ILO Stage 1: exploration and design explained
What ILO Stage 1 funds, what happens during exploration and design, and what you end up with at the end
What is ILO Stage 1?
What happens during exploration and design?
Why ILO is different from SIL
What do you get at the end of Stage 1?
How to get ILO Stage 1 into your NDIS plan
How long does ILO Stage 1 take?
Choosing an ILO provider for Stage 1
What a strong ILO design proposal includes
Frequently asked questions
What is ILO Stage 1?
ILO Stage 1 is the funded Exploration and Design stage of an Individualised Living Option. It's a time-limited process to work out what living arrangement suits you — where, with whom, and the mix of paid and informal support — before the ongoing supports are funded in Stage 2.
What does ILO Stage 1 fund?
It funds the exploration and design work itself — the process of mapping your needs, considering models (host, housemates, living alone with support), designing the support mix and writing a proposal. It does not fund the ongoing day-to-day support; that's Stage 2.
How is ILO different from SIL?
SIL usually funds a structured roster of paid support, often in a provider-run shared home. ILO designs a living arrangement around you and deliberately combines paid support with informal and community support, giving more choice and often a smaller footprint of paid staff.
Is ILO only for people with low support needs?
No. ILO is a design approach, not a needs level. People with substantial support needs also use ILO when a bespoke arrangement fits better for them than a group home.
What comes after ILO Stage 1?
Stage 1 produces a designed living arrangement and a proposal for ongoing supports, which becomes the evidence for ILO Stage 2 funding — the money that actually runs the arrangement day to day.
How long does ILO Stage 1 take?
Exploration and design usually runs over several months rather than weeks, because the point is to test options properly before you commit. The timeframe depends on how clear you already are about what you want and how many living models you decide to explore.
Who can be part of my ILO design?
Your design can include family, friends, flatmates, neighbours and community connections alongside paid workers — informal and community support is central to how ILO works. Your ILO provider maps these relationships with you during exploration so the final arrangement leans on more than paid staff.
Do I have to use the same provider for Stage 1 and Stage 2?
No. The provider who helps you explore and design in Stage 1 does not have to deliver your ongoing support in Stage 2, and keeping them separate can protect your choice and control. You are free to design with one organisation and receive your support from another.