SDA and SIL conflict of interest explained
Why the NDIS encourages separating who provides your housing from who provides your support, and how to protect your choice and control
Why is combining SDA and SIL a conflict of interest?
Is a combined provider always a problem?
How do I protect my choice and control?
Where can I get independent help?
Where the conflict actually bites
Questions to ask a combined provider
Two agreements, two different jobs
Raising concerns without risking your home
Frequently asked questions
What is an SDA/SIL conflict of interest?
It's the conflict that arises when the same organisation provides both your SDA housing and your SIL support. Because they influence both where you live and who supports you, it can be harder to change one without risking the other, which can undermine your choice and control.
Can the same provider do my SDA and SIL?
Yes, and many do, but they must disclose and actively manage the conflict of interest. Look for separate agreements, a clear commitment that your tenancy isn't tied to using their support, and an independent complaints pathway.
How do I protect my rights if one provider does both?
Sign separate agreements for housing and support, get written confirmation your tenancy isn't conditional on using their support, check the notice periods are independent, know the complaints process including the NDIS Commission, and use an independent support coordinator.
Does the NDIS require providers to manage conflicts of interest?
Yes. Under the NDIS Practice Standards, registered providers must identify and manage conflicts of interest and support participants' right to choice and control. You're entitled to ask a provider how they do this.
Can I lose my home if I change my SIL provider?
You shouldn't. Your housing and support should be governed by separate agreements so you can change your support provider without losing your home. If a provider implies otherwise, that's a red flag — seek advice from an independent support coordinator or advocate.
Why would a combined provider refer me to their own SDA home?
Because it has empty rooms to fill, a combined provider has a financial incentive to place its own support customers in its own housing. That is not automatically wrong, but it means a referral can be about their vacancy as much as your best fit, so it is worth getting an independent view before you accept.
Should my housing and support be on one agreement or two?
Two. A separate tenancy or SDA agreement and a separate service or SIL agreement let each one end independently, so you can change your support without risking your home. If a provider only offers a single combined agreement, ask why and seek independent advice before signing.
How do I complain about support without risking my housing?
Put your concern in writing, involve an independent support coordinator or advocate, and rely on your separate agreements to keep the tenancy out of the dispute. If you feel your home or safety is being used as leverage, contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission straight away.