What is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?

SIL, in one sentence

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is NDIS-funded support for an adult with disability to live in a shared home — with support workers helping with everyday tasks and building the skills to live as independently as possible. The funding pays for the support, not the rent or the house itself.

Who is SIL for?

SIL is generally for adults who need a significant amount of support — often 24 hours a day — to live safely and well outside the family home. It's common for people with intellectual disability, autism, or complex daily support needs. It suits someone who:

• needs help with daily tasks like cooking, personal care, medication or getting around;
• benefits from a consistent routine and familiar support workers;
• would thrive with the right housemates and a settled, calm home; and
• has a goal of building independence over time — doing more for themselves as confidence grows.

What does a good SIL home actually look like?

A SIL arrangement is usually a shared house with two to four residents and support workers rostered on. In a good home, the day has structure but not rigidity: meals are shared, skills are practised through ordinary life, and the community is part of the routine — shopping, appointments, activities, connection.

The quality difference is rarely in the building. It's in the people and the consistency: are the housemates well-matched, are the support workers the same familiar faces, and does the provider actually know each resident as a person?

How does the NDIS funding work?

Here's the plain version of how the money usually breaks down:

• SIL funding — pays for the support workers and the hours of support in the home. It's based on an assessment of how much support the person needs. This sits in the "Core Supports" part of an NDIS plan.
• Rent and living costs — the resident pays their own rent and everyday costs (food, utilities), usually from their income and Disability Support Pension, just like any tenant.
• SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) — a separate NDIS funding for the dwelling itself, only for people who meet specific criteria for accessible or specialist housing. Many people in SIL do not have SDA; they rent an ordinary home.

You don't need to work this out alone. A support coordinator, and a provider like us, can help you understand exactly what your family member's plan covers before anyone commits to anything.

How do you choose a SIL provider?

This is the part that matters most — and where families are often rushed. Take your time. A home is where your family member will actually live. Here are the questions we'd want a family to ask any provider, including us:

• How do you match housemates? Compatibility makes or breaks a shared home.
• How consistent are the support workers? High turnover is hard on people who rely on routine and trust.
• How will I know what's actually happening day to day? Ask how they keep families and support coordinators informed.
• What's your experience with my family member's specific disability? Intellectual disability, autism and behaviour support each need real expertise.
• What happens when something goes wrong? Who do I call, and how fast do things get resolved?
• Can we visit and meet the team before deciding? A good provider will welcome it.

Where Caring Hands SA fits

We're a small, specialist Adelaide provider focused on adults with intellectual disability. We keep our homes small, our support workers consistent, and our door open to families. If you'd like to understand your options — even if you're months away from a decision — we're happy to talk it through.