What SIL actually pays for
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is one of the most misunderstood parts of the NDIS, mainly because people assume it is housing. It is not. SIL is funding for the support, the paid workers who help you with everyday living in the place you call home. The home itself is funded another way (your own rent or, for a small group of participants, Specialist Disability Accommodation funding).
SIL is designed for people who need a higher level of regular support to live as independently as possible. It can be rostered around the clock where that is assessed as reasonable and necessary, and it is usually delivered in a shared home where support is shared across two to five residents, although individual arrangements exist. Funding typically falls between roughly $50,000 and $300,000+ per year depending on the level and intensity of support.
SIL vs SDA: the support vs the building
The single most useful thing to understand before you start looking is the difference between SIL and SDA:
| Funding stream | What it funds | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| SIL (Supported Independent Living) | The paid support workers in your home, up to 24/7 | People needing regular, often high-intensity daily support |
| SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) | The dwelling itself, purpose-built and accessible | Around 6% of participants with very high physical support needs or complex behaviours |
In short, SDA is the building, SIL is the support inside it. They have separate eligibility and you can receive one without the other. When they are used together you choose the home and the support provider separately, so you are not locked into a single organisation for both. If you are weighing the two up, our explainer on SIL vs SDA goes deeper.
How to get SIL funded in your plan
SIL is included in a plan only where the NDIA assesses it as reasonable and necessary. Build your case before the planning meeting:
- Functional evidence. An occupational therapist functional capacity assessment and a support needs assessment that document the daily support you require.
- A roster of care. A breakdown of the support hours across a typical week, often prepared with a support coordinator or prospective SIL provider.
- Your goals. How living more independently links to the goals in your plan.
SIL funding sits within your Core Supports budget. If your situation changes, you can request a plan reassessment to adjust the level funded. Not sure whether you qualify for the NDIS at all? Start with the NDIS eligibility requirements, or read our walkthrough on applying for the NDIS.
Where to find SIL vacancies
Vacancies move quickly and there is no single national waitlist, so use several sources at once:
- NDIS Provider Finder (ndis.gov.au) to identify registered SIL providers operating in your area.
- The Housing Hub to browse advertised SIL and SDA vacancies by location and support type.
- NDIS vacancy listings and provider websites, many providers post current openings directly.
- Direct contact. Ring providers and register interest, ask about upcoming vacancies even if nothing is listed today.
If you are comparing providers in a particular city, our local directories are a useful starting point, for example the best NDIS providers in Melbourne and the best NDIS providers in Sydney, every listed provider is checked against the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission register.
What to ask a SIL provider before you commit
- Is the home registered and current on the NDIS Provider Finder?
- Where exactly is the home, and how close is it to family, transport and the community you want to stay connected to?
- Who are the current housemates, and how do you match people for compatibility?
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio, and how is overnight support delivered (active or sleepover)?
- What is staff turnover like, high turnover is disruptive in a SIL home?
- Can I visit, do a trial stay, and what happens if the placement is not a good fit?
Remember registration is a safeguard, not a quality guarantee, so reference checks and a visit matter. For a step-by-step on moving providers, see how to change NDIS providers.
Finding SIL housing by city
SIL homes cluster around the major metros where the larger not-for-profit providers operate, but availability is suburb by suburb. Browse the suburb pages where vacancies are most actively searched:
- Melbourne, inner east and south: SIL housing in South Yarra and SIL housing in Richmond.
- Sydney, south west: SIL housing in Liverpool.
- SDA in Melbourne: if you also need the dwelling funded, see SDA specialist disability accommodation in Melbourne.
These pages list the registered providers we hold for each area along with the questions to ask, no provider is ranked or rated, registration status is the signal we surface.