A home needs to work for your daily life. The location, people you live with and support available can all affect whether you feel comfortable making decisions and following your own routine.
When exploring NDIS shared living, start by separating the housing from the support provided inside it. Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) have different purposes. Understanding that distinction helps you ask clearer questions before considering a move.
This guide explains the difference and gives you a practical checklist for comparing homes, housemates and support arrangements.
What is Supported Independent Living?
SIL funds assistance or supervision with everyday tasks at home for people who need support across the day and night. Depending on assessed needs, support workers may assist one person or be shared. SIL pays for the support, rather than the property itself.
The NDIS SIL guide explains how it works. A property advertised as a “SIL home” does not, by itself, establish that SIL is funded or suitable for you.
Ask what the proposed arrangement would mean in practice. Who is available when you need help? Which supports are individual and which are shared? What happens overnight? A general promise of support should be translated into a clear description of your everyday care.
What is Specialist Disability Accommodation?
SDA is housing designed for eligible people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. Its features help meet disability-related housing requirements. SDA funding does not include the personal support delivered within the home.
Eligibility for SIL does not automatically mean eligibility for SDA. Some people receive both; others receive home support in ordinary housing. The NDIS SDA guide explains the housing criteria and the participant’s rent contribution and everyday costs.
SIL vs SDA: a side-by-side comparison
| Question | SIL | SDA |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Assistance or supervision with daily life at home. | Housing with disability-related design features. |
| What is funded? | Support workers, as approved in your plan. | The eligible specialist accommodation component. |
| Does it include the other? | SIL does not automatically include SDA. | SDA does not automatically include SIL. |
| Main question to ask | How will my support needs be met? | Does this property’s design match my funded housing needs? |
Neither term means that all living costs disappear. Ask for a separate breakdown of housing payments, food, utilities and other personal expenses.
Start with the life you want at home
Before viewing a property, write down what makes a home suitable for you. Include practical needs and preferences, such as:
- Access to family, friends, work, study or familiar community places.
- Space and access for mobility equipment or personal care.
- Quiet time, visitors, pets, cultural practices and food preferences.
- Your preferred routines for waking, meals, activities and sleep.
- How you communicate choices and what support helps you do that.
Mark your essential requirements. A pleasant room will not compensate for support that cannot meet an essential need.
Shared living is one option to explore. The NDIS home and living guide also describes other arrangements. Discuss alternatives with your my NDIS contact if a proposed shared home does not fit.
Look for compatible housemates
You do not need identical interests to share a home comfortably. It helps to understand how everyone’s routines and preferences would work together.
Ask about usual noise levels, shared spaces, visitors and meal arrangements. How are household decisions made? Can someone choose a separate activity or meal? How are disagreements handled without dismissing anyone’s preferences?
With everyone’s consent, arrange opportunities to meet potential housemates. A conversation over a shared activity may tell you more than a quick property tour. Ask whether another visit is possible before deciding.
Respect other residents’ privacy during this process. You need information about compatibility and support arrangements, not someone else’s private medical history.
Ask how choice will work in practice
Bring specific situations to the provider. For example: “I like to shower later in the morning” or “I want to visit family on Sundays”. Ask how staffing would support those preferences and what limitations need to be discussed.
Clarify how you would raise a concern, request a change in support or consider another provider. Ask what would happen to your housing arrangement if your support provider changed. Have someone independent help you understand the answer if needed.
Registration arrangements for SIL providers changed from July 2026, with transition pathways for some providers. Check the provider’s current position against the NDIS Commission’s SIL registration guidance rather than relying on a logo or a verbal assurance.
Understand the agreements and costs before committing
Ask who provides the accommodation and who delivers the support. Request the relevant housing and support documents in a format you can understand.
Use these questions to identify anything that needs clarification:
- What will I pay personally, how often, and what does each charge cover?
- How are shared groceries and bills calculated and recorded?
- What support is funded, and what still needs a funding decision?
- What happens if another resident moves out or my needs change?
- What notice and other conditions apply if I want to leave?
Do not assume an advertised vacancy means immediate funding approval or that every proposed charge is payable from your plan. Resolve unclear costs and support arrangements before signing.
Your SIL preparation checklist
Use this checklist as a discussion tool, not an eligibility test.
- ☐ I have recorded my goals, essential needs and preferences.
- ☐ I understand which home and living supports are approved and which remain undecided.
- ☐ I have checked physical access and the location against my daily routine.
- ☐ I have discussed housemate compatibility and household decisions.
- ☐ I understand individual, shared and overnight support arrangements.
- ☐ I have written information about personal costs and relevant agreements.
- ☐ I know how to raise concerns or request changes.
- ☐ I have a proposed transition plan and know who will help me settle in.
My most important question before deciding: ____________________
The person I want to help me review the options: ____________________
Discuss an ndis shared living arrangement that fits you
Above & Beyond Carers provides information about its Supported Independent Living service. Contact the team to discuss your goals, required support and current options in Sydney.
Take your checklist to the conversation. A useful next step is a clear explanation of the proposed home, support and costs, with time for you to consider whether they fit your life.
