Supported Independent Living (SIL) is one of the best-known NDIS home and living supports, but it isn’t the only option. Depending on your needs, goals and plan, there may be other ways to get the support you need to live well at home.
Here’s a plain-English guide to the main options, and how to work out which might suit you.
Support in your own home
Many participants live in their own home, a family home or a rental, and receive support there without SIL. This is often funded through Assistance with Daily Life in the Core Supports part of an NDIS plan. It can include help with personal care, meals, household tasks and getting ready for the day.
This option suits people who need regular support but not someone with them most of the day.
Individualised Living Options (ILO)
An ILO is a flexible home and living arrangement designed around one person. It might involve living with a host family, living with housemates who provide some informal support, or living in your own home with a mix of paid and informal support.
ILOs suit people who want support built around relationships and community connections, rather than rostered shifts.
Short Term Accommodation (respite)
Short Term Accommodation, often called respite, gives participants a short stay away from home with support included. It can give families and carers a break, or help a participant try new routines and build independence.
Medium Term Accommodation (MTA)
MTA may be funded when a participant is ready to leave hospital or another setting but their long-term home isn’t ready yet. For example, they may be waiting for home modifications or for a new home to become available. It’s a temporary bridge, not a long-term solution.
Home modifications and assistive technology
Sometimes the right support is a change to the home itself, such as ramps, bathroom changes or rails, or equipment that makes daily tasks safer and easier. These can help people keep living where they already are.
Social and community housing
Housing itself is usually not funded by the NDIS. For participants who need somewhere affordable to live, social housing through the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) or community housing providers may be an option, with NDIS supports provided in that home.
Where does 1:1 SIL fit?
For people who need a high level of daily support in their own home, 1:1 SIL provides dedicated support workers for one person, with no shared housemates. It’s the home and living support Aus Care Community Services specialises in. Read more in our post: Why We Only Provide 1:1 SIL.
How do I know which option is right for me?
The right option depends on:
- how much support you need each day
- your goals for independence
- where you want to live, and who with
- what’s in your current NDIS plan
- evidence from your occupational therapist or other allied health professionals
If your needs have changed or your plan doesn’t match your situation, a plan review may help.
Frequently asked questions
Is SIL the only NDIS home and living support?
No. Options include support in your own home, Individualised Living Options, Short Term Accommodation, Medium Term Accommodation, and home modifications or assistive technology.
Does the NDIS pay for rent?
Generally, no. Participants usually pay their own rent and everyday living costs. NDIS funding covers the disability-related supports.
Can I use more than one option?
Often, yes. For example, a participant might receive in-home support and also use Short Term Accommodation for respite.
Who can help me work out my options?
A Care Navigator can help you understand your plan, explore home and living options, and connect with the right services, including housing support through DCJ.
Not sure which home and living option fits?
Talk it through with a Care Navigator. We’ll give you a straight answer about what’s likely to suit, even if it isn’t a service we provide.
