Moving Out of Home with SIL: One Family's Story
A moving into SIL story: how one young man moved out of home with Supported Independent Living, the steps his family took, and what they learned.
Moving out of the family home is a big step for any young adult — and when disability is part of the picture, it can feel enormous. This is a composite story, drawn from families we have worked with, of a young man named Dan moving into Supported Independent Living. It is here to show how the journey can unfold, and to pull out the practical steps behind it. Names and details are illustrative, but…
The kitchen-table conversation
Getting the goal into the plan
The support coordinator as project manager
Understanding the Roster of Care
What SIL does and doesn't pay for
Moving day and the wobbles after
The steps, if you're starting out
Frequently asked questions
How do I start the process of moving into SIL?
It usually starts with the person wanting more independence, then adding a home-and-living goal to their NDIS plan at the next planning meeting. That goal unlocks the assessments and planning. A support coordinator can then project-manage the steps, from evidence to finding a SIL provider.
What is a Roster of Care?
A Roster of Care (ROC) is a detailed schedule of a person's typical week of support — who helps, when, at what worker ratio, and whether overnight help is active support or a sleepover. The SIL provider drafts it, and the NDIA uses it to decide how much SIL funding is reasonable.
Does SIL pay for rent and groceries?
No. SIL funds the support workers who help you at home, not your rent, groceries or everyday bills — those are yours to pay, often from the Disability Support Pension. Specialist housing itself is a separate stream called Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), which not everyone qualifies for.
What if the move is rocky at first?
That is normal. Early wobbles — a support worker who is not the right fit, or a homesick week — usually mean the supports need adjusting, not that the move was wrong. Good providers tweak the roster and swap workers, and most people settle into a rhythm within the first few months.