The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has begun enforcing mandatory registration requirements for Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers, following the end of the transition application period on 1 October 2026.
In an announcement on 26 October, the Australian Government confirmed that regulatory officers have started visiting providers that failed to respond to the new requirements, with further compliance action expected.
More than 14,500 SIL providers are registered or progressing through registration under transitional arrangements.
For NDIS participants, families and Support Coordinators, the announcement raises an important question: how can you check whether a SIL provider meets the new requirements?
What has changed with mandatory SIL registration?
Mandatory registration for providers delivering SIL commenced on 1 July 2026.
Existing unregistered SIL providers were given until 1 October 2026 to submit a valid registration application or stop providing SIL supports.
The latest announcement marks the move from the transition period into active compliance and enforcement.
The NDIS Commission has confirmed that it is taking targeted action against providers that have failed to engage with the registration requirements.
This includes regulatory site visits, requests for information and potential penalties for non-compliance.
The Government has also confirmed that the Commission can require certain non-compliant providers to supply information within five days, compared with the previous 28-day period.
These measures are intended to strengthen oversight of SIL services and help identify risks to participant safety earlier.
Source: Australian Government: Stronger Safeguards for NDIS Participants Through Provider Registration
Why is registration now mandatory for SIL providers?
Supported Independent Living provides assistance or supervision with daily living tasks for people with higher support needs.
Participants receiving SIL may rely on their provider for support throughout most or all of the day.
Because this support is delivered in a person’s home and often involves significant reliance on support workers, effective oversight is particularly important.
Mandatory registration requires providers to meet additional regulatory requirements, including:
- Independent certification audits
- Relevant NDIS Practice Standards
- Worker screening requirements
- Incident management and reporting obligations
- Provider suitability assessments
- Ongoing registration conditions
The reforms also introduced SIL-specific NDIS Practice Standards.
These requirements are designed to improve accountability and provide the Commission with greater oversight of services.
However, registration alone does not guarantee that a provider will be the right fit for every participant.
The quality of daily support, individual choice, communication and suitability of the living arrangement remain important considerations.
Which providers must register to deliver SIL?
The registration requirements apply to providers delivering supports that meet the NDIS Commission’s definition of Supported Independent Living.
Under this definition, SIL involves a provider managing and delivering a package of home and living supports for a participant who requires assistance or supervision throughout most or all of the day.
The support helps the participant complete daily living tasks and live as independently as possible.
The requirements can apply whether a participant lives alone or shares a home with others.
However, not all in-home disability support is classified as SIL.
For example, arrangements involving only a few hours of support each day or week, or where a participant chooses and manages their own support workers, may fall outside the SIL definition.
The Commission has introduced a dedicated registration group:
0138 – Assistance with supported independent living
Existing registered providers that previously delivered SIL under registration group 0115 may have their registration updated under the applicable transition arrangements.
Source: NDIS Commission: Mandatory SIL Registration and Transition Pathways
Can SIL providers continue operating while their registration is being assessed?
In certain circumstances, yes.
The Commission has established transitional arrangements for existing providers that were delivering SIL before the new requirements commenced.
An existing unregistered SIL provider that submitted a valid registration application by 1 October 2026 may continue delivering SIL while its application is assessed, subject to the applicable requirements.
This means a provider awaiting a registration decision is not necessarily operating unlawfully.
However, the rules are different for providers entering the SIL market.
New providers cannot begin delivering SIL until the Commission has approved their registration.
Providers that were already delivering SIL but did not apply by the transition deadline must stop providing those supports.
A provider whose registration application is refused also cannot continue delivering SIL.
These distinctions are important when checking a provider’s status.
What does enforcement mean for SIL providers?
The Government’s 26 October announcement confirms that the NDIS Commission has begun targeted compliance action against providers that have not responded to the mandatory registration requirements.
Regulatory officers have already started visiting certain providers, with further action expected.
Providing SIL without meeting the registration requirements can result in significant civil or criminal penalties.
The Commission also has strengthened powers to obtain information more quickly when investigating non-compliance.
For providers, the message is that registration is now an enforceable requirement, not simply an administrative process.
For participants, the intention is to strengthen the safeguards surrounding services delivered in their homes.
Source: Australian Government announcement, 26 October 2026
What does mandatory SIL registration mean for participants and families?
Participants and families can use the registration requirements as one part of assessing a SIL provider.
When considering an existing provider or exploring a new SIL arrangement, it is reasonable to ask:
- Is the provider registered to deliver SIL?
- If registration is pending, is the provider operating under an applicable transitional arrangement?
- How does the provider manage incidents, complaints and participant safety?
- How are participants involved in decisions about their daily support?
- What arrangements are in place to maintain continuity of support if circumstances change?
Registration provides regulatory oversight, but participants should still be able to consider whether the provider understands their needs and respects their preferences.
Will participants need to move if their provider is not registered?
Not automatically.
The impact depends on the provider’s circumstances, including whether it has submitted a valid application under the transitional arrangements.
If a provider can no longer legally deliver SIL, alternative support arrangements may need to be organised.
That does not necessarily mean the participant must leave their home.
The appropriate response will depend on the participant’s housing arrangements, support needs and available alternatives.
Any transition should prioritise the participant’s safety, preferences and continuity of support.
How can Support Coordinators check a SIL provider?
Support Coordinators can help participants understand the changes and make informed decisions about their support arrangements.
1. Check the NDIS Commission Provider Register
The Commission maintains a public register of registered NDIS providers.
Check the provider’s registration details and whether the relevant SIL registration group is included.
Where a provider is still progressing through registration, ask for confirmation of its application status and applicable transitional arrangements.
Find a registered NDIS provider
2. Confirm the provider’s registration pathway
Not every provider has followed the same transition process.
Existing registered providers, previously unregistered providers and new providers entering the market have different requirements.
The Commission has published separate pathways explaining these arrangements.
View the SIL registration transition pathways
3. Review support quality and safeguarding
Registration status should be considered alongside the participant’s actual experience of support.
Ask how the provider manages incidents, addresses complaints, communicates with participants and supports individual decision-making.
4. Consider the household and support arrangements
For shared SIL homes, suitability involves more than the property itself.
Support Coordinators should consider the participant’s routines, support needs, communication preferences, interests and compatibility with other residents.
5. Plan for continuity where changes are needed
If a provider cannot continue delivering SIL, Support Coordinators may need to help the participant explore alternatives.
Any transition should involve the participant and relevant members of their support network, with careful consideration of their preferences and circumstances.
Why participant choice and housemate matching still matter
Mandatory registration strengthens regulatory oversight, but quality Supported Independent Living also depends on how well the support arrangement works for the individual.
For participants sharing a home, compatibility with housemates can influence everyday routines, comfort and wellbeing.
At DisabilityCo, our approach to housemate matching considers each participant’s support needs, interests, routines and individual preferences.
We recognise that finding a suitable SIL home is about more than the number of bedrooms or the property’s features.
The goal is to identify a living arrangement where the participant feels comfortable, has a voice in decisions and receives support that reflects their needs.
Looking for Supported Independent Living in Melbourne?
DisabilityCo provides Supported Independent Living across Melbourne, with a focus on individual support needs and suitable household arrangements.
If you’re a participant, family member or Support Coordinator exploring SIL options, our team can discuss available homes, support arrangements and the housemate matching process.
Phone: 03 7037 1949
Email: enquiries@disabilityco.com
Website: disabilityco.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SIL registration mandatory in 2026?
Yes. Mandatory registration requirements for Supported Independent Living providers commenced on 1 July 2026.
What was the SIL registration deadline?
Existing unregistered SIL providers had until 1 October 2026 to submit a valid registration application or stop delivering SIL supports.
Can an unregistered SIL provider continue operating while its application is pending?
An existing provider that applied by the deadline may continue delivering SIL under the applicable transitional arrangements. New providers entering the market cannot begin delivering SIL until registration is approved.
What is registration group 0138?
Registration group 0138 is the dedicated NDIS registration category for Assistance with supported independent living.
How can I check whether a SIL provider is registered?
You can check the NDIS Commission’s public Provider Register and ask the provider about its registration or transitional application status.
Does mandatory SIL registration change NDIS funding?
The 26 October enforcement announcement concerns provider registration and safeguarding. It does not itself introduce changes to individual participants’ SIL funding.
Does a participant have to move if their SIL provider cannot continue?
Not necessarily. Housing and support arrangements need to be considered separately, and any changes should prioritise the participant’s needs, choices and continuity of support.