SIL

Supported Independent Living

Support at home every day, rostered around your plan, your routines and the people you live with. In your home, shared or on your own.

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The basics

SIL is support, not a house

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is help with daily life, provided in your home, by a team that works to a roster.

People often think SIL is a place. It is not. SIL is the support: the people who help with the morning routine, dinner, the washing, the budget and the night. Where you live is a separate question, with a separate agreement.

SIL is usually for people who need a significant amount of support across the day, often with some support overnight. Whether SIL is in your plan is decided by the NDIA.

Housemates laughing over a board game at the dining table while a support worker reads nearby.

SIL is the support
Funded in the Core supports part of your NDIS plan. It pays for the people who help you, never for the home itself.
SDA is housing
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a home built for people with very high support needs. It is funded separately, and only some people are eligible.
Any suitable home
SIL can be delivered in a rental, a social housing home, a home you own or an SDA home. Shared with housemates, or on your own.

Money, clearly

What SIL funding covers, and what it never covers

Knowing this early saves a lot of surprises. SIL funding pays for support. Everyday living costs are yours, the same as for anyone renting a home.

SIL can fund

Help with personal care, like showering, dressing and getting ready for the day
Cooking, cleaning and laundry, done with you or for you, depending on what you want to learn
Support to keep to your routines, including medication support where it is written into your support plan
Help to build skills for running your own home, like budgeting, shopping lists and planning the week
Support overnight, when your plan includes it
Someone on hand to help you and your housemates sort out the everyday things that come up when people share a home

SIL never funds

Rent or board
Food and groceries
Electricity, gas, water and internet
Your phone, clothes and personal items
Holidays, tickets and the cost of activities

These are paid from your own income, such as the Disability Support Pension. Commonwealth Rent Assistance may help with rent, depending on your situation. Services Australia can tell you whether you are eligible.

Support to go out into the community is usually funded from a different part of your plan. See community participation, and read how our pricing works.

How it is worked out

The Roster of Care and the SIL quote, in plain words

A Roster of Care is a week-long picture of your support: which hours, what help, and whether it is one to one or shared. It is the heart of SIL, so we build it with you, not for you.

Step 1: We learn your week
We talk with you, and the people you want involved, about your routines, what you can do yourself and where you need a hand.
Step 2: We draft the roster
Hour by hour, we map when support is needed, what kind, and whether it is shared or one to one. Including nights.
Step 3: You check it
You read it, question it and change it. Nothing goes further until it matches the life you want.
Step 4: It becomes the quote
The roster becomes our SIL quote. The NDIA considers it with other information, such as your assessments, and decides the funding.
Step 5: We keep it current
Needs change. We review the roster with you, and if it has changed a lot, a funding review can be requested.

The NDIA decides what is funded, not us, and prices must sit within the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026–27. The way SIL is assessed can change as the NDIS changes, so check the current process with your support coordinator or the NDIA. Read how getting started works.

Shared support

What 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 actually mean

In a shared home, some support is shared between housemates. A ratio just says how many people one worker is supporting at that moment. In the pictures, the dark dot is the worker and the yellow dots are the people sharing that worker.

1:1
One to one
One worker supports only you at that time. Common for personal care, or times when you need someone focused on you.
1:2
Shared by two
One worker supports two people at the same time, for example two housemates cooking dinner together.
1:3
Shared by three
One worker supports three people at the same time, for example during a quiet evening at home.

Most rosters mix ratios across the day. You might have 1:1 support for your morning routine and share support with housemates in the evening. If you need one to one support, your roster should say so, and we will not quietly share it.

Overnight

Active and passive overnight support

If your plan includes support overnight, it is usually one of two kinds. Your roster says which, and why.

Active overnight

A worker is awake and working through the night. This suits people who need regular help overnight, such as repositioning, frequent checks or support that cannot wait.

Passive overnight

Sometimes called a sleepover. A worker sleeps at the home and gets up if someone needs them. This suits people who need help now and then, or peace of mind that someone is close.

Housemates relaxing in the lounge room in the evening, sharing popcorn in front of a movie.

Living with others

Housemates, and what a good fit means

Sharing a home works when the people in it get along well enough to live together day after day. That is what we mean by fit. It is not about being the same. It is about whether daily life will work for everyone.

Routines. Early risers and night owls can share a home, but it helps to know.
Noise and space. Some people love a busy house. Some need calm.
Support needs. Shared support has to work for each person, not only on paper.
Culture, faith and food. What matters to you at home, and how you like to live.
Time to decide. You can visit more than once and meet the people who live there before you choose.

Your future housemates get a say too. If we do not think a home is the right fit for you, we will tell you, even when it means a longer wait.

Daily life

What SIL looks like on an ordinary week

These are examples, not a set menu. Your roster is built from your week.

Mornings your way
Some people want help with every step of getting ready. Others want a prompt and a coffee. Your roster says which.
Cooking and meals
Planning meals, shopping lists and cooking together. You pay for the food; the support is what SIL covers.
Money and paperwork
Help to read bills, keep to a budget and remember appointments, so more of it becomes yours to run.
Home time
Evenings, weekends and quiet time. Support is around when you need it and steps back when you do not.
Living with others
House meetings, shared chores and working out the small stuff, like who gets the bathroom first.
Overnight
If your plan includes overnight support, someone is there through the night in the way you have agreed.

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Your choice, protected

Change your SIL provider without moving house.

Separate agreements
Your home and your SIL support are separate agreements, each explained in plain language before you sign.
Change either one
If our support is not right for you, you can change provider and keep your home. Your service agreement sets out the notice.
A safe handover
If you move to another provider, we work with them so nothing important about your support is lost.

Read how we protect your choice

Compare

SIL, Individualised Living Options or in-home support?

These are three different ways to get support where you live. The right one depends on how much support you need, who you want to live with and what is in your plan. This is a general guide only.

How SIL, ILO and in-home support compare
	Supported Independent Living (SIL)	Individualised Living Options (ILO)	In-home support
Who it often suits	People who need support at several points every day, often including overnight.	People who want a flexible arrangement designed around them, often mixing paid support with support from people in their life.	People who need help with some parts of the day and live on their own or with family.
Where you live	A shared home or your own home. It can be a rental, social housing, a home you own or SDA.	Often your own home, with a host, or with a housemate who gives some support.	The home you already have.
How support is arranged	A Roster of Care that becomes a SIL quote, with support that can be shared between housemates.	Usually an exploration and design stage first, then a support model built for you.	Booked shifts at the times you choose, from Core supports and sometimes Capacity Building.
Rent, food and bills	Paid by you.	Paid by you.	Paid by you.

Individualised Living Options (ILO) is an NDIS home and living option. We describe it here so you can compare; ask your support coordinator or the NDIA whether it could suit you. Not sure where to start? Try find the right support or read about in-home support.

A quick check

Is SIL right for me?

If several of these sound like you, SIL may be worth talking about with your support coordinator and with us.

You want to live away from family, or already do, and need support every day to do it well.
You need help with personal care or daily tasks at several points across the day.
You may need someone nearby overnight, even if only occasionally.
You are open to sharing support with housemates, or you need support on your own and your plan reflects that.
You want a steady team who learns your routines rather than a different face each shift.
You want your support and your housing kept separate, so you can change one without losing the other.

Not sure yet?

Four short questions point you to the support that fits your week.

Find the right support

Supporting someone? For families. Referring? For support coordinators or make a referral.

Read about our standards.

Questions

SIL questions, answered plainly

Does SIL pay for my rent?

No. SIL funds support, not housing. Rent, food and bills are paid from your own income, such as the Disability Support Pension. Commonwealth Rent Assistance may help with rent, depending on your situation. Services Australia can tell you whether you are eligible.

Do I need SDA to get SIL?

No. Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is funded housing for people with very high support needs, and only some participants are eligible. SIL can be delivered in any suitable home, including a private rental, a social housing home, a home you own, or an SDA home.

Can I choose who I live with?

You should always have a say. When a vacancy comes up in a shared home, you can meet the people who live there, visit more than once, and take your time. Your housemates have a say too. If we do not think a home is a good fit for you, we will tell you honestly.

What happens if I want to change provider?

You can change your SIL provider without moving house, because your home and your support are separate agreements. Your service agreement sets out how much notice to give. We will work with you and your new provider so the handover is safe. Read more on your choice, protected.

How is SIL funded?

SIL is funded in the Core supports part of an NDIS plan. Your provider prepares a quote based on your Roster of Care, and the NDIA considers it alongside other information, such as functional assessments, before deciding what to fund. The NDIA decides the funding, not us. Prices must sit within the limits in the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026–27. See how our pricing works.

What is a Roster of Care?

A Roster of Care is a week-long picture of the support you need: which hours, what kind of support, and whether it is one to one or shared with housemates. We build it with you, and it becomes the basis of the SIL quote.

Can family visit?

Yes. It is your home. Family and friends can visit, stay in touch and be part of your life in the way you choose, while respecting that housemates share the home too. Read our guide for families.

What if my needs change?

Tell us as early as you can. We will review your roster with you. If the support you need has changed a lot, the NDIA can be asked to review your SIL funding, and your support coordinator can help with that.

Do I have to use Manora Care for my other supports?

No. You can use different providers for different parts of your plan, such as therapy or community participation. Some people like one team for everything; others prefer to mix. It is your choice.

Is SIL only for shared homes?

No. Many people share support with housemates, but SIL can also be arranged for someone living on their own when their needs and their plan support it.

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