Published on: June 2, 2026
Category: NDIS
From 1 July 2026, a new Supported Independent Living (SIL) regulatory framework will come into effect across the NDIS sector.
For existing registered SIL providers, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has confirmed that the registration transition will be managed automatically. Providers currently registered to deliver SIL supports will transition to the new SIL registration group without needing to submit a new registration application or apply for a variation of registration.
While the registration transition is straightforward, the compliance transition is considerably more significant. Providers seeking structured support navigating this shift can explore our NDIS compliance support for registered providers, designed to help organisations build systems that hold up under regulatory scrutiny.
The new SIL Practice Standards introduce heightened expectations around supported decision-making, participant safeguarding, workforce capability, practice governance, tenancy rights and participant choice and control within shared living environments.
These reforms signal a clear shift in regulatory focus. The Commission is not simply changing registration categories. It is establishing a more defined regulatory framework for how Supported Independent Living services should be delivered, governed and monitored.
Providers should therefore view the period leading up to 1 July 2026 as an opportunity to assess their current service model, strengthen governance and safeguarding arrangements, and ensure their day-to-day practices align with the new SIL-specific requirements.
The Commission is introducing:
• A dedicated SIL registration group (0138 – Assistance with Supported Independent Living)
• New SIL Practice Standards applicable to registered SIL providers, building on the broader NDIS Practice Standards
• SIL-specific audit requirements
• Enhanced focus on participant rights, safeguarding and quality of life within shared living environments
• Increased scrutiny of workforce capability, practice leadership and governance oversight
The reforms recognise that SIL services are delivered in participants’ homes and often involve long-term support relationships, shared living arrangements and participants with complex support needs.
As a result, providers will be expected to demonstrate not only compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards, but also that participants experience genuine choice, control, safety and autonomy within their home environment.
The Commission’s published transition pathway provides certainty for providers already registered and delivering SIL supports prior to 1 July 2026.
Providers currently registered under:
0115 – Assistance with Daily Life Tasks in a Group or Shared Living Arrangement
will automatically transition to:
0138 – Assistance with Supported Independent Living (SIL)
The Commission will update registration certificates and issue revised certificates to affected providers.
Importantly:
• No new registration application is required
• No variation of registration is required
• No immediate certification audit is triggered
• Existing registration status remains unchanged
For most providers, the registration transition will occur behind the scenes. The real focus should be on operational readiness and compliance with the SIL Practice Standards from 1 July 2026.
The new SIL Practice Standards establish four clear themes that providers should focus on.
The Commission expects providers to actively support participants to make decisions about their home, daily life, relationships, supports and goals.
This represents a significant move away from provider-led decision-making and towards genuine participant-led choice and control.
Providers should be able to demonstrate that participants are provided with accessible information, communication supports and sufficient time to make informed decisions, and that participant preferences are respected in practice.
The Commission’s focus extends beyond incident management.
Providers will be expected to proactively identify and manage risks associated with:
• Bullying and conflict between participants
• Behavioural risks
• Psychological safety
• Trauma and vulnerability
• Community access and participation
• Participant-to-participant interactions within shared homes
Auditors are likely to place greater emphasis on preventative safeguarding measures rather than reactive responses after incidents occur.
Providers will be expected to demonstrate that workers possess the skills, knowledge and supervision necessary to deliver safe and high-quality SIL supports. Our risk management and regulatory compliance support helps organisations translate these workforce and governance expectations into practical frameworks with measurable practice outcomes.
Particular focus is likely to be placed on:
• Person-centred practice
• Active support
• Supported decision-making
• Trauma-informed practice
• Positive behaviour support
• Competency assessment
• Practice leadership
The Commission is signalling a stronger expectation that training translates into observable practice outcomes.
The Commission has reinforced the principle that housing and support arrangements must remain separate.
Providers delivering accommodation and support services should review:
• Tenancy agreements
• Service agreements
• Conflict of interest controls
• Participant tenancy rights
• Housemate matching processes
• Arrangements that enable participants to change support providers without compromising their housing stability
This is likely to become a key area of audit scrutiny moving forward.
The period leading up to 1 July 2026 should be used to assess organisational readiness. Priority areas include:
• SIL governance and oversight arrangements
• Workforce capability and competency frameworks
• Supported decision-making practices
• Participant safeguarding systems
• House compatibility and conflict management processes
• Housing and tenancy arrangements
• Internal audit and quality assurance programs
• Evidence that policies are implemented consistently in practice
Providers that undertake readiness reviews and gap assessments before their next audit will be better positioned to demonstrate compliance and minimise future audit findings. Bravishi’s internal audit and assurance reviews are structured to help providers identify gaps, prioritise improvements and build audit-ready evidence before the Commission comes knocking.
If your organisation wants ongoing structured support rather than a one-off review, our NDIS registered provider compliance services are built specifically for providers managing the pressures of regulatory delivery day to day.
The registration transition for existing SIL providers is automatic. The compliance transition is not.
From 1 July 2026, the Commission will expect providers to demonstrate that participant rights, choice, control, safeguarding and quality of life are embedded in everyday practice within SIL environments.
The providers most likely to succeed under the new framework will be those that focus not only on compliance, but on how participants actually experience support within their homes. If your organisation needs structured support preparing for these changes, our governance and compliance advisory team is ready to help.
No. Providers currently registered under group 0115 (Assistance with Daily Life Tasks in a Group or Shared Living Arrangement) will automatically transition to the new group 0138 (Assistance with Supported Independent Living). No new application, variation of registration or immediate certification audit is required as part of this transition.
The registration transition is automatic and handled by the NDIS Commission behind the scenes. The compliance transition is not automatic. From 1 July 2026, providers must demonstrate adherence to the new SIL Practice Standards, which introduce specific requirements around supported decision-making, safeguarding, workforce capability, and housing and tenancy arrangements.
The new SIL Practice Standards come into effect from 1 July 2026. Providers should use the period before this date to conduct readiness reviews, address gaps in governance and workforce capability, and ensure their policies are consistently reflected in day-to-day practice.
Auditors are expected to place particular emphasis on preventative safeguarding measures, supported decision-making in practice, separation of housing and support arrangements, and workforce competency. Evidence that policies are implemented consistently, not just documented, will be central to demonstrating compliance.
The new dedicated SIL registration group is 0138 – Assistance with Supported Independent Living. This replaces the previous group 0115 – Assistance with Daily Life Tasks in a Group or Shared Living Arrangement. The transition is automatic for existing registered providers.
Bravishi supports registered NDIS providers with governance uplift, internal audit and assurance reviews, risk and compliance frameworks, and practice-level readiness assessments. Visit our NDIS registered provider compliance services page or contact us directly to discuss your situation ahead of 1 July 2026.
