FAQ’s

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Make sure you're prepared before applying.

From people who know the system

Throughout your entire registration journey

We’ve helped clients get registered in as little as 2–3 months. Your timeline depends on how prepared you are and what support you need — but we move quickly and guide you step by step to avoid delays.

No, but it depends on who you support. If your participants are plan-managed or self-managed, you can operate unregistered. If they’re NDIA-managed or you offer high-risk supports, you must be registered.

We help you fix it. Our team reviews your gaps, corrects your policies, prepares a response plan, and supports your reassessment, fast. Many of our clients came to us after a failed audit and passed the second time with our help.

Yes. If you’ve worked with someone else and things aren’t audit-ready, we’ll audit your audit and repair whatever’s missing. We don’t judge. We just get it sorted.

In 20 minutes, we’ll map your situation, highlight your biggest risks, and show you exactly what steps to take. You’ll leave knowing how to move forward with or without us.

No. Existing registered SIL providers will automatically transition from Registration Group 0115 to Registration Group 0138.

Module 5A applies from 1 July 2026 for providers delivering Supported Independent Living under Registration Group 0138.

Yes. Your next audit is expected to include assessment against Module 5A alongside the Core Module.

No. Providers delivering SIL must comply with both the Core Module and Module 5A.

Not necessarily. Many organisations already have strong policies. The priority is reviewing existing documents against Module 5A and ensuring they are consistently implemented.

Yes. Module 5A applies to all registered SIL providers regardless of whether housing is also provided. Providers delivering housing have additional responsibilities relating to tenancy arrangements.

No. Existing providers apply for a variation of registration to add Registration Group 0138 rather than submitting a new registration application.

Possibly. Depending on your current registration scope and risk profile, the NDIS Commission may require an out-of-cycle certification audit.

No. Module 5A contains additional SIL-specific Practice Standards that must also be satisfied.

Not necessarily. Many organisations update existing documentation rather than creating completely new policies.

The priority is ensuring policies accurately reflect current practice.

Yes. However, you'll still need to demonstrate compliance with Module 5A and any other applicable Practice Standards.

As early as possible. Building evidence gradually is generally much easier than preparing immediately before an audit.

Yes. Existing unregistered providers can continue operating during the transition period only if they submit a valid registration application by 1 October 2026.

No. Providers commencing SIL services after 1 July 2026 must first become registered.

Yes. Registration for SIL requires an independent certification audit against the Core Module and Module 5A.

Timeframes vary depending on organisational readiness, audit scheduling and assessment by the NDIS Commission. Beginning preparation early generally results in a smoother process.

Absolutely. Early preparation provides time to identify gaps, strengthen systems and build evidence before the certification audit.

No. Module 5A is an additional Practice Module that applies specifically to registered SIL providers. Providers must continue complying with the Core Module.

No. Module 5A applies only to providers delivering Supported Independent Living under Registration Group 0138.

All four standards work together. Supported Decision-Making, Safeguarding, Practice Governance and Tenancy Arrangements each address different aspects of high-quality SIL.

Yes. Providers delivering both housing and SIL should ensure tenancy arrangements remain separate from support arrangements.

Evidence may include governance records, supervision documentation, competency assessments, participant records, safeguarding documentation and continuous improvement activities.

Yes. Early preparation allows organisations to strengthen systems and build evidence gradually rather than immediately before certification or mid-term.

You apply for full NDIS registration before delivering any SIL, because you have no existing registration to vary. You apply directly for Registration Group 0138 (Assistance with Supported Independent Living), along with any other applicable registration groups.

You apply fresh. Variation is only available to providers who already hold NDIS registration. As an unregistered provider, you make a full registration application.

No. Because you are not already delivering SIL, there is no transitional allowance, and the 1 October 2026 date does not apply to you. You must wait until your registration is approved. Your existing unregistered supports can continue.

New SIL providers now apply directly for Registration Group 0138 (Assistance with Supported Independent Living), together with any other applicable registration groups. Registration Group 0115 formed part of the transition arrangements and no longer applies to new applications.

You cannot deliver SIL, though your existing unregistered supports are unaffected. Thorough preparation against the four SIL Practice Standards is how you get approved on the first attempt.

You register as a new NDIS provider before delivering any SIL. If you apply before 1 July 2026 you apply under group 0115 with 0138 added on approval; from 1 July you apply directly for 0138. You cannot deliver SIL until your registration is approved.

A suitable business structure and ABN, appropriate insurance, and the policies, procedures and record-keeping systems that registration expects. As a new entrant you build these from scratch, so factor in time for them.

New providers apply directly for Registration Group 0138 (Assistance with Supported Independent Living) together with any other applicable registration groups required for the supports they intend to deliver.

Yes. SIL sits in the higher-risk certification pathway and is held to the new SIL Practice Standards, so it asks more of a new provider than lighter supports do. It is entirely achievable with proper preparation, but it is worth going in with that expectation.

Yes, if you deliver, manage and coordinate a participant's supports that meet the definition of supported independent living. Operating as a sole trader does not exempt you, because it is a business structure rather than a category outside the rules.

Because the standards are set by the risk of the support, not the size of the provider. SIL is treated as high-risk, so it sits in the full certification tier regardless of provider size. The lighter-touch registration the NDIS Review recommended applies to lower-risk supports, not to SIL.

The same one that matches your registration status and timing. If you currently deliver SIL unregistered, you follow the currently-delivering pathway (and the 1 October deadline). If you plan to start, you follow the relevant planning pathway. Your sole-trader status does not change which pathway applies.

Yes. As a sole trader delivering SIL you are generally a worker in a risk-assessed role, so you need your own NDIS Worker Screening Check clearance, along with clearances for anyone you engage.

This is a real consideration for sole traders, since you may not have other staff to cover. Planning a backup arrangement is both good practice and part of delivering SIL responsibly, and it is something the regulator is conscious of.

SIL is help with, and supervision of, everyday tasks so a person can live as independently as possible. It's usually provided in a shared living arrangement and often includes overnight support.

Mandatory registration starts on 1 July 2026. From this date, new providers must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission before delivering SIL supports. Existing unregistered SIL providers can continue operating during the transition period if they apply for registration by 1 October 2026.

Yes. From 1 July 2026, SIL becomes a registered support, and every provider delivering it must be registered, including sole traders. If you're already delivering, the transition arrangements let you keep operating provided you lodge a valid registration application by 1 October 2026; you don't need to be registered by 1 July.

Independent reviews and inquiries found that unregistered SIL providers operated with limited oversight, which created risk for some of the most vulnerable participants. Mandatory registration gives the NDIS Commission visibility of providers and the ability to enforce consistent quality and safety standards.

You prepare your documentation against the Practice Standards, submit a valid application to the NDIS Commission, receive a scope of audit, engage an Approved Quality Auditor to complete a certification audit, and then the Commission reviews your application and makes a decision.

0115 (Assistance with Daily Life Tasks in a Group or Shared Living arrangement) is the existing group many SIL providers hold or apply under. 0138 (Assistance with supported independent living) is the new, dedicated SIL registration group created by the reform.

They are SIL-specific quality and safety standards built around four areas: supported decision-making, safeguarding, practice governance, and agreements about tenancy, housing and support arrangements. They apply from 1 July 2026 and sit alongside the existing Core Practice Standards.

Delivering SIL without registration on or after 1 July 2026 may breach the NDIS Act. The Commission describes it as a serious offence, with a maximum penalty of up to two years' imprisonment, a fine of 120 penalty units, or both.

If you currently deliver SIL, you can keep delivering during your application, provided you submit a valid application by 1 October 2026.

Yes. The NDIS Commission has published the final SIL Practice Standards, which commenced on 1 July 2026.

Platform providers also move to mandatory registration from 1 July 2026. Mandatory registration for support coordination was proposed but is currently paused.

Provider+ helps SIL providers achieve registration and audit readiness with a clear, tailored plan for your specific pathway.

Yes, but only if you lodge a valid application by 1 October 2026. The Commission's transition arrangements let you keep delivering while your application is processed, provided it was lodged by that date.

It is the cutoff for currently-delivering, unregistered providers to have a valid application lodged in order to keep operating. You do not need to be fully registered by 1 October, only to have a valid application in.

You apply directly for Registration Group 0138 (Assistance with Supported Independent Living) together with any other applicable registration groups. After submitting your application, the NDIS Commission issues a Scope of Audit, and you must engage an Approved Quality Auditor to complete a certification audit against the applicable NDIS Practice Standards.

Yes. Certification audits under this pathway assess providers against the SIL Practice Standards in full.

You must stop delivering SIL. Delivering SIL without registration on or after 1 July 2026 may breach the NDIS Act and is described by the Commission as a serious offence, with a maximum penalty of up to two years' imprisonment, a fine of 120 penalty units, or both. If you stop, you must follow the Commission's notification and participant-transition steps.

You do not need to re-apply or lodge a new application. The NDIS Commission automatically updates your certificate to add group 0138 from 1 July 2026. Your action is preparing for the new SIL Practice Standards, which you will be assessed against at your next audit.

Yes. If you hold group 0115 and deliver SIL, the Commission updates your certificate to include group 0138 from 1 July 2026. No request or form is required from you.

Yes. Holding existing registration does not exempt you. The new standards apply to every provider delivering SIL from 1 July 2026.

At your next scheduled audit after 1 July 2026, whether that is your mid-term audit or your registration renewal. There is no separate audit to add 0138.

No. If you are already a registered NDIS provider without group 0115, you apply to vary your existing registration to add the SIL group, rather than lodging a new application.

Possibly. The Commission may require an out-of-cycle audit at its discretion, depending on your current scope. If one is required, you engage an Approved Quality Auditor to conduct it. Either way, you will be assessed against the new SIL Practice Standards at your next audit after the variation.

No. Because you are not already delivering SIL, you cannot start until your variation is approved. There is no transitional allowance to begin early.

Registered NDIS providers apply to vary their existing registration to add Registration Group 0138 (Assistance with Supported Independent Living) together with any other applicable registration groups.

You cannot deliver SIL, though your existing registration for other supports is unaffected. Preparing thoroughly against the new standards is how you avoid that outcome.

1 July 2026 is when the transition to mandatory registration begins, existing unregistered SIL providers do not need to hold a Certificate of Registration by this date. The NDIS Commission’s transition arrangements allow existing unregistered providers who are already delivering SIL supports to continue operating while they progress through registration, provided they submit a valid application for 0138 Assistance with Supported Independent Living by 1 October 2026. Providers that do not apply by this date will be unable to continue delivering SIL supports. Providers who are not currently delivering SIL and want to start after 1 July 2026 must be registered before commencing SIL service delivery.

From starting preparation to receiving your Certificate of Registration, allow a minimum of 6 to 12 months. The process covers application, self-assessment, audit preparation, a two-stage certification audit, and the Commission's determination period — each with its own timeline, and any delay pushes everything back.

SIL providers require a certification audit, which is the more comprehensive of the two NDIS audit pathways. It includes a Stage 1 documentation review and a Stage 2 on-site assessment with staff interviews, participant interviews, and site inspections. A verification audit is not sufficient for SIL registration.

Generic template policies are not sufficient. Auditors will probe whether your policies reflect your actual operations. Your policies must be specific to your organisation, describe how you actually deliver services, and be implemented with evidence of use. Staff must be able to explain the policies in their own words.

You cannot technically "fail" an NDIS audit. If auditors identify non-conformities, you will need to submit a Corrective Action Plan. Minor non-conformities give you time to address issues. Major non-conformities must be closed out within three months before certification can be recommended. If major non-conformities are not resolved, your registration will not proceed.

Yes. All workers in risk-assessed roles delivering SIL supports must have a valid NDIS Worker Screening Check clearance. This includes employees, contractors, and regular volunteers. Processing times vary by state, typically 6 to 8 weeks, so lodge applications early. Workers cannot deliver supports in risk-assessed roles until their clearance is received, though some states permit supervised work on application. Check your state's specific rules.

SIL providers must comply with the Core Module and the DRAFT SIL Practice Standards plus applicable supplementary modules. Most SIL providers will need Module 1 (High Intensity Daily Personal Activities). If you support participants with behaviour support needs or use restrictive practices, you will also need Module 2a (Implementing Behaviour Support Plans).

Total costs typically range from $8,000 to $25,000+ depending on your organisation's size. This includes the certification audit ($5,000 to $15,000+), insurance, worker screening checks (fee varies by state, confirm current costs on your state portal), policy development, and optional consultant support. The NDIS Commission application itself is free.

Transition arrangements are expected to allow providers who have commenced registration to continue delivering services while their application is processed. However, specific details are subject to NDIS Commission guidance, which had not been fully published as of April 2026. Do not assume you can wait until the last minute. Monitor the Commission website for confirmed transition arrangements.

SIL (Supported Independent Living) covers the daily support services provided to participants. SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) covers the physical dwelling or property. They are separate registration groups with separate requirements. If you deliver both, you need to be registered for both.

Yes, as long as an application for registration has been submitted by the 1st October 2026 and the registration is in process. The safest course of action is to begin the registration process as soon as possible.

Costs vary depending on the size and complexity of your organisation. The largest expense is typically the certification audit, which for SIL providers can run to several thousand dollars. You may also need to factor in costs for developing or updating policies and procedures, staff training, and any remediation work required following the audit. Contact approved auditors directly for a quote specific to your organisation.

Auditors issue non-conformances — either minor or major — for areas where a provider does not meet the Practice Standards. Minor non-conformances can often be resolved quickly with updated documentation or processes. Major non-conformances require more significant remediation and may result in a follow-up audit, which adds both time and cost to the registration process. Providers should allow sufficient time before the deadline to address any issues that arise.

No. Registration covers the provider organisation, not individual locations. However, all locations must meet the Practice Standards, and auditors may visit multiple sites during the audit process.

Yes. The government announced in December 2025 that all Supported Independent Living providers must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. As part of the reforms, a new registration group, 0138 – Assistance with Supported Independent Living (SIL), will commence from 1 July 2026, with mandatory registration requirements and new SIL-specific Practice Standards applying to providers delivering SIL supports. Existing registered providers holding registration group 0115 will transition automatically to 0138, while currently unregistered SIL providers will be required to apply for registration by 1 October 2026 to continue delivering SIL supports during the transition period, with all providers expected to demonstrate compliance with enhanced audit, quality assurance, worker screening, governance and safeguarding requirements under the new regulatory framework.

An impairment notice is a document issued to new NDIS participants from 1 January 2025, listing the specific impairment categories under which they qualified for the scheme. The NDIS will only fund supports that can be directly connected to those listed impairments. For providers, this means the supports you can deliver and bill for are increasingly tied to what is documented in each participant's impairment notice, not just what was previously funded under their plan.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Act 2024 commenced on 3 October 2024. The most immediate change was the introduction of a defined list of what is and is not an NDIS support. Participants can only use NDIS funding for supports on the approved list. Everyday costs including rent, standard utilities, non-modified vehicles and generic phones are explicitly excluded, even for those in Supported Independent Living arrangements.

I-CAN is a standardised Support Needs Assessment tool the NDIA is developing to set participant budgets under the new framework planning system. Rather than building plans line by line, budgets will be generated from a baseline assessment of support needs. Live testing began in early 2026, with a phased rollout to existing participants aged 16 and over from mid-2026. Complex or high-cost supports will still require detailed functional capacity assessments from allied health professionals.

The government's position is that the reforms are improving consistency and sustainability, not cutting funding. However, the government's own regulatory impact analysis acknowledges the changes will reduce the number of participants and some of the supports available. Data from sector reporting suggests around one in three reassessed plans issued with funding periods since May 2025 saw funding reduced, with an average reduction of approximately 22.5 per cent. For providers, this means some clients may have less funding available in reassessed plans than they previously did.

The reasonable and necessary test in section 34 of the NDIS Act determines whether a support can be funded. It has not been removed, but its operation has changed significantly. Since October 2024, a support must first qualify as an NDIS support under the new defined lists before the reasonable and necessary criteria are even applied. This means the boundary work has shifted from the test itself to the list of approved supports, making the approved list the first and often decisive gate for funding decisions.

It is the formal title of the first major legislative reform package: the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Act 2024. The government uses this phrase, along with "better, fairer and more sustainable" and "securing the NDIS for future generations," to describe the overall reform program. In practical terms, the reforms tighten what the NDIS funds, how participant budgets are set, and who can deliver certain supports, with the stated aim of reducing scheme growth from 14 per cent annually to between 5 and 8 per cent.

The expansion of mandatory registration beyond SIL is confirmed to begin from July 2027, with full implementation across all support types planned for 2030. The government has described this as implementing recommendations from the NDIS Review to bring the entire provider market under registration requirements over time.

The NDIS is changing in ways that are structural, not temporary. The providers who come through this period in the strongest position will not be those who waited to see what happened. They will be the ones who understood what was coming, made decisions based on that understanding, and built their businesses accordingly.

Whether you are unregistered and facing a deadline, newly registered and navigating a shifting landscape, or still deciding whether to enter the market, the most important thing you can do right now is get clear on where you stand and what the path forward looks like.

If you'd like to talk through what these changes mean for your specific situation, the team at Provider+ is here to help.

Yes, as long as your application is submitted by 1 October 2026 for existing unregistered providers.

After mandatory registration commences, self-managed participants will only be able to use registered providers for SIL supports. The funding management type does not exempt you from the registration requirement.

Yes. The Commission has enforcement powers including compliance notices, infringement notices, banning orders, and court action. The Commission has stated it wants to ensure participants receive safe, quality supports and will hold providers accountable.

Your participants will need to transition to a registered provider. This is disruptive for participants, particularly those with complex needs. If you decide not to register, give your participants as much notice as possible and support them through the transition.

No. There are no exemptions or grandfathering provisions. All providers delivering SIL supports must register. The only way to continue delivering SIL is to complete registration.