Accommodation (SIL/SDA) in Australian Capital Territory

What accommodation (sil/sda) actually covers

Two different things that often get confused. Supported Independent Living (SIL) is the staffing, meaning the people who help you in your home, including overnight. Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is the building itself, funded only for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. You can have SIL without SDA, and different organisations often deliver them.

How it's funded

SIL sits in Core Supports and is quoted from a roster of care shared across the people in a home. SDA is a separate capital budget paid to the housing provider. SIL is one of the largest costs in the scheme, so it also draws the most scrutiny. Expect detailed questions at plan review.

What to know in Australian Capital Territory

SDA in the ACT is limited by the territory's size, and some Canberra participants find suitable housing across the border in NSW. Think that through carefully, because restrictive practice authorisations are granted by the jurisdiction the participant lives in and do not transfer if you move. A move from Canberra to Queanbeyan changes which framework applies to you.

Choosing between providers

From 1 July 2026, SIL providers must be registered with the NDIS Commission, and the SIL Practice Standards apply. If a provider offering SIL is not registered, ask them why.

Questions worth asking

• Who else lives in the house, and can I meet them before I decide?
• What is the staffing overnight, awake or sleepover?
• What happens if I do not get on with a housemate?
• Is the SDA provider the same organisation as the SIL provider?
• If I want to move out, what is the process and how much notice do I give?

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