What is Supported Independent Living (SIL) and how is it different from other NDIS home and living supports?

With the NDIS Commission recently releasing proposed reforms for Supported Independent Living (SIL), including a new SIL registration group and mandatory registration requirements, many providers are asking an important question:

What exactly is SIL and how is it different from other disability accommodation and home and living supports?

Sharon Floyd, Director of Engels Floyd Quality Consulting, answers some of the most common questions providers are asking about the proposed new SIL definition.

Q: What is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?

Sharon: Under the proposed reforms, Supported Independent Living (SIL) is a package of home and living support for people with higher support needs.

The proposed definition states that SIL applies where a person with disability requires support at all times of the day, or for most of the day, and the support assists the person to live as autonomously as possible in their home and access their community.

This may involve assisting with daily life tasks, supervising daily life tasks, or a combination of both.

Importantly, the provider is responsible for managing and delivering the package of home and living supports.

Q: What kinds of supports are typically included in SIL?

Sharon: SIL supports commonly include assistance with:

• Personal care and hygiene
• Showering and dressing
• Meal preparation and eating
• Household tasks and cleaning
• Developing daily living skills
• Community participation
• Supervision of daily activities where required

The overall goal is to support participants to live as independently as possible while ensuring their support needs are met.

Q: How much support does a person need before it is considered SIL?

Sharon: Under the proposed definition, SIL is intended for people with higher support needs who require support at all times of the day, or for most of the day.

SIL involves a provider managing and delivering a package of home and living supports that assists the participant to live as autonomously as possible in their home and access their community. This may include assistance with daily life tasks, supervision of daily life tasks, or a combination of both.

The proposed definition specifically states that it isnot SIL where a person only receives a few hours of support each day or week.

This distinction is important because many providers currently delivering supports in participants’ homes may assume they are providing SIL when they are actually delivering other forms of disability support. The focus is not simply where the support is delivered, but the level of support required and whether the provider is managing and delivering an ongoing package of home and living supports.

Q: What is NOT considered SIL?

Sharon: The proposed definition specifically states that a service is not SIL where:

• A person only receives a few hours of support each day or week.
• A participant chooses and manages their own support workers,       including directing, planning and rostering their supports.

This means not all supports delivered in a participant’s home are SIL. Providers should carefully review the proposed definition to determine whether the new registration requirements may apply to their services.

Q: How does SIL fit within the broader NDIS home and living options?

Sharon: SIL is just one of several home and living supports available under the NDIS, and it is important not to confuse these different options.

Some of the most common home and living supports include:

Assistance with Daily Life (ADL)– Support with everyday tasks such as personal care, meal preparation, household activities and community access. This is generally suitable for participants who require support for only part of the day rather than ongoing support throughout the day.

Individualised Living Options (ILO)– A flexible package of supports designed around how and where a person wants to live. This may include host arrangements, co-resident supports, living with a housemate or other innovative living arrangements.

Supported Independent Living (SIL)– A package of home and living supports for people with higher support needs who require support at all times of the day, or for most of the day. SIL funds the support arrangements rather than the accommodation itself.

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)– Specially designed housing for people with very high support needs or extreme functional impairment. SDA funds the housing itself, not the support workers.

Home Modifications – Physical changes to a participant’s home to improve accessibility, safety and independence.

Medium Term Accommodation (MTA)– Temporary accommodation funding that assists participants while they are waiting to move into their longer-term housing arrangements.

The important thing to remember is that SIL is only one part of the broader home and living framework. Not every participant living in shared accommodation receives SIL, and not every participant receiving supports in their home requires SIL.

Q: Is SIL the same as Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)?

Sharon: No. This is one of the most common misconceptions in the disability sector.

SDA and SIL are completely different supports.

SDA is the housing – the bricks and mortar.
SIL is the support.

SDA funding helps pay for specially designed housing for people with very high support needs or extreme functional impairment.

SIL funding supports the delivery of home and living supports within a home.

A participant may have:

• SIL only
• SDA only
• Both SIL and SDA
• Neither SIL nor SDA

The two supports are assessed and funded separately.

Q: If supports are delivered in a participant’s home, does that automatically mean they are SIL?

Sharon: No.

Delivering supports in a participant’s home does not automatically make them SIL. Under the proposed definition, SIL is intended for participants with higher support needs who require support at all times of the day, or for most of the day, and where the provider is responsible for managing and delivering the package of supports.

Many participants receive support in their home for only a few hours each day or week, which would not generally meet the proposed definition of SIL.

Q: Why is the definition becoming so important now?

Sharon: Historically, many providers have focused on whether they operate a group home or shared accommodation setting. The proposed reforms shift the focus to the nature and intensity of the support being delivered.

The NDIS Commission has proposed a new registration group:

0138 – Assistance with Supported Independent Living

Alongside this, draft SIL Practice Standards and mandatory registration requirements have been released.

Providers delivering supports to participants who require support at all times of the day, or for most of the day, should carefully assess whether they may fall within the new SIL definition and therefore be required to register under Registration Group 0138.

Q: What should providers do now?

Sharon: Providers delivering home and living supports should review the proposed SIL definition and assess whether their services may fall within the new registration framework.

Key questions to consider include:

• Do participants require support at all times of the day, or for       most of the day?
• Is the organisation responsible for managing and delivering a       package of home and living supports?
• Do participants direct and manage their own workforce?
• Are supports delivered as part of an ongoing home and living       arrangement?

The answers to these questions may determine whether the proposed SIL registration requirements apply.

Sharon’s Final Tip

“The biggest mistake providers can make is assuming that SIL is determined by the type of support. The proposed definition focuses on the level of support required and the provider’s role in managing and delivering that support. If you provide home and living supports, now is the time to review your service model and understand whether the new SIL registration requirements may apply to your organisation.”

If you are unsure whether your services may fall within the proposed SIL definition or would like assistance preparing for registration, contact the EFQC team. We are helping providers across Australia understand the reforms, assess their readiness and prepare for the next phase of NDIS regulation.

To find out more or arrange a complimentary discussion with our team, contact Engels Floyd Quality Consulting.