Key takeaways
- Mandatory SIL registration starts 1 July 2026 under a new registration group, 0138 – Assistance with supported independent living.
- There are 8 transition pathways, sorted by whether you deliver SIL now or in future, your registration status, and when you apply.
- The draft SIL Practice Standards were released on 28 May 2026; the final version is expected by the end of June 2026 and enforceable from 1 July 2026.
What is changing for SIL providers from 1 July 2026?
This guide explains NDIS SIL registration: the new definition of supported independent living, the transition pathways, and what each type of provider needs to do. From 1 July 2026, some SIL providers must be registered with the NDIS Commission. The Commission has developed transitional arrangements for providers who already deliver SIL and for those who plan to. Two things are new: a clearer definition of what counts as SIL, and a dedicated registration group for it.
For the background on why this reform is happening and what it means for the sector, see our companion guide: SIL mandatory NDIS registration in 2026.
What is supported independent living under the new definition?
Supported independent living (SIL) is a package of home and living support for people with higher support needs. According to the NDIS Commission, a person provides assistance with supported independent living to a participant if:
- the person with disability requires support at all times of the day, or for most of the day
- the assistance helps the person live in their home as autonomously as possible and access the community, by assisting with or supervising daily life tasks
- the provider is managing and delivering SIL supports, making sure the participant receives home and living support in line with their package of supports.
It is not SIL if a person only receives a few hours of support a day or week, or if a person chooses and manages their own support workers (including directing, planning and rostering them). Short-term accommodation (STA), medium-term accommodation (MTA) and individualised living options (ILO) continue under registration group 0115, where registration stays optional. If what you deliver meets this definition, it counts as supported independent living services that require registration under group 0138. This definition is a summary based on the draft amendments to the Provider Registration Rules, so check the final Rules once they are made to confirm whether the new requirements apply to you.
What is the new registration group 0138?
The new class of support is 0138 – Assistance with supported independent living. It joins the list of NDIS registration groups and will be added to the registration certificates of approved providers, and the group and its definition will be included in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Rules 2018. SIL moves to group 0138; group 0115 (Assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement) continues to be used for STA, MTA and ILO.
What has the NDIS Commission confirmed, and when does each change take effect?
Mandatory SIL registration was announced by the Minister for the NDIS in December 2025 and takes effect from 1 July 2026. The timeline below sets out what is happening and when.
“From 1 July 2026 some supported independent living (SIL) providers must register with the NDIS Commission.”
— NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, May 2026
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| December 2025 | The Minister for the NDIS announced that mandatory registration for SIL and platform providers will begin from 1 July 2026. |
| 28 May 2026 | The NDIS Commission released the draft SIL Practice Standards module. |
| June 2026 | Notices of Intention to Vary Registration are issued to affected registered (0115) providers; registration workshops run; the final SIL Practice Standards are expected to be published. |
| 1 July 2026 | Mandatory SIL registration takes effect and the new SIL Practice Standards apply. Updated certificates of registration are issued after this date. |
| 1 October 2026 | Providers currently delivering SIL who have not applied for registration, and who keep delivering SIL, may breach the NDIS Act. The maximum penalty is 2 years’ imprisonment, a fine of 120 penalty units, or both. |
| Next audit | Registered SIL providers are assessed against the new SIL Practice Standards at their next audit (mid-term or recertification/renewal, whichever comes first). |
What are the new SIL Practice Standards?
The SIL Practice Standards are a new supplementary module of the NDIS Practice Standards, designed for the complex nature of SIL settings. The Commission released the draft module on 28 May 2026; the final version is expected by the end of June 2026 and will be enforceable from 1 July 2026. The draft module contains four standards:
- Supported Decision-Making: supporting participants to make their own decisions about their home, daily life, relationships and goals.
- Safeguarding: keeping participants safe from violence, abuse, neglect and harm, while respecting dignity of risk.
- Practice Governance: making sure workers are trained and competent, with governance that upholds participants’ rights in the home.
- Agreements about tenancy, housing and support arrangements: keeping tenancy and support arrangements separate, clear and fair.
Because the module is still in draft, the final wording may change before it is published.
What is the Notice of Intention to Vary Registration?
In June 2026, the NDIS Commission will issue a Notice of Intention to Vary Registration to affected registered providers, those currently registered under group 0115. The notice adds registration group 0138 and gives you an opportunity to tell the Commission if you do not wish to be registered for SIL. Review the notice carefully and respond within the required timeframe. An updated certificate of registration is issued after 1 July 2026.
What are the registration requirements for SIL providers?
All registered SIL providers need to:
- have certification audits
- comply with the core module of the NDIS Practice Standards
- comply with the new supplementary module for SIL Practice Standards
- meet all other conditions of registration.
“All registered supported independent living providers must have certification audits and comply with the core module and the new SIL Practice Standards.”
— NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, May 2026
In practice, this means SIL sits on the certification pathway and requires both your core module documentation and the new SIL-specific module. Full details are on the NDIS Commission page: Mandatory registration and transition pathways for supported independent living (SIL).
Which transition pathway applies to you?
Your pathway depends on three questions. Work through them, then match your answers to one of the eight transition pathways the NDIS Commission has published:
- Do you deliver SIL now, or do you plan to deliver it in future?
- Are you a registered provider, an unregistered provider (including a sole trader), or not currently an NDIS provider?
- Have you already applied, or will you apply, before 1 July 2026, or are you planning to apply after 1 July?
The NDIS Commission groups providers into eight transition pathways built from these three questions.
What are the transition pathways for SIL registration?
A provider’s pathway to registration depends on their current registration status and services. The eight pathways are grouped into two tables using the NDIS Commission’s own categories: providers currently delivering SIL, and providers planning to deliver SIL in future. Across every pathway, the certificate ends up including group 0138, and from 1 July 2026 providers must comply with the new SIL Practice Standards.
A. I’m currently providing supported independent living (SIL) supports
| Your situation | When you apply | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| Registered provider (with group 0115) | No new application needed | No action is needed to add the group. You can keep delivering SIL. The Commission issues a Notice of Intention to Vary your registration and updates your certificate to include 0138. From 1 July 2026 you must comply with the new SIL Practice Standards, assessed at your next audit (mid-term or renewal) after 1 July 2026. |
| Unregistered provider (including sole traders) | Already applied, or applying before 1 July 2026 | Submit a valid application (under group 0115 and other relevant groups) before 1 July 2026 and complete an audit. You can keep delivering SIL during the process. If approved, from 1 July 2026 your certificate is updated to include 0138 and you must comply with the new SIL Practice Standards. An audit before 1 July will not include the new standards; an audit after 1 July will. |
| Unregistered provider (including sole traders) | Applying after 1 July 2026 | Submit a valid application (under group 0138 and other relevant groups) before 1 October 2026. You can keep delivering SIL during the application only if you apply by 1 October 2026. The audit includes the new SIL Practice Standards. |
B. I’m planning to provide supported independent living (SIL) supports in future
| Your situation | When you apply | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| Registered provider (without group 0115) | Before or after 1 July 2026 | Apply for a variation of registration to add SIL. Applications before 1 July are made under group 0115; applications after 1 July are made under group 0138. An Approved Quality Auditor (AQA) determines whether an out-of-cycle audit is needed. If approved, 0138 is added to your certificate, and from 1 July 2026 you must comply with the new SIL Practice Standards. |
| Unregistered provider | Already applied, or applying before 1 July | Submit a valid application (under group 0115 and other relevant groups) before 1 July 2026 and complete an audit. If approved, from 1 July your certificate is updated to include 0138 and you must comply with the new SIL Practice Standards. You cannot deliver SIL until your registration is approved. |
| Unregistered provider | Applying after 1 July | Submit a valid application (under group 0138 and other relevant groups) after 1 July 2026; the audit includes the new SIL Practice Standards. You cannot deliver SIL until the Commission decides your application. |
| Not currently an NDIS provider | Already applied, or applying before 1 July | Same as an unregistered provider applying before 1 July: apply under group 0115 before 1 July, with 0138 added from 1 July. You cannot deliver SIL until your registration is approved. |
| Not currently an NDIS provider | Applying after 1 July | Same as an unregistered provider applying after 1 July: apply under group 0138 after 1 July. You cannot deliver SIL until the Commission decides your application. |
Providers entering the market who are not yet delivering SIL cannot deliver SIL supports until their registration is approved. Providers already delivering SIL can keep operating during the process, as long as they apply within the timeframes above.
What happens if I choose not to apply, or I haven’t applied by 1 October 2026?
According to the NDIS Commission:
If you are currently delivering supported independent living (SIL) and chose not to apply for registration, you will need to stop providing supported independent living supports.
Providing supported independent living without registration is a serious offence. If you deliver supported independent living on or after 1 July 2026 without being registered, you may breach the NDIS Act. The maximum penalty is 2 years’ imprisonment, a fine of 120 penalty units, or both.
If you stop providing supported independent living, you must follow the notification and participant transition steps described at Stopping the services you provide.
What does getting ready for SIL registration look like?
SIL sits on the certification pathway, which means more documentation and a two-stage audit. The part you control is getting audit-ready: building the policies, procedures and evidence the new SIL Practice Standards will assess.
Recommended actions for SIL providers
- Confirm whether your supports meet the new SIL definition, and whether you need registration under group 0138 – Assistance with supported independent living.
- Identify the transition pathway that applies to you, based on your registration status and the supports you deliver. The Commission has separate pathways for registered providers, unregistered providers, sole traders and new entrants.
- If you are registered under group 0115, watch for the Notice of Intention to Vary Registration in June 2026 and respond within the required timeframe.
- Review the new SIL Practice Standards and assess your policies, procedures, workforce practices, participant safeguards and governance systems against the new requirements.
- Make sure all worker screening and workforce compliance requirements are current.
- If you deliver SIL as an unregistered provider and plan to continue, apply for registration before 1 October 2026.
Get SIL-ready with the SIL Package and Certification Platinum
The new SIL Package has been built specifically for SIL providers transitioning to the new regulatory framework and preparing to meet the new SIL Practice Standards. It gives you the SIL-specific, done-for-you documentation the new supplementary module will be assessed against.
If you don’t yet have your core module documentation, or want to update it, pair the SIL Package with NDIS Certification Platinum Package. This Certification Platinum Package covers the full registration journey: branded documentation delivered in 24 hours, your NDIS application submitted on your behalf, auditor recommendations, a pre-audit evidence review, full audit support including Corrective Action Plan development if needed, and 12 months of Provider Hub access for ongoing compliance.
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See what’s included in the SIL Package →What do SIL providers most commonly ask about registration and transition pathways?
What is registration group 0138?
Registration group 0138 – Assistance with supported independent living is the new class of support created specifically for SIL. From 1 July 2026 it is added to the registration certificates of approved providers, and the group and its definition will be included in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Rules 2018.
Do I still use registration group 0115?
Yes, for some supports. Registration group 0115 – Assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement still applies to short-term accommodation (STA), medium-term accommodation (MTA) and individualised living options (ILO), where registration remains optional. SIL itself moves to the new group 0138. Some providers apply under 0115 before 1 July 2026, with 0138 added to their certificate from 1 July.
When do the new SIL Practice Standards take effect?
The new SIL Practice Standards take effect from 1 July 2026. The NDIS Commission released the draft module on 28 May 2026 and is expected to publish the final version by the end of June 2026. Registered SIL providers are assessed against the standards at their next audit, mid-term or recertification, whichever comes first.
If I’m a sole trader, do mandatory registration and transition pathways apply to me?
Yes. If you are a sole trader delivering, managing and coordinating a participant’s supports that meet the definition of supported independent living, you are considered a supported independent living provider. You should refer to the NDIS provider transition pathway that is relevant to your current registration status and services.
