The short version
- SIL stands for Supported Independent Living. It’s help with everyday tasks so someone can live as independently as possible.
- It often happens in a shared home, with support workers on hand day and night.
- SIL covers things like personal care, cooking, medication prompts and building life skills.
- It suits people who need regular daily support to live away from the family home.
If you’ve come across “Supported Independent Living” or “Home and Living Funding” in an NDIS plan or a planning meeting, you’re not alone in wondering what they actually mean. SIL stands for Supported Independent Living, and behind the jargon it’s a simple idea. It’s the help someone gets with the ordinary tasks of daily life so they can live as independently as they’re able to, usually in a home they share with others.
Let’s unpack what that looks like in real life, and who it tends to suit.
What SIL actually means
Supported Independent Living is support with day-to-day living. The word “independent” matters here. The whole point is to do things with a person, not for them, so they build confidence and skills over time. Support workers are there to help where help is needed and to step back where it isn’t.
Most SIL happens in a shared home, where two or three people live together with support workers rostered on. Depending on the level of need, that support might be there during waking hours, overnight, or around the clock.
What SIL covers
The support is tailored to the person, but it usually includes a mix of the following:
- Personal care: help with showering, dressing and getting ready for the day.
- Cooking and meals: planning, shopping and preparing food, or cooking together to learn the ropes.
- Medication prompts: reminders and support to take medication safely and on time.
- Household tasks: cleaning, laundry and keeping the home running.
- Building skills: practising things like budgeting, catching public transport and managing a routine.
It’s worth knowing that SIL is about the support, not the house itself. The bricks and mortar are a separate thing, which we explain in our guide on SIL vs SDA.
Who SIL suits
SIL is generally for people who need support throughout the majority of each day and want to live away from the family home and informal supports. That might be a young adult ready to move out for the first time, or someone whose needs mean living alone isn’t safe or practical.
Not everyone needs the full package. Some people thrive with a few hours of drop-in support, while others need a worker present at all times. The right level is worked out through your NDIS plan and an assessment of what’s reasonable and necessary.
In practice that usually starts with a home and living assessment carried out by an occupational therapist. Their report goes to your NDIS planner, and the planner decides what is funded.
How SIL fits with the rest of your plan
SIL is one part of a bigger picture. It works alongside other supports like community access and skill building, and it’s funded through your NDIS plan rather than paid for out of pocket. If you’re weighing up whether SIL is the right move, our article on moving into SIL walks through the practical steps.
Want the full picture? Explore our Supported Independent Living services to see how we support people to live well, or get in touch and we’ll talk it through.
Frequently asked questions
Does SIL mean living in a group home?
Often, yes. SIL is commonly delivered in a shared home with one or two housemates, though the support can also be provided where a person lives alone. It depends on the person’s needs, preferences and funding.
Is SIL the same as the house?
No. SIL is the support with daily tasks. The specialist housing itself is a separate thing called SDA. Our SIL vs SDA guide explains the difference.
Who provides the support?
Trained support workers, rostered on to match the level of help each person needs. That might be during the day, overnight, or around the clock.
- Tyrone Faulkner
