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SIL referral checklist for support coordinators

A practical SIL referral checklist for support coordinators: the plan details, evidence, preferences and risk information a SIL provider needs, and what to expect back.

By S. M. Sam · Published 2 October 2026 · 4 min read

Fact-checked against official NDIS sources. Our editorial policy

Key points

  • A complete SIL referral helps the provider respond faster and match the participant with the right home and housemates.
  • Include the plan details, current evidence, support needs by time of day and night, and the participant's preferences.
  • Share risk and clinical information early, including behaviour support plans, mealtime plans and any restrictive practices.
  • Since 1 July 2026, SIL must be delivered by a provider registered with the NDIS Commission. Check registration before referring.
  • Expect the provider to come back with vacancy details, a proposed support model and next steps.

Why a complete SIL referral matters

Support coordinators often refer to several SIL providers at once, sometimes with a hospital discharge date approaching. A complete SIL referral means the provider can check fit, housemate compatibility and staffing straight away, rather than coming back with questions.

This SIL referral checklist sets out what we, and most registered SIL providers, need to give you a clear answer quickly. Always get the participant's consent before sharing their information.

The SIL referral checklist

Work through these groups with the participant and their family. Not everything will apply to everyone.

Infographic

SIL referral checklist

Participant and consent

  • Name, date of birth and NDIS number
  • Consent to share information with the provider
  • Nominee, guardian or decision-maker details, if any
  • Preferred contact person and communication needs

NDIS plan

  • Plan start and end dates
  • Is SIL funded, and at what level, ratio and intensity?
  • Is SDA funded, and which design category and building type?
  • How the plan is managed
  • Any pending plan reassessment or change request

Evidence

  • Recent occupational therapy functional assessment
  • Home and living evidence: support needs and options explored
  • Support needs by time of day, including overnight
  • Medical summary and diagnosis information relevant to support

Preferences

  • Preferred suburbs or areas, and why
  • Who they'd like to live with, and who they wouldn't
  • Culture, language, faith, food and pets
  • Work, study, day programs and community connections

Risk and clinical

  • Behaviour support plan and any authorised restrictive practices
  • Mealtime management, PEG or swallowing plans
  • Manual handling and equipment needs
  • Medication, seizure or other health management plans

Timing

  • Current living situation, or hospital and ward
  • Expected discharge or move date
  • Is medium-term accommodation funded or needed?
  • Any risk of homelessness or breakdown in current arrangements
Save or print this page to use with participants.

Describing support needs clearly

The most useful thing in any SIL referral is a clear picture of the participant's day. The NDIA funds SIL based on support needs, so the same detail helps both the funding decision and the provider's planning.

  • How much active help is needed at each part of the day: morning routine, meals, afternoons, evenings
  • Overnight needs: is a sleepover enough, or does the person regularly need more than 2 hours of help at night?
  • Whether support can be shared, or individual support is needed and why
  • Whether any supports need workers with extra skills, such as complex bowel care or enteral feeding
  • How often behaviours of concern happen, what triggers them and what helps

Checking the SIL provider

Since 1 July 2026, supported independent living must be delivered by a provider registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Before referring, check the provider on the NDIS Provider Register, and search the Commission's compliance actions for any banning orders or other action.

It also helps to compare how providers approach compatibility, staffing and clinical oversight. Our guide to comparing SIL providers sets out the questions to ask.

What to expect back from the provider

After a complete referral, a good SIL provider should come back to you quickly with:

Infographic

After you send a SIL referral

  1. 1

    Acknowledgementwithin 24 hours

    Confirmation the referral is received and who's handling it.

  2. 2

    Intake conversation

    A call with you, the participant and family to fill any gaps.

  3. 3

    Options

    Suitable vacancies, the SDA category if relevant, current housemates and a proposed support model.

  4. 4

    Meet and visit

    The participant meets the team and housemates, and visits the home.

  5. 5

    Agreements

    A service agreement for support and a separate tenancy or occupancy agreement.

  6. 6

    Transition plan

    Start date, worker training, clinical handover and a review after the first weeks.

Referring to Wyndham Elite

We're a registered NDIS provider with SIL homes in Wyndham and Melbourne's west, and we support participants in every state and territory. Our intake team aims to contact referrers within 24 hours, and we'll tell you honestly if we're not the right fit.

Common questions

Can I refer to a SIL provider before SIL is in the plan?

Yes. Many providers will talk to you early, and their information about available homes can help the participant explore options. Funding still depends on the NDIA's decision.

Should I refer to more than one SIL provider?

It's common, especially before hospital discharge. Tell each provider you're doing this, and let them know when a decision is made.

Does the NDIA fund vacancies?

No. The NDIA funds SIL on the participant's support needs, not on empty rooms. The service and tenancy agreements should explain how vacancies are managed.

What if the participant self-manages their workers?

If a participant chooses and manages their own workers, including rostering them, that isn't SIL under the NDIS Commission's definition, and other supports may suit better.

Sources

We checked this article against these official sources. Dates show when each page was last updated. Links open in a new tab.

  1. Our Guideline: Supported independent living · NDIS (ndis.gov.au) · 7 July 2026
  2. How to ask for home and living supports · NDIS (ndis.gov.au) · 3 May 2026
  3. Mandatory registration and transition pathways for supported independent living (SIL) · NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
  4. Find a registered provider · NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
  5. Search for banning orders and other compliance decisions · NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
  6. What is medium-term accommodation (MTA) · NDIS (ndis.gov.au) · 1 July 2026

This is general information, not advice about your situation. NDIS rules are changing in stages until 2028, so check ndis.gov.au or talk to our team before making decisions.