Supported Independent Living, often shortened to SIL, is an NDIS Home and Living support that helps people with disability live as independently as possible, with the right support in place at home. For many participants, SIL means having reliable support for daily routines, personal care, community access, safety, and skill-building—especially when support is needed across the day and sometimes overnight. At A1 Healthcare Solutions, we help participants and families understand how SIL works, what it can include, and how to take the next step towards the right home and support model.
Quick links:
View SIL vacancies
Make a referral
Speak with our team
SIL is the paid supports and supervision you receive in your home. It is usually delivered in a shared home (where participants live with others), but the key point is that SIL is about support, not the physical house itself. SIL can include help with things like personal care, meal preparation, household routines, and supervision to support safety and confidence at home. It’s designed to support independence over time—so the goal is not to do everything for you, but to support you to do more for yourself where possible.
There are specific circumstances where an NDIS participant may be in hospital due to high complex needs and as part of their hospital discharge planning they may access Supported Independent Living SIL through their NDIS plan.
SIL is generally suited to people who have higher support needs and require regular assistance throughout the day. Some people benefit from SIL because they need support to maintain consistent routines, manage personal care safely, or have support available for supervision and wellbeing. Others may need SIL because their current living situation is no longer suitable, they want a more stable home environment, or they require support overnight.
SIL can also suit participants who:
Need consistent day-to-day support to stay safe at home
Benefit from predictable routines and regular supervision
Need help with personal care, meal preparation, household tasks, and community participation
Require additional support to maintain stability in shared living
SIL supports are tailored to your needs and goals. Depending on your plan and support requirements, SIL can include:
Personal care and daily routines (showering, dressing, toileting support)
Meal preparation support and daily living skills
Household tasks (cleaning support, laundry routines, tidying)
Support to attend appointments and community activities
Support to develop independence skills (planning, routines, basic life skills)
Supervision and safety supports, including overnight support when required
If you need help building the right supports around your Home and Living goals, a Support Coordinator may also be involved to help implement services and coordinate the move.
SIL funding is generally for supports and supervision, not everyday living expenses. In most situations, SIL does not cover:
Rent
Utilities (electricity, gas, water)
Groceries and meals
Internet or phone plans
General household items and personal expenses
These are usually paid by the participant, similar to any other living arrangement. Being clear on this early helps you plan the move and avoid unexpected costs. Learn more about what the NDIS may fund or not fund here.
SIL support ratios describe how staff support is organised in the home. Ratios are commonly written as 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, or 1:4. This means:
1:1 – one support worker supporting one participant
1:2 – one support worker supporting two participants
1:3 – one support worker supporting three participants
1:4 – one support worker supporting four participants
The right ratio depends on the needs and safety requirements of everyone in the home and what is funded in each participant’s plan. Ratios can also change through the day. For example, someone may need 1:1 support during personal care, mealtimes, or appointments, while 1:2, 1:3, or 1:4 may suit periods where support needs are lighter and participants are more independent. Staffing may also look different overnight depending on risk, routine, and support needs.
Some participants need support outside normal daytime hours. Overnight support can vary depending on need, and may include:
Support available overnight for safety and wellbeing
Scheduled assistance where required
Extra support during periods of higher risk or instability
Overnight arrangements should always match the participant’s needs and the safe running of the home. If overnight support is required, it should be planned clearly so expectations are realistic and support is consistent.
People often compare SIL with other Home and Living options. Here is the simplest way to think about it:
SIL is the support you receive in your home
SDA is the housing (the physical home) for eligible participants who need specialist design
ILO is a more flexible way of arranging supports, sometimes used in different living setups (for example, living with a host or chosen supports)
Some participants have both SDA and SIL, but they are separate. If you are not sure what you have in your plan or what you should explore, we can help you understand which option suits your needs and goals. Learn more about SIL vs SDA
SIL is typically considered when there is strong evidence that a participant needs ongoing daily support at home, often including overnight support. Approval depends on whether the NDIA considers SIL to be reasonable and necessary for your disability support needs.
A strong SIL request usually includes:
Clear Home and Living goals
Evidence of daily support needs and safety considerations
Information about overnight needs and routine support
Reports or assessments that explain why the current situation is not suitable
If you have a Support Coordinator, they can help gather information and submit what is needed. If you do not have one, you can still enquire and we can explain the usual steps.
A good SIL provider should help you feel informed and safe, not pressured. It helps to ask:
What support ratios can you provide in the home?
What does a typical day look like in the home?
How do you match housemates and routines?
How do you handle medication routines and health appointments?
How do you support behaviours of concern safely and respectfully?
Can I inspect the home before making a decision?
SIL works best when the provider, home environment, and support model match the participant’s needs and goals.
Moving into SIL is a big change, so it’s best done with a clear plan. A typical process includes:
Reviewing SIL vacancies and confirming suitability
Sharing key information about support needs, routines, and goals
Home visit or walkthrough (where possible)
Confirming staffing model and support ratios
Agreeing a start date and transition plan
Ongoing check-ins to support a stable move
A well-planned transition reduces stress and helps everyone settle into the new environment.
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is a type of NDIS support that helps individuals with disabilities live independently while receiving necessary assistance with daily activities. These supports are generally for participants who require a high level of support like 24/7 support.
 Individuals with disabilities who have significant and permanent support needs, as outlined in their NDIS plan, may be eligible for SIL services.
SIL support ratios are the way staffing is planned in a Supported Independent Living home. Ratios are usually written as 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, or 1:4, meaning one support worker to one participant, two participants, three participants, or four participants. The right ratio depends on each person’s needs, safety considerations, routines, and what is funded in their NDIS plan. Someone may need 1:1 during personal care, mealtimes, or appointments, while 1:2, 1:3, or 1:4 may suit parts of the day where support needs are lighter. Ratios can also change across the day and overnight depending on support requirements.
SIL includes 24/7 assistance with daily activities such as cooking, cleaning, personal care, and managing medications. It can also cover support for complex needs and challenging behaviors.
No — SIL funding is for support, not everyday living costs. Supported Independent Living typically covers the paid help you receive at home, such as personal care, daily routines, supervision, meal preparation support, household tasks, and skill-building support. Costs like rent, utilities (power/gas/water), groceries, internet, and personal expenses are usually paid by the participant. If you also have other funding types in your plan (for example, housing-related supports), your Support Coordinator can help explain what applies to your situation and what needs to be budgeted for separately. We generally charge the industry average for rent and utilities which is approximately 30% of your Disability Support Pension (DSP).
Yes — we encourage you to view the home before making decisions. Where possible, we can arrange an in-person inspection (or a video walkthrough if needed) so you can see the layout, accessibility, and general environment. You’ll also be able to ask questions about routines, staffing, visitor rules, and how support works day-to-day in that SIL home. If other residents live there, we’ll always manage privacy and consent appropriately while still giving you enough information to make an informed choice.
Our locations are spread across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth from self-contained apartments to ground floor properties.
Majority of our locations are accessible with fully accessible bathrooms, wide doorways and disability-specific equipment like HiLo beds, shower commodes, shower chairs, hoists and more. If you have any specific requests, speak to our team and let us know how we can help.
The level of SIL funding is based on your specific needs and goals, which are assessed during your NDIS planning meeting.
Yes, where appropriate. We can support participants with complex needs, including structured routines, daily safety support, and experienced staff—based on individual needs and plan funding. Our expert SIL team will create comprehensive support plan based off your stakeholders reports like your Occupational Therapist, Behaivour Support Practitioner, Speech Pathologist and others.
If you’re leaving hospital and need Supported Independent Living (SIL) urgently, the priority is putting safe supports in place so discharge isn’t delayed. We can move quickly to check SIL vacancies, confirm whether a home is suitable for your support needs, and coordinate next steps with your Support Coordinator, family (if involved), and the hospital discharge team. In urgent situations, it may also be appropriate to use short-term options (such as interim supports or temporary accommodation) while the right SIL arrangement is being confirmed. The fastest way to speed things up is to share your discharge timeframe, support needs (including overnight support), and any key reports so we can assess suitability and staffing safely.
Moving into NDIS Supported Independent Living (SIL) can be fast when there is a suitable vacancy and the right funding and information are ready. Timeframes vary depending on matching, staffing, agreements, and any approvals needed, but many moves happen within days to a few weeks once everything lines up. To reduce delays, it helps to have your current plan details, preferred locations, required support ratio, any accessibility needs, and relevant reports ready to share. We’ll confirm fit, walk you through the process, and agree a realistic start date that supports a smooth transition.
Yes, we can support participants in SIL who experience behaviours of concern, where we are the right fit and the supports can be delivered safely. Our approach focuses on consistency, clear routines, and practical strategies that reduce triggers and support stability at home. If a participant has a Behaviour Support Plan, we follow it and work alongside the participant’s team (such as a Support Coordinator, family, and relevant clinicians) to keep supports coordinated. We prioritise dignity and safety, and we support positive outcomes through structured daily support rather than reactive responses.
