How much does supported independent living cost in Australia?

Have you found yourself googling ‘how much does supported independent living cost in Australia’, but were still left confused? We explore the costs associated with SIL and more in this blog.

The NDIS funds a variety of different housing services for Australians living with a disability. These housing services range from specialist disability accommodation for people with complex care needs, all the way through to supported independent living. 

If you’ve been wondering ‘how much does Supported Independent Living cost in Australia?’ or have other questions about the cost of disability accommodation, keep reading!

What is Supported Independent Living, and how do I know if it is right for me?

Supported Independent Living (often referred to as SIL) is a type of in-home support that can be delivered within your current home or your chosen shared NDIS housing. This service encourages participants to live as independently as they possibly can, while developing a range of life skills at the same time. This includes things like providing help or supervision with cooking meals or providing assistance with medication management. We have an entire page on our website dedicated to information about SIL, so if you’re interested in learning more, click here. 

How much does Supported Independent Living cost in Australia? 

If you require SIL, the good news is you don’t need to reach into your savings to cover the costs associated with it. The NDIA will determine whether you are eligible to receive funding for SIL after you’ve attended a planning meeting and have expressed your needs, wants and goals. As each person with an NDIS plan has unique needs, funding for SIL in Australia varies between each person. Depending on your needs, funding in your plan for SIL may be used for:

• Assistance with daily living tasks such as cleaning, gardening, and grocery shopping.
• Personal care, such as assistance in showering, oral hygiene, dressing and toileting.
• Medication management, including storage and administration of medication.
• Assistance in lifestyle activities, such as engaging in your favourite hobbies, meeting new people, and engaging with the community.
• Assistance in personal development to support you in achieving your goals. 

SIL is an in-home support service that can be delivered in your current home, or your chosen shared NDIS housing. It is not a type of NDIS housing option like Short- and Medium-Term Accommodation, or Specialist Disability Accommodation. Therefore, the money you receive in your NDIS plan for SIL will not cover rent. It will also not cover your living expenses, assistive technology or home modifications. 

How to apply for disability housing and Supported Independent Living

If you’re reading all of this and thinking, great – SIL sounds perfect for me – I just need to know how to access it, we’ve got good news. Accessing SIL and disability housing can be achieved in a few easy steps.

1. Assess your eligibility for the NDIS (if you’re not already an NDIS participant). 
2. Make an Access Request with the NDIA, which you can do via phone, email or via your local area coordinator or NDIA office.
3. From there, it’s likely you’ll be invited to an NDIS planning meeting. Prior to this meeting, you need to think about your current supports, as well as what support you need that you don’t have access to. You’ll also need to provide documentation about your disability from your health providers.
4. At your NDIS meeting, you’ll be asked to discuss your wants, needs and goals. This is a good chance for you to communicate that you think SIL would help you with your needs and wants. If you don’t live in NDIS disability housing and think you should receive funding for it, you will also need to communicate this in your planning meeting. 
5. After your planning meeting, you will receive an NDIS plan which will outline what funding you’ve received. It’s now up to you to choose what providers you’d like to use to help deliver the supports and services funded in your NDIS plan. 

At Aspire Hub, we provide people just like you with quality in-home SIL services, and also have a range of vacancies for disability housing. By choosing us as your NDIS registered provider for SIL and/or NDIS housing, you’ll have access to a dedicated customer engagement and success team who make it their mission to give you the best outcomes. Our mission is to empower people to live the life they choose! 

At Aspire Hub, we’re used to answering everything from ‘how much does supported independent living cost in Australia?’, through to ‘how can I find available NDIS accommodation?’. 

With over 30 years’ experience supporting hundreds of people living with disabilities, we’ve got the expertise to answer all of the nitty gritty questions associated with the NDIS. To learn more about Aspire Hub or contact us about our services, call us on 07 3074 9440 or visit our enquiry page here.