Choosing a Supported Independent Living (SIL) provider used to involve a choice between a registered and an unregistered provider. While both could deliver SIL, that changes from 1 July 2026, when all SIL providers will need to be registered with the NDIS Commission.
This guide explains the difference clearly, compares the two options side by side, and walks through what the new rules mean for your choice.
What does “registered” actually mean?
A registered NDIS provider has been through the NDIS Commission’s registration process. It’s not a one-time form, it’s a process that includes an independent audit, worker screening checks, and meeting the NDIS Practice Standards, with re-assessment at 18 months and full re-registration every 36 months.
An unregistered provider hasn’t gone through the same registration process. They can still operate, and many do great work, but they aren’t independently assessed against the NDIS Practice Standards in the same way.
For a service like SIL, where people often need support day and night in a shared home, that difference carries real weight.
Registered vs unregistered, side by side
Here’s how the two compare on the things that matter most.
| What you’re comparing | Registered provider | Unregistered provider |
| Quality checks | Independent audit, repeated on a set cycle | Self-managed quality, with no external audit or verification |
| Who they can support | NDIA-managed, plan-managed and self-managed participants | Plan-managed and self-managed only |
| Complaints and safeguards | Formal pathway to the NDIS Commission | Limited, often internal only |
| Pricing | Guided by the NDIS price limits | Not bound by the NDIS price limits |
| Worker screening | Required and audited | No external oversight of whether workers hold screening checks |
Quality checks and audits
Registered providers are audited by an approved independent body and have to keep meeting the standards over time, not just at sign-up. The audit looks at how a provider operates in practice, including policies, records, incident management and how supports are actually delivered.
Unregistered providers don’t go through the same external audit process as they manage their own quality. The difference isn’t that registered providers are perfect. It’s that someone independent is checking, on a repeating cycle, and there are processes in place if standards aren’t met.
Who they can support
An unregistered provider can only support participants who are plan-managed or self-managed. If your funding is NDIA-managed, you’ll need a registered provider.
Registered providers can support all three funding types, which means there’s more flexibility if your funding setup ever changes, without needing to switch providers.
Complaints and safeguards
If you ever have a concern with a registered provider, you can raise it with the NDIS Commission, which has processes in place to look into issues and take action where needed. This adds an extra layer of support for participants and families alongside a provider’s own internal complaints process.
With an unregistered provider, complaints are usually handled directly with the provider, so the options available can be more limited.
What changes on 1 July 2026?
From 1 July 2026, all SIL must be delivered by a registered provider under the new registration group 0138, Assistance with Supported Independent Living. Providers who aren’t registered yet have to apply by 1 October 2026 to keep delivering while their application is assessed.
In other words, the “unregistered SIL” option is closing. After the transition window, unregistered delivery of SIL isn’t permitted. So when you’re comparing providers now, registration isn’t just one detail, it’s becoming a key part of choosing a SIL provider under the new rules.
Does this mean I can’t use an unregistered provider?
For SIL specifically, that’s the direction the changes are moving in. An unregistered provider can continue delivering SIL during the transition period, but only if they apply for registration before 1 October 2026. If they don’t register, they won’t be able to continue delivering SIL after that point.
If your current SIL provider is unregistered and isn’t planning to register, it’s worth acting early rather than waiting. Our guide on changing your SIL provider covers how to move without a gap in support, and our SIL changes explainer covers the reform in full.
Frequently asked questions
Do SIL providers have to be registered?
Yes. From 1 July 2026, all SIL providers must be registered under group 0138. Providers who aren’t registered yet must apply before 1 October 2026 to keep delivering during assessment.
Can unregistered providers still deliver SIL?
Only during the transition. They can continue until they’re required to apply, before 1 October 2026. After the cut-off, unregistered SIL delivery isn’t allowed.
Are unregistered providers safe?
Some are very good, but they aren’t independently audited and don’t have the same complaints pathway or worker screening requirements. Registration adds those layers of protection, which is why it’s becoming mandatory for SIL.
Is What Ability registered?
Yes. What Ability is proudly an NDIS registered provider, ready for the 2026 SIL updates. You can look up any provider’s registration on the NDIS Provider Finder.
Additional Resources
You can read more about Mandatory Registration for SIL providers here:
- Tyrone Faulkner
