Print this page

What is Supported Independent Living?

Supported independent living (SIL) helps people with disability live as independently as possible. SIL services are commonly delivered in a shared living environment, as well as in a participant’s own home. It’s been a core part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) since the scheme launched, recognising that the right support can make all the difference in how fully someone participates in life.

SIL is often confused with specialist disability accommodation (SDA), but the two are different. SDA is an NDIS funding stream that covers the physical property for people who need specialist housing design, while SIL covers your supports and staffing.

Think of Supported Independent Living (SIL) as the ‘how’ — the daily supports that enable independence — and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) as the ‘home’ — accessible housing designed for people with high support needs.

According to the NDIS, more than 41,500 Australians are actively funded through SIL or SDA, underlining the need for quality, person-centred living support across the country.

 

Who can benefit from SIL?

NDIS SIL support is available to NDIS participants whose plan includes funding for independent living support. Typically, SIL is suited to people who:

  • Need regular or around-the-clock support with daily tasks, in a shared home with others living with disability or in their own home
  • Are transitioning out of family care, hospital or another living arrangement into a more permanent home environment
  • Have goals around building independence, life skills or community participation

Whether you’re newly exploring your options or ready to make a move, supported independent living accommodation could be the right next step.

 

What our SIL support looks like

At Ability Options, our Supported Independent Living team delivers personalised, person-centred support designed around your life. We offer:

  • Daily living support: Help with personal care, showering, dressing, grooming and getting ready for the day.
  • Meal preparation: Assistance in planning and preparing nutritious meals or building the cooking skills to do it yourself.
  • Household tasks: Support with cleaning, laundry and keeping your home running smoothly.
  • Medication and health management: Reminders and assistance with medications and attending health appointments.
  • Social and community participation: Support getting out, connecting with people and taking part in activities you enjoy.
  • Life skills and budgeting: Practical support to help you manage money, bills and daily decision-making.
  • Complex behaviour support: Structured support for participants who require consistent routines and positive behaviour strategies tailored to their needs.
  • High intensity physical and medical support: Assistance for participants with more complex physical or medical support requirements.
  • Overnight and 24-hour support: For participants who need a support worker present through the night or at all times.

Our SIL supports are primarily delivered in our shared Supported Independent Living homes or, where appropriate, one-on-one in your own home.

We understand that the best support is co-designed with you, which is why we work closely to understand your goals and empower you to live the life you choose. Our skilled staff are available 24/7 to support you with daily living and more complex care needs, all underpinned by exceptional quality assurance management.

To view current availability, check our Accommodation Vacancies.

 

How it works

Getting started with NDIS SIL support can feel like a lot, but with the right NDIS SIL Provider, it doesn’t need to be complicated. Here’s what the process looks like with Ability Options.

  1. Get in touch: Reach out to our team to start the conversation. We’ll ask about your current situation, your goals and whether you already have SIL funding in your NDIS plan.
  2. NDIS planning and approval: If SIL funding isn’t already in your plan, we have other Registered NDIS Services that can help you understand how to request it. Our Support Coordination team can assist you through this process.
  3. Putting your support together: We match you with suitable accommodation and a team of support workers who understand your needs and take care of everything that needs to be in place before you get started.
  4. Getting started and ongoing support: Once everything is in place, our team works with you continuously to make sure your support is working well and evolves as your needs change.

 

Why choose Ability Options for SIL

Choosing the right SIL provider is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Here’s why thousands of people across NSW trust Ability Options to support them.

  • We’ve been doing this for 50 years: Ability Options started in Western Sydney in 1976 with a simple but radical idea: that people with disability deserve to live in the community, not apart from it. That belief still drives everything we do.
  • We’re a registered NDIS SIL provider: As a recognised sector leader supporting people with disability, Ability Options delivers high-quality, NDIS-registered supports you can trust.
  • We provide robust governance and clinical oversight: Our staff are highly trained in complex, high-intensity supports, underpinned by robust governance and clinical care, ensuring safe, best-practice services.
  • We put you in the driver’s seat: We don’t tell you how to live. We ask what you want, and we build support around that. Your goals, your preferences and your voice matter in every decision.
  • Our team genuinely cares: With more than 1,200 staff across NSW, our people choose this work because they want to make a difference. That shows in the relationships built with the people we support every day.
  • We offer support beyond SIL: From Day Programs and Social Activities to Support at Home and in the Community, Support Coordination and Plan Management, we’re a connected network of services, so you’re never navigating alone.

 

Getting started

Whether you’re ready to move forward or just starting to explore, we’d love to hear from you. Our friendly team can answer your questions, walk you through your options and help you take the next step with confidence.

Get in touch with us today or call us on 1300 422 454.

Support Enquiry

FAQ

Start by checking whether your current NDIS plan already includes SIL funding. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to request it at your next plan review. This can be a lengthy process and you’ll need supporting documentation to demonstrate the level of support you require.

Once your NDIS plan includes SIL funding, the next step is finding the right support and provider. Get in touch with us, and we’ll walk you through your options, discuss what your support would look like day-to-day and help you make a decision that feels right.

As one of NSW’s leading NDIS Supported Independent Living Providers, we offer a range of residential properties across the state. These include shared homes where a small number of participants live together with support, as well as individual living arrangements where appropriate.

In a shared SIL home, you’ll typically live with a small number of other people who also have NDIS plans. We take compatibility seriously when matching housemates, considering communication styles, interests, routines and support needs.

Ability Options would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging.