Moving into a new home is a significant change for anyone. As an NDIS participant, it’s natural for participants and their families to have questions before the shift in place. You may be wondering what the first day will look like, who will be there and how the new routine will work.
Having clear information beforehand can make the transition easier for everyone involved. This blog explains, step by step, what to expect when you move into supported independent living so that you can feel informed and prepared.
What Is NDIS Supported Independent Living (SIL)?
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is support provided to eligible participants wherein a support worker helps or supervises them 24/7. The support worker may be shared with housemates or, in limited situations, provided one-to-one, depending on the participant’s disability support needs.
SIL suits participants who need a support worker present overnight, help with daily activities for at least 8 hours a day and some help or supervision for the remaining hours. It is not SIL if a participant needs only a few hours of support each day or week, or if they manage their own support workers.
SIL is different from Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). SDA is the housing itself, built for participants with very high support needs. SIL, on the other hand, ensures there is support available inside the home. Some participants have both in their NDIS plan.
What Does NDIS SIL Funding Cover?
SIL funding pays for the support workers who assist a participant at home. Supports include:
- Personal care, such as showering and getting dressed
- Meal preparation and household tasks
- Building skills in cooking, cleaning and routine
- Medication management and getting to medical appointments
- Carrying out behaviour support plans
- Supervision and help with personal safety
- Household budgeting and bill paying
- Non-routine community access, such as getting to therapy or visiting family
SIL does not cover rent, board, groceries, utilities, vehicle costs or holiday expenses.
The NDIS also generally funds 10 irregular support days each year for unplanned situations, such as illness, or 15 for participants with high intensity support needs.
Preparing to Move Into SIL
The decision about where to live and who to live with belongs to the participant. Participants who receive home and living supports, including SIL, usually would be eligible to have assistance from a support coordinator. A support coordinator helps find a suitable provider and discusses what support each provider can deliver within the participant’s plan funding. Useful steps include:
- Visit the home more than once, at different times of the day.
- Meet the housemates. Most SIL participants share a home, so compatibility matters. Housemate choice depends on vacancies, so raise preferences early.
- Meet the support workers likely to be in the home.
- Ask how overnight support works, how often support workers change and whether the provider uses a roster of care, the weekly plan of support.
Sharing routines, communication needs, food and cultural preferences helps the provider plan support around the individual.
What Happens on Day One in SIL?
Day one is mainly about getting to know the house and the people in it. Feeling both excited and unsure is common, and it is fine for the day to move slowly.
A support worker will give you a tour of the home and a safety briefing that covers emergency procedures and any assistive technology. You will usually meet the support team and your housemates, then start unpacking. Photos, bedding and other familiar items help make the bedroom feel like your own. Some providers supply furniture and bedding and others do not, so ask which applies before moving day. The home will not feel familiar straight away, and routines develop over the following weeks.
Daily Life in a SIL Home
Every SIL home runs differently because support follows each participant’s NDIS plan and goals.
Morning: Support workers may assist with showering, dressing and breakfast and provide medication support.
During the day: Many participants attend work, study or community activities, with support for shopping, appointments and travel. Time at home often focuses on building skills such as cooking, laundry and cleaning.
Evening: Meals, household tasks, personal care, medication and bedtime routines follow. Many homes also include social time with housemates.
Independence is a central goal of SIL. Support workers help participants do as much as they can themselves, and the level of help changes as skills develop.
Settling Into SIL: The First Weeks
Settling in takes time, and small changes to routines or supports are common in the first weeks.
Regular feedback sessions, such as weekly or monthly check-ins, let participants and their loved ones share what is working. A formal review after the first 30 to 90 days is also sensible. If a participant’s needs change, their support coordinator can talk to the provider about adjusting supports.
SIL Participant Rights and Safeguards
SIL participants have the right to safe, quality supports that respect their choices and preferences. Requisites include:
Mandatory Registration
From 1 July 2026, providers delivering SIL must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Providers already delivering SIL can keep operating during the transition but must apply by 1 October 2026. Registered providers must meet the NDIS Practice Standards, complete independent audits, screen workers and manage incidents.
SIL Practice Standards
A new module covers supported decision-making, safeguarding, practice governance and agreements about tenancy, housing and support. A participant’s housing and their SIL supports are separate, so changing SIL provider should not by itself end their right to remain in their home.
Raising a Concern
If you feel comfortable, speak to the provider first. If the concern is not resolved, or you prefer not to, contact the NDIS Commission on 1800 035 544. Complaints can be anonymous, and an independent advocate can help. In an emergency, call 000.
Final Thoughts
A good SIL arrangement starts with the participant’s own choices: where they live, who they live with and how they are supported. Day one is only the beginning. The first weeks and later reviews are when routines are adjusted, so support keeps matching the person. Providers must also meet safety and quality standards, and participants have clear ways to raise a concern. If you or someone close to you is considering SIL in Melbourne, the Nexa Care team can talk through your situation.
Author Nexa Care
