Supported Independent Living: What Families Need to Know

Thinking about Supported Independent Living for a family member can bring up a lot of questions.

What exactly is SIL? What support is included? How does NDIS funding work? And perhaps most importantly, how do you find support that feels right for the person you care about?

If you're asking these questions, you're not alone.

Supported Independent Living, often called SIL, is about helping people with disability get the support they need at home while having more choice and independence in their everyday lives.

Every person is different, so there isn't one version of SIL that works for everyone. The right support should start with the person, their needs, their goals and how they want to live.

Let's take a closer look at what families should know when considering SIL.

What is Supported Independent Living?

Supported Independent Living is a type of support for people with disability who need help with everyday tasks at home.

Depending on the person's needs, SIL support can include help with things like:

personal care

preparing meals

household tasks

building everyday living skills

following routines

getting ready for the day

support during the day or overnight

One thing that's important to understand is that SIL is about the support a person receives at home. It isn't the home itself.

The amount of support someone needs will also be different from person to person.

That's why a good place to start isn't simply asking, "What does SIL include?"

It's asking, "What would the right support look like for my family member?"

Who is SIL for?

SIL is generally designed for people with disability who need significant support to live at home.

But needing help at home doesn't necessarily mean SIL will be the right option.

Your family member's support needs, goals, living situation, preferences and NDIS funding all need to be considered.

It can help to think about what everyday life looks like now and what your family member would like it to look like in the future.

Where do they need support?

What would they like to do more independently?

What routines are important to them?

What kind of people do they feel comfortable receiving support from?

These questions can help you build a clearer picture of what the right support might look like.

How many hours of support does someone need for SIL?

One important difference between SIL and other types of NDIS support is the level of support a person needs at home.

SIL is designed for people with higher support needs who require some level of support or supervision throughout the day and night — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The NDIS says SIL generally isn't suitable if someone only needs a few hours of support each day or week.

That doesn't necessarily mean having one support worker dedicated to the person every hour of the day. Depending on their needs and living arrangement, support may include a combination of one-to-one support, shared support with housemates, supervision, active overnight assistance or sleepover support.

The person's individual support needs help determine the amount and type of SIL funding included in their NDIS plan.

What does independence actually mean?

When we talk about independent living, it doesn't mean someone has to do everything on their own.

Independence can mean different things to different people.

For one person, it might mean learning to prepare some of their own meals. For someone else, it might mean having more say over their daily routine or building confidence with household tasks.

It can also simply mean knowing the right support is there when it's needed.

That's why SIL should be built around the person, rather than expecting the person to fit around the support.

The goal is to help someone live their life with the right level of support around them.

What should families look for in a SIL provider?

Choosing a SIL provider is an important decision.

Of course, you'll want to understand the practical details, including NDIS registration, availability and how the support works.

But there are some more personal questions worth asking too.

Will my family member have a say in their support?

Your family member should be at the centre of decisions about their support.

Ask how the provider gets to know the person, their goals, routines, preferences and the things that matter to them.

Can we have a say in who provides the support?

Who provides the support matters.

Skills and experience are important, but so is finding independent disability support workers your family member feels comfortable with.

Personality, communication style, interests and approach can all play a role in finding a good fit.

How are workers checked?

It's reasonable to want to know more about the people who will be providing support.

Ask what checks and verification processes are in place and how workers are selected.

What happens if our needs change?

Life changes, and support needs can change too.

Ask how flexible the support can be if your family member's needs, routines or goals change over time.

Does the provider meet the requirements to deliver SIL?

SIL providers are required to be registered with the NDIS, so it's worth confirming that the provider you're considering meets the current registration requirements.

You can also ask about their approach to safety, quality, worker screening and what you can expect from them day to day.

Finding the right people matters too

When support is part of someone's everyday life, the relationship with the people providing that support matters.

Think about the difference between simply finding someone who is available and finding someone your family member genuinely feels comfortable having around.

One person might prefer an independent disability support worker who is calm, patient and happy to follow familiar routines.

Someone else might connect better with a person who is outgoing, shares their interests and can encourage them to try new things.

There isn't one "right" personality.

What matters is finding the right fit for the person.

At Careseekers, choice is an important part of how we approach support. Families and people with disability can have greater choice over the independent disability support workers who provide their support.

Because when someone is going to be part of your everyday life, finding the right match really matters.

How can Careseekers help with SIL?

Careseekers is an NDIS-registered provider offering Supported Independent Living.

But SIL isn't only about the number of support hours. It's about understanding how those supports need to work around the person.

It's about understanding the person first.

What support do they need? What is important to them? What are their goals? Who would they feel comfortable receiving support from?

Careseekers gives people and families greater choice over the independent disability support workers providing their support, so you can look for people who suit your family member's needs, preferences and personality.

If you're still figuring out what SIL might look like, that's okay too. You don't need to have every detail sorted before you start the conversation.

Questions to think about before exploring SIL

If you're considering SIL for a family member, it can help to sit down together and think about a few things:

What would they like their everyday life to look like?

What do they already do independently?

Where would some extra support make life easier?

What routines are important to them?

What are their goals for the future?

What qualities would they like in the people supporting them?

What support is included in their current NDIS plan?

Are there any particular concerns or questions your family wants to discuss?

You don't need perfect answers.

These questions are simply a useful starting point for conversations with your family member, support coordinator and potential SIL providers.

Ready to explore Supported Independent Living?

Choosing SIL support can feel like a big step, but you don't have to work everything out at once.

Start with what matters most to your family member.

The life they want to live. The things they want more choice over. The support they need. And the kind of people they want around them.

From there, you can start exploring what the right SIL support could look like.

Careseekers is registered to provide Supported Independent Living, and our team can talk with you about your family member's needs and how we may be able to help.

Whether you're ready to organise SIL support or you're just starting to explore your options, we're here to have a conversation.

Learn more about Supported Independent Living with Careseekers