Looking for supported independent living vacancies can feel like searching in the dark. Listings appear and fill quickly. It is not always clear who to ask, or what a good home actually looks like. This guide explains where to search, what to ask on a tour, and how the paperwork works. It also covers one change coming in 2026 that everyone with SIL funding should know about.
Quick summary
- SIL funds the support workers in your home, not the house itself. That shapes how you search.
- A support coordinator can help you find providers, and you may have that funding if SIL is in your plan.
- The NDIS provider finder lets you search by suburb or postcode.
- Meet the provider before you commit, and put a service agreement in place.
- From 1 October 2026 every SIL provider must be registered or have applied.
- When comparing supported independent living vacancies, the right housemates matter as much as the right house.
What you are actually looking for
Before searching, it helps to be clear about what SIL is. It is funding for a support worker to help or supervise you at home, up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It pays for the people, not the property. SIL cannot pay your rent or your groceries.
So a SIL vacancy is usually two things at once: a place in a house, and a provider who delivers the support inside it. You are choosing both. Our explainer on what is SIL covers the funding side in plain English, and you can see how we deliver supported independent living day to day.
Where to look for supported independent living vacancies
The NDIS sets out four steps for finding and choosing a provider. Step one is research. You have more help available than you might think when hunting for supported independent living vacancies.
- Your support coordinator. The NDIS states that a support coordinator can help you find providers so you can live safely in your home. If SIL is in your plan, you may have funding for one.
- Your my NDIS contact or recovery coach. They can also point you towards providers.
- The NDIS provider finder. Search by suburb or postcode. It returns each provider’s website, phone number, email and suburb.
- People you trust. The NDIS suggests asking others for recommendations and checking provider reviews.
- Provider websites directly. Many providers list current vacancies with photos and features, including our own SIL and SDA vacancies page.
Searching by area helps, because a home near your family, your work or your community is easier to settle into. We have a home in Blacktown and one in Ballina, and our local guides cover supported independent living Blacktown and supported independent living Ballina.
Registered or unregistered: what applies to you
This depends on how your plan is managed. If your plan is NDIA-managed, you must use a registered provider. If it is self-managed or plan-managed, you can usually choose either registered or unregistered providers.
There are exceptions. The NDIS says registered providers are always required for specialist behaviour supports, plan management, and specialist disability accommodation.
The 2026 change that affects every SIL home
This one is worth acting on. The Minister for the NDIS, Jenny McAllister, announced that all providers delivering SIL must become registered. Your SIL provider must be registered, or have applied to register, by 1 October 2026.
Your plan and your funding do not change because of this. If your provider registers, you do not need to do anything. If your provider does not register, you will need to move to a registered provider. The NDIA has said it will help you understand your options and find a new one.
So when you tour a home, the NDIS suggests asking two direct questions. Are you registered? And if not, do you plan to register before 1 October 2026? One note: if you choose and manage your own support workers, that is not SIL, so this change does not apply to you.
What to ask when you visit
Photos tell you about the house. A visit tells you about the home. Most supported independent living vacancies look alike online, so these questions are what separate them:
- Who else lives here, and what does a normal evening look like?
- How many support workers are on shift, and overnight?
- Will I see the same workers regularly, or a rotating roster?
- How are disagreements between housemates handled?
- What happens if my support needs change?
- How do you handle medical needs, and is there clinical oversight?
- Are you registered, and how long have you run this home?
Consistency deserves particular attention. A team who knows you notices when something is wrong, and that is hard to judge from a listing.
Meetings and service agreements
The NDIS recommends meeting a new provider before you start working with them. It also recommends a service agreement, so you both understand how it will work. Several things are negotiable: what supports you will get, the cost of each support, how the provider will be paid, and how the agreement can be changed.
Treat that list as an invitation. Asking about it is normal, and it is how the system is meant to work. That applies to any of the supported independent living vacancies you consider.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find supported independent living vacancies?
Start with your support coordinator or my NDIS contact. Use the NDIS provider finder to search by suburb or postcode. Ask people you trust, and check provider websites directly, since many list current vacancies.
Does SIL funding pay my rent?
No. SIL funds the support workers who help you at home. The NDIS states it cannot be used for rent or day-to-day expenses like groceries.
Do I need a registered provider for SIL?
If your plan is NDIA-managed, yes. Separately, from 1 October 2026 all SIL providers must be registered or have applied, whichever way your plan is managed.
What happens if my SIL provider does not register?
You will need to move to a registered provider. The NDIA has said it will help you understand your options and find a new provider if needed. Your plan and funding will not change.
Can I choose who I live with?
Vacancies depend on which homes have a place free, so the choice is rarely unlimited. That is exactly why meeting the household before you decide matters so much.
How long does it take to move into a SIL home?
It varies with what is vacant and how quickly the paperwork is sorted. Talk to your support coordinator early rather than waiting for a listing to appear.
Should I visit more than one home?
Where you can, yes. Comparing two or three makes it much easier to tell what a good fit feels like.
How 1 Care Connect can help
1 Care Connect is a registered NDIS provider with a nurse-led team across Western Sydney and New South Wales. We support people living in our SIL and SDA homes. Our nurses look after clinical needs alongside everyday support. If you would like to see one of our supported independent living vacancies, call 1300 264 942 or send us a message. If we are not the right fit, we will say so.
Related reading
Sources: NDIS, How to find and choose a provider; What is supported independent living (SIL); Mandatory registration for Supported Independent Living (SIL) and NDIS digital platform providers (all at ndis.gov.au, read 26 August 2026). This article is general information only and is not financial, legal or clinical advice. NDIS funding, eligibility and pricing are set by the NDIS and can change. Always check the current details on the NDIS website or with your planner or support coordinator. Last updated: 26 August 2026.
