NDIS supported accommodation
Moving into a SIL home: what to expect
A practical guide for participants and families, from the first visit to the first few weeks, with the questions worth asking along the way.
Moving into a SIL home usually happens in stages: you check that SIL is in your plan, visit the home, meet the people you'd live with, sign the agreements, then move in with a settling-in period where routines are worked out together. Most of the work happens before move-in day. Done well, the move itself is the easy part.
This guide is for people moving into shared supported accommodation for the first time, and for the family members helping them. It covers what happens at each step, what to bring, and what the first few weeks tend to feel like. It's based on how we do things at Trailblazer's two homes in Waterford West, plus what the NDIA says you should expect from any registered SIL provider.
If you're still working out what SIL is, start with our guide to what SIL is and how funding works.
Before you move: check your funding
SIL needs to be in your NDIS plan before you can move into a SIL home. If it isn't yet, you'll need to ask the NDIA for home and living supports, with evidence from a treating health professional. The NDIA explains the process on its page about how to ask for home and living supports.
No provider can approve NDIS funding. Only the NDIA decides what goes in your plan, so if a provider tells you they can get your funding approved, be careful.
If you need somewhere to live while SIL funding or a long-term home is being sorted, Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) may help in the meantime. Your support coordinator can help you work this out. We don't provide support coordination, but we're glad to talk with yours.
The steps from first call to move-in day
Every move is a little different, but this is the usual order with us.
Get in touch
Call 1300 822 333, send a referral or enquire about a room on our vacancies page. We reply within 12 to 24 hours.
Free consultation and needs assessment
We talk with you, and anyone you'd like involved, about your support needs, your routines and what you want from a home.
Visit the home
You see the house, the bedroom and the shared spaces, and meet the people who already live there if they're happy to.
Agree the plan
We put together your care plan, match your support team and agree a start date with you.
Move in
Supports begin from day one and are reviewed regularly, especially in the first weeks.
Meeting your future housemates
This matters more than the paint colour or the size of the room. You'll share a kitchen, a lounge and, in some homes, a bathroom with these people. Take the time to meet them, more than once if you can.
It works both ways. The people already living in a home have a say too, and we take a resident's view on a new housemate seriously. That isn't about gatekeeping. A house where people get along is a better place for everyone, including you.
The agreements you'll sign
The NDIA's SIL guideline says you should have a service agreement with your SIL provider. It covers your ratio of support, how much support you get, what happens when you go on holiday, and what happens if a housemate moves out. Your provider should also give you a written agreement about living in the home: who you live with, how you'll get support, the house rules, and what to do if there's a problem.
Read both before you sign. Ask questions. Bring a family member, advocate or your support coordinator if that helps.
In our homes, board is $250 a week, which includes power, internet and water. The notice period in our service agreement is 2 weeks.
What to bring
Bedrooms in shared homes are yours to make your own. A familiar room helps a lot in the first few weeks.
- Clothes for every season, and a few comfortable outfits for around the house
- Bedding and towels you like, if you have them
- Photos, posters or small things that make the room feel like yours
- Your medications, scripts and any medication charts
- Copies of your NDIS plan, care plans and behaviour support plan if you have one
- Mobility aids, communication devices and their chargers
- Phone, tablet and chargers
- A list of important contacts, such as family, GP and specialists
Bedrooms in both our homes come furnished, so bring as much or as little as you like. Pets are considered case by case, depending on the people already living in the home.
Talk to a registered nurse-led team
Call 1300 822 333 or send a referral. We reply to every enquiry within 12 to 24 hours.
Asking a question does not commit you to anything.
The first few weeks
Expect it to feel strange for a while. New people, new sounds, someone else's cooking. That's normal, for you and for the family member who drops you off and drives home without you.
In the first weeks, support workers will be learning how you like things done: your morning routine, what you eat, how you like to be helped in the shower, when you want company and when you want your door shut. Tell them. If you use another way to communicate, make sure your preferences are written down so every worker knows them.
Some practical things we suggest:
- Keep some familiar routines from home, like your usual bedtime or the shows you watch.
- Ask family to visit or call at a regular time early on, so there's something to look forward to.
- Keep going to the activities you already do, such as work, a day program or sport.
- Raise small problems early. A noisy housemate or a meal you don't like is easier to fix in week two than in month six.
Trailblazer's homes have clinical oversight from a registered nurse. If you have health needs like wound care, a catheter or PEG feeding, we plan that support before you move in, so nothing is left to figure out on day one. Our high intensity and complex care page explains more.
Overnight, the women's home has sleepover (inactive) support. The men's home can have active or sleepover support, depending on what each resident's plan funds.
Our two homes in Waterford West
Both homes are on Logan Reserve Road in Waterford West, in Logan. We share the exact address once you've enquired.
The women's home in Waterford West is a settled household, with residents already living there. It may suit you if you'd prefer to move into a home with an established routine.
The men's home in Waterford West is a household that is still forming. That suits some people well, because you'd help shape how the house runs. If two people would like to move in together, ask us about it.
Room availability changes, so check our vacancies page for what's open now, or register your interest and we'll get in touch when something suitable comes up.
If something isn't working
Sometimes a home doesn't feel right, even after the settling-in period. Talk to us first. Many issues can be fixed by changing a routine, a roster or a room arrangement.
If that doesn't resolve it, you can make a complaint through our feedback and complaints process, or contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 1800 035 544. You can also change your SIL provider. Your plan stays yours.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to move into a SIL home?
It depends on whether SIL is already in your plan and whether a suitable room is free. If funding is in place and a room is available, the steps are getting in touch, a needs assessment, visiting the home and agreeing a start date. If you still need to ask the NDIA for SIL funding, that part can take longer, and it's out of any provider's hands.
Can I visit a SIL home before I decide?
Yes, and you should. Seeing the house and meeting the people who live there is the best way to know if it could feel like home. When you enquire about one of our rooms, you can tell us a preferred time to visit. Bring a family member or anyone else who helps you make decisions.
Do I pay rent in a SIL home?
Yes. SIL funding pays for support workers, not housing. You pay rent or board and your share of everyday costs like groceries and power, usually from your own income such as the Disability Support Pension. Ask any provider to explain these costs in writing before you sign anything.
Can I bring my own furniture?
Your bedroom is your space, and personal items like photos, bedding and favourite belongings help it feel like home. Whether you can bring larger furniture depends on the room and the home. Ask during your visit so you know what's there already and what will fit.
What if I don't get along with my housemates?
Tell your provider early. Small issues are often sorted by adjusting routines or shared space arrangements. If things don't improve, you can raise a complaint, contact the NDIS Commission on 1800 035 544, or look at moving to another home or another provider. You don't have to stay somewhere that isn't working for you.
Talk to a registered nurse-led team
Call 1300 822 333 or send a referral. We reply to every enquiry within 12 to 24 hours.
Asking a question does not commit you to anything.