NDIS Supported Independent Living (SIL) — at no cost

What is NDIS Supported Independent Living (SIL)?

NDIS Supported Independent Living is funding for the help a person needs with the daily tasks of living in their own home — cooking, cleaning, personal routines, medication prompts, staying safe overnight and building the skills to do more of it independently over time.

The support is what SIL pays for; the housing is a separate question. Some people receive SIL in shared housing with other residents, others in a home they already rent or own. Keeping those two things apart in your own mind makes conversations with providers much clearer. Our guide covers the difference between SIL and SDA if purpose-built housing is also part of the picture.

Finding an NDIS Supported Independent Living provider

Tell us the area you are looking in, the level of daily and overnight support involved, and whether you are considering shared or individual living. That is enough for our team to start identifying providers worth a conversation, at no cost to you.

We do not hold live vacancy information and we do not confirm registration on a provider's behalf, so treat availability and registration as things to check directly. Many people also look at NDIS support workers and personal care alongside SIL, and you can compare SIL and SDA before you enquire.

What is Supported Independent Living under the NDIS?

Supported Independent Living, usually shortened to SIL, is help with the everyday tasks of running a home and looking after yourself. It is designed for people who want to live as independently as possible but who need someone on hand to assist, supervise or teach along the way. Support can be provided in shared housing alongside other residents, or in a person's own individual home.

SIL is one of the disability supports people commonly ask us about. My Care Link Australia is a matching service, not a provider — we connect NDIS participants, families and plan nominees with disability-support providers, then step back so you can talk to them directly. You can see the full range of supports we help with on our NDIS support services page.

Whether SIL is the right support, and whether it is funded, is a decision for you and the people involved in your plan. This page is general information to help you describe what you are looking for; it is not advice about your plan or your eligibility.

What's included in Supported Independent Living?

What a SIL arrangement covers varies between providers and is shaped by what each person needs. Rather than assume, it helps to go into a conversation with a clear picture of the kinds of assistance you are seeking. The areas below are the ones people most often raise with us:

• Shared housing — support delivered in a home shared with other residents.
• 24/7 support — assistance available around the clock, where a provider offers it.
• Daily living help — everyday tasks such as meals, household routines and getting organised.
• Skill development — building confidence and independence in day-to-day activities over time.
• Community participation — support to get out, stay connected and take part in local life.
• Personal care — closely related support with self-care, which we cover separately under NDIS personal care supports.

Shared and individual living arrangements

Some people are looking for a place in shared housing, where support is provided to a small group of residents living together. Others want support brought to the home they already live in, on their own or with family. Both are worth describing clearly, because they lead to very different conversations with providers.

It also helps to say what you would prefer and what you could consider. Housing options depend on what individual providers actually have, so we cannot say in advance that a particular arrangement will be available in your area. What we can do is pass on a clear picture of your current situation, your preferred arrangement and your preferred location so the search starts in the right place. The NDIS support workers who deliver day-to-day assistance are often part of the same conversation.

How My Care Link Australia helps you find SIL support

My Care Link Australia is a free matching service for NDIS participants, families and plan nominees. You tell us what support you are looking for and where you are, and we use that to connect you with disability-support providers to consider. There is no cost to you for using the service, and you are never obliged to go ahead with anyone we introduce.

You can read how provider matching works for a step-by-step explanation of what happens after you enquire, including how we handle your details. If you would rather talk it through with a person first, contact My Care Link Australia and our team will get back to you.

We do not deliver SIL ourselves, verify a provider's NDIS registration status on your behalf, or hold live vacancy information. Ask any provider you speak with about their registration, what they can offer and when — and check those details before you make a decision.

Looking in Western Australia's Great Southern? We have a dedicated page for SIL providers in Albany. In South Australia, you can also read about supported independent living in Adelaide.