Essential Guide to SIL Registration for Providers and Coordinators

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is a crucial support option provided under the NDIS for participants who require assistance with daily living tasks while living in shared or individual housing. SIL funding is tailored to each participant's needs, ensuring they receive the necessary support to live as independently as possible.

The NDIS Commission has announced the transition to mandatory registration for all Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers, following recommendations from the NDIS Provider and Workforce Registration Taskforce, which identified SIL as a higher-risk support area—particularly where services have been delivered by unregistered providers. From 1 July 2026, all providers delivering SIL supports will be required to commence the registration process in line with the NDIS Commission’s transition requirements (which are yet to be formally released). This applies to all providers, including those who have previously operated as unregistered providers under plan-managed or self-managed arrangements. This marks a significant shift for the sector, as SIL has historically been accessible through both registered and unregistered providers. Under the new framework, SIL will be formally recognised as a high-risk support, requiring mandatory registration, certification audits, and compliance with specific Practice Standards.

"The risk inherent in these types of services due to the isolation of people with disability is unacceptable."

"The opportunity for violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in Group Homes is significant."

The following is a concise guide on what is considered Best Practice in being a SIL provider under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS):

Key Features of SIL Supports

• Daily Living Assistance: Help with personal care, medication support, cooking, cleaning, managing appointments and other household tasks.
• 24/7 Support: Depending on individual needs, participants may receive continuous or scheduled support throughout the day and night.
• Goal-Oriented: SIL supports are designed to build participants' skills and independence while achieving personal goals, to enable participants to live as independently as possible while ensuring their needs are met.
• Collaboration: Support workers coordinate with participants, families, and other providers to ensure holistic care.
• Inclusion: SIL fosters independence, enhances quality of life, and allows participants to engage with their community in a safe, supportive environment.

Eligibility Requirements of being a SIL Provider

To register as a SIL provider, you must:

• Have appropriate qualifications or experience in disability services.
• Meet the Suitability Criteria for all Key Personnel.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures and processes aligned with the NDIS Practice Standards.
• Comply with relevant state and local regulations for housing and disability support services.
• Have qualified support staff to work with each participant.

Which Practice Standards Apply to SIL Providers?

SIL providers must demonstrate compliance with multiple NDIS Practice Standards modules. The specific modules depend on your service model, but most SIL providers are assessed against the following:

Core Module (all registered providers)

Module 1: High Intensity Daily Personal Activities

Most SIL providers deliver high-intensity supports and must comply with this module:

• Assessment and planning for high-intensity personal care
• Safe delivery of personal care respecting dignity
• Mealtime management and nutrition supports (where required)
• Responsive support that adapts to changing needs
• Incident escalation for high-intensity supports
• Worker competency for complex care tasks

Module 2a: Implementing Behaviour Support Plans

If your SIL services involve implementing behaviour support plans or using restrictive practices, you must also comply with this module:

• Understanding and correctly implementing Behaviour Support Plans
• Authorisation processes for restrictive practices
• Working to reduce and eliminate restrictive practices
• Person-centred, trauma-informed support
• Collaboration with Behaviour Support Practitioners
• Worker training for behaviour support implementation
• Monitoring and reporting on behaviour support outcomes and restrictive practices

Note on new SIL Practice Standards: The NDIS Commission is developing SIL-specific Practice Standards that had not been finalised as of April 2026. Providers should prepare against the current standards while monitoring the Commission website for updates, as audit requirements may be adjusted once the new standards are published.

Best Practice in SIL

• Policies and Procedures: Comprehensive policies, procedures and processes that meet the NDIS Practice Standards in addressing participant rights, risk management, incident management, complaints handling, support planning and workplace health and safety, that is unique to the SIL operations.
• Forms and Registers: e.g. Risk registers, feedback, complaints and incident registers, support plans and associated care plans to support each individual need, consents, transition plans etc.
• Key Business & Governance Documentation: SIL providers are expected to have a comprehensive suite of governance and operational documentation in place to demonstrate compliance, oversight, and organisational maturity. This includes, but is not limited to: insurances, key personnel records, business and strategic plans, risk registers, management meeting minutes, organisational charts, position descriptions, delegations of authority, emergency and disaster management plans, business continuity plans, risk management frameworks, and conflict of interest registers.

In addition, consideration must be given to the structure of your organisation as a SIL provider, ensuring that roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines are clearly defined to support 24/7 service delivery, oversight, and risk management.

• Participant Documents: Robust and consistent participant documentation is critical to demonstrating safe and compliant service delivery. This includes: Service Agreements (including SIL-specific agreements), consent forms, participant risk assessments, support plans, high intensity support plans (where applicable), behaviour support plans, restrictive practice authorisations, mealtime management plans, medication management plans, Easy Read documentation, and comprehensive intake and onboarding records.

Documentation must be complete, current, and reflective of the participant’s needs, with clear links between risks, supports, and outcomes.

• Participant-Centred Care: A successful SIL provider places participants at the centre of all decision-making. This includes developing individualised, goal-oriented support plans that reflect each participant’s needs, preferences, and aspirations.

Participants, along with their families or representatives, should be actively involved in planning and review processes. This collaborative approach promotes choice, control, transparency, and empowerment, ensuring supports are meaningful and outcomes-focused.

• Building a Skilled and Compassionate Workforce: To be a top-tier SIL provider, your workers need to be highly skilled, trained, and passionate about working with people with disabilities. All workers will have completed mandatory checks and mandatory training and should have experience in working within a SIL environment. Workers will be trained specific to a participants unique needs. As a provider you should be providing ongoing training and development opportunities to improve service delivery but also to ensure that your team is capable of handling a range of situations with professionalism and care.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: SIL services must be responsive to the diverse and changing needs of participants. Providers must be flexible in adapting supports, rostering, and service delivery approaches to ensure participants continue to achieve positive outcomes.

This includes regularly reviewing support arrangements and making adjustments in response to changes in needs, risks, or goals.

• Collaboration with Other Providers: In many cases, participants will require services from other providers in addition to SIL. Effective collaboration with allied health providers, support coordinators, general practitioners, behaviour support practitioners and other specialists will ensure that the holistic needs of the participant are met. A strong network of service providers will enhance the overall quality of care and improve participants' experiences.
• Commitment to Continuous Improvement: Staying at the forefront of SIL service delivery involves a commitment to continuous improvement. Regularly evaluate your services, seek feedback from participants and their families, and stay updated on best practices in the industry. This approach will ensure your services are always evolving to meet the highest standards of care.
• Incident Management: SIL services operate 24/7, meaning incidents are an expected part of service delivery. Auditors expect mature and well-embedded incident management systems that go beyond simple reporting. This includes a complete and up-to-date incident register, documented investigations and root cause analysis for all incidents, clearly defined corrective actions and follow-up, timely notification of reportable incidents to the NDIS Commission (within required timeframes) and evidence that incidents inform both risk management and continuous improvement processes.
• Workforce Governance: The SIL workforce often includes a mix of permanent, casual, and agency staff, including overnight workers. As such, strong workforce governance is critical. Auditors will examine valid NDIS Worker Screening clearances for all workers, completion of the NDIS Worker Orientation Module, role-specific training aligned to supports delivered (e.g. medication, behaviour support, mealtime management), evidence of competency assessment for higher-risk tasks, regular and documented supervision (including for casual and agency staff) and workforce planning to ensure continuity of supports.
• Participant Rights and Choice: SIL services often involve shared living arrangements, which can create complexity in balancing individual rights with group dynamics. Auditors will assess evidence that participants are actively involved in support planning, compatibility assessments for shared accommodation, how privacy and dignity are maintained in shared environments, accessible and effective feedback and complaints processes and how individual needs are balanced within shared living arrangements.

Best practice for implementing restrictive practices within the SIL home

Key things to remember to be compliant with the NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018 when supporting participants in SIL homes who currently have or may have in the future restrictive practices.

Restrictive practices:

• Need to be use only when necessary to prevent risk, harm to self and others and to gain control over situations.
• Should only be used when a Specialist Behaviour Practitioner has recommended the use of a restrictive practice.
• Be a part of an interim or comprehensive behaviour support plan.
• Is authorised by the respective state.
• Have consent in place.
• Training of support staff completed on the correct way to use the restrictive practice by the Specialist Behaviour Practitioner.
• Have proactive strategies in place for staff to implement.

If a restrictive practice has been used and there are no approvals in place. This then becomes a reportable incident and must be reported to the NDIS Commission within 5 days. As a registered provider you must report each occasion of use until either authorised or no longer in use. A Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner must be engaged to work with the participant and has 1 month to complete an interim behaviour support plan if the ongoing use has been recommended.

Note - a provider needs to be registered to implement restrictive practices and be audited against module 2a by an Approved Quality Auditor (AQA).

Suitable Accommodation

As a Supported Independent Living (SIL) provider, offering suitable accommodation is key to ensuring participants feel safe, supported, and empowered in their daily lives. Suitable housing must meet the unique needs of each participant, considering accessibility, safety, and comfort. By creating a home-like environment tailored to individual preferences and support requirements, SIL providers can foster independence, enhance quality of life, and promote a sense of community for NDIS participants.

To find properties you can reach out to Real Estate Agents and advise of the property you are looking for. When choosing a property things to consider are:

• Accessibility: Even if you are not also registering for Specialist Disability Accommodation you want to find a home that has suitable bathrooms, no stairs or obvious hazards.
• Location: Choose a location close to public transport, healthcare services, and community facilities.
• Compliance: Meet local council and state regulations for shared housing and disability accommodations, for example fire safety regulations around fire extinguishers, evacuation plans etc.
• Comfort: Create a homely, welcoming environment with private bedrooms and shared spaces for participants. Usually, a SIL home includes all furniture and appliances, and the participant provides their own bedroom furniture.

Market Your SIL Home

To find participants for your SIL home, it’s crucial to build awareness and establish trust. Strategies include:

• Engage with NDIS Support Coordinators: Build relationships with local support coordinators who can assist in connecting you with potential participants.
• Network within the Community: Partner with disability organisations, advocacy groups, and local community services to reach potential clients.
• Online Presence: Create a professional website and advertise any vacancies that you may have. Profile the vacancy on the website. Maintain an active presence on social media to showcase your organisation, facilities, and success stories.
• Host Open Days: Invite participants and their families to tour the SIL home and learn about your services in person.
• Participant involvement: Involve current participants in the SIL home with profiling the SIL home, have the participant involved in meeting the potential participants and ensure that there is compatibility.

Build Strong Relationships with Participants and Families

Building strong relationships with participants and their families is crucial for providing effective Supported Independent Living (SIL) services. Trust and open communication form the foundation of these relationships, enabling collaborative care and meaningful support. Here's how you can strengthen these connections:

• Providing clear information about your services, costs, and policies.
• Maintaining open communication with participants and their families.
• Include person-centred planning to ensure services meet each participant’s unique needs and preferences.
• Collaboration with participants, families and other support providers.
• Seeking regular feedback and demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.

Ensure Ongoing Compliance and Quality

To maintain compliance:

• Inspect the home monthly to ensure the home is free from hazards and maintained appropriately.
• Test evacuation and emergency procedures regularly so workers and participants know what to do in case of an emergency.
• Conduct regular internal audits and update policies, procedures and processes as required.
• Ensure continuous training for staff.
• Keep up to date industry standards.
• Actively seek feedback from workers and participants and address any issues promptly.
• Refer to the below links for Supported Independent Living Provider Guidance:
  How to support participants to explore home and living options
  Supported independent living funding decisions process
  Pricing arrangements and price limits
  SIL service bookings
  Provider compliance

Conclusion

Setting up a Supported Independent Living home is a rewarding endeavour that requires thorough planning, dedication to quality care, and effective participant outreach.

The pathway to excellence as a registered SIL provider is built on a foundation of trust, integrity, and dedication to supporting people with disabilities. By following the principles of best practice you can create a safe, supportive environment that empowers individuals with disabilities to live independently and achieve their lifelong goals

This article was last updated on 17/04/2026. We strive to keep our content accurate and up to date; however, NDIS Commission rules and requirements can change. For the latest information, visit the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission website or contact our team.

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Related Guides in This Series‍

• Do SIL providers have to be registered in 2026?
• When do unregistered NDIS providers have to register?‍
• What happens if you don't register for SIL by July 2026?‍
• Mandatory SIL registration: complete guide for unregistered providers‍
• SIL operational guidelines for NDIS provider
• ‍SIL certification audit: what auditors look for and how long it takes‍
• SIL renewal audit 2026: how to prepare‍
• SIL registration checklist: what unregistered providers need before July 2026‍
• Understanding SDA and SIL: key components of NDIS support

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