIL, is NDIS funding for help with daily tasks within your home so you can live as independently as possible. This isn’t the same as respite care or short-term support — SIL is typically an ongoing arrangement, often (though not always) in shared accommodation with other NDIS participants, with support staff rostered on to assist with things like:
– Personal care and daily routines
– Meal preparation and household tasks
– Medication management
– Budgeting and everyday decision-making
– Building skills toward greater independence over time
The level of support is tailored to the individual — some participants need overnight or 24/7 assistance, while others need only a few scheduled check-ins a day.
SIL vs. Other NDIS Home Supports
It’s easy to confuse SIL with other categories of NDIS funding, so it’s worth knowing the difference:
SIL funds the support workers and rostered care within a home. Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a separate, distinct type of funding for the physical dwelling itself, for participants with significant support needs. In-home care typically refers to support delivered in a participant’s own home (often not shared) without the same live-in or rostered-shift structure SIL usually involves. And respite care is short-term, temporary support, often used to give family carers a break, rather than an ongoing living arrangement.
Many participants use a combination of these — for example, SIL for daily living support plus community and social participation funding to stay engaged outside the home.
Who Is SIL Suited To?
SIL tends to suit participants who need regular, hands-on support with daily living tasks and who are considering a move into shared or supported accommodation, whether that’s to build life skills, gain more independence from family carers, or simply because it fits their goals and preferences. It’s a significant, ongoing arrangement, so it’s worth having a genuinely honest conversation about current needs and future goals — with family, a support coordinator, and prospective providers — before committing.
How to Get SIL Funding Approved
SIL isn’t automatically included in every NDIS plan. It generally needs to be requested and justified through evidence, often with input from an occupational therapist or other allied health professional who can assess functional support needs. Your support coordinator (if you have one) or your planner can help outline what evidence the NDIA needs to consider a SIL request, and can help identify a realistic level of support based on your circumstances.
Choosing a SIL Provider
Because SIL is such a hands-on, day-to-day part of someone’s life, the provider relationship matters enormously. Beyond checking registration status, it’s worth asking a prospective provider about staff consistency (will you see the same support workers regularly, or a rotating roster of strangers), how compatible housemates are selected if it’s shared accommodation, what a typical day/roster looks like, and how the provider handles changes in support needs over time.
Getting Started
Supported Independent Living can be one of the most life-changing parts of an NDIS plan when it’s set up well — giving participants real independence with the right level of backup support. If you’re weighing up whether SIL is right for you or a family member, or want help navigating the funding request process, get in touch with our team for a no-obligation conversation about your options.
