NDIS Group Home Compliance: What SIL Providers Must Know About Shared Living

1. What Is an NDIS Group Home?

An NDIS group home is a shared living arrangement where two or more NDIS participants live together in a residential property, with Supported Independent Living (SIL) supports funded through their individual NDIS plans. Group homes are one of the most common models for delivering SIL, particularly for participants who require regular or continuous support with daily living activities.

The term "group home" is widely used across the disability sector, but the NDIS framework does not formally define it as a distinct registration category. Instead, group homes fall under the broader umbrella of SIL — Supported Independent Living (registration group 0115), which encompasses any arrangement where a provider delivers supports to help a participant live as independently as possible in their own home, including shared accommodation.

It is important to distinguish between SIL (the support) and SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation — the physical dwelling). A group home may or may not be an SDA property. Many group homes are standard residential properties where the SIL provider delivers support services, while the accommodation itself is funded separately through the participant's plan, through a housing arrangement, or privately. In SDA-enrolled properties, additional building and design requirements apply.

Modern practice favours smaller household configurations — typically three to five participants — to promote a home-like environment, reduce the institutional character that has historically characterised disability accommodation, and uphold each participant's right to an ordinary life. The NDIS Commission's expectations align with this approach, placing participant choice and individualised support at the centre of every group home arrangement.

2. The Regulatory Framework for Shared Living

SIL providers operating group homes must comply with multiple overlapping regulatory layers. Understanding which obligations apply — and where they originate — is essential for maintaining compliance and preparing for audit.

Federal legislation and NDIS framework

The foundational legislative instruments governing SIL group homes include:

• National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth) — establishes the NDIS, defines supports, and sets the framework for participant choice and control.
• NDIS (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Rules 2018 — prescribes registration requirements and the Practice Standards that registered providers must meet.
• NDIS (Incident Management and Reportable Incidents) Rules 2018 — defines reporting obligations for incidents occurring in group homes.
• NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018 — governs the use of restrictive practices, which is particularly relevant in shared living environments where multiple participants interact.
• NDIS Code of Conduct — applies to all workers and providers, setting behavioural expectations for anyone delivering NDIS supports.

State and territory requirements

In addition to the national framework, each state and territory imposes its own requirements that affect group home operations. These include:

• Building regulations — the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and state-specific amendments set requirements for residential properties used as group homes, including accessibility, fire safety, and amenity standards.
• Fire safety legislation — each jurisdiction has its own fire safety regulations that apply to residential premises, with some states classifying group homes as a specific building class (typically Class 1b or Class 3 depending on the number of residents).
• Work health and safety laws — the WHS Act and regulations in each state apply to the group home as a workplace for support workers.
• Residential tenancy legislation — participants living in group homes generally have tenancy rights under state and territory residential tenancy laws, which affect how providers manage accommodation matters.
• Disability-specific state legislation — some states retain disability-specific legislation that intersects with NDIS requirements, particularly around restrictive practices authorisation.

Local government requirements

Local councils may impose planning and zoning requirements that affect the establishment and operation of group homes. In many jurisdictions, group homes in residential zones are permitted without special approval if they house a small number of residents (typically five or fewer). Larger group homes or those in specific zones may require a development application or planning permit.

3. NDIS Practice Standards Applicable to Group Homes

The NDIS Practice Standards Core Module applies to all registered SIL providers, and every outcome is relevant to group home operations. However, several outcomes have heightened significance in the shared living context:

4. Staffing Ratios and Roster Requirements

Staffing ratios in NDIS group homes are not prescribed by a single national standard. Instead, ratios are determined by the individual support needs of each participant, as assessed during the SIL quoting process and reflected in their NDIS plan funding.

How ratios are determined

The NDIS SIL quoting process involves the provider preparing a detailed roster of care that demonstrates how the funded supports will be delivered to each participant. This roster must account for:

• Each participant's individual support needs across a 24-hour period
• The times of day when support is needed (morning routine, daytime activities, evening, overnight)
• Whether support is active (staff awake and directly supporting) or passive (sleepover or on-call)
• The skill level of support workers required (e.g., standard support worker vs high-intensity support worker)
• Any periods of 1:1 individual support required by specific participants

Common ratio configurations

Roster compliance essentials

At audit, the NDIS Commission will examine whether your actual staffing aligns with the funded roster of care. Key compliance requirements include:

• Rosters must match the support hours and ratios specified in each participant's SIL funding
• Staff qualifications and skills must match the support level funded (standard vs high intensity)
• Roster gaps, staff absences, and replacement arrangements must be documented
• Evidence that participants are not receiving less support than funded due to roster shortfalls
• Records showing how individual support time is allocated within shared support periods

5. Participant Choice in Housemates and Living Arrangements

Participant choice is not a nice-to-have feature of group home operations — it is a fundamental requirement under the NDIS Practice Standards and a primary focus of certification audits. The NDIS Commission expects providers to demonstrate that participants have genuine, documented input into all aspects of their living arrangements.

Choice in housemates

Providers must be able to demonstrate that:

• Participants were consulted before being placed in a particular group home
• Compatibility assessments were conducted to ensure the proposed household arrangement is suitable for all residents
• Participants had the opportunity to meet potential housemates before committing to a shared living arrangement
• Where a participant expresses a preference not to live with a particular person, reasonable steps were taken to address the concern
• Records of participant preferences, compatibility assessments, and decisions are maintained

Choice in daily living

Beyond housemate selection, participants in group homes must have meaningful choice in:

• Daily routines — when they wake up, eat, shower, and go to bed. Routines should not be dictated by staff convenience or roster structures.
• Meals — what they eat, when they eat, and whether they participate in cooking. Communal cooking should not override individual dietary preferences.
• Use of communal spaces — access to shared areas like the lounge, kitchen, and garden should be equitable, not managed by a rigid timetable.
• Visitors — participants have the right to receive visitors in their home, subject to reasonable house rules developed collaboratively.
• Privacy — participants must have access to private spaces and be able to withdraw from shared activity when they choose.

6. Individual vs Shared Support in Group Homes

One of the most challenging compliance areas in group homes is distinguishing between individual support (1:1 time delivered to a specific participant) and shared support (time when a staff member supports multiple participants simultaneously). This distinction matters for both compliance and claiming.

Why it matters

Each participant's SIL funding is calculated based on their individual support needs. When supports are delivered in a shared arrangement, the cost is split across participants according to the SIL funding model. However, providers must be able to demonstrate that each participant receives the level of support their funding assumes — not more, not less.

Documenting individual vs shared support

Shift notes and progress records must clearly distinguish between:

• Individual support activities — personal care, individual health support, 1:1 skill development, personal appointments
• Shared support activities — meal preparation for the household, communal cleaning, group activities, general supervision
• Passive overnight support — sleepover or active night support as specified in the roster of care

Your Notes Rewriter tool can help support workers structure their shift notes to clearly distinguish between individual and shared support time, ensuring documentation is audit-ready.

7. House Meetings: Requirements and Documentation

Regular house meetings are a practical mechanism for upholding participant choice and involvement in group home governance. While the NDIS Practice Standards do not prescribe a specific frequency for house meetings, auditors expect to see evidence of regular, documented opportunities for participants to have input into the running of their home.

What house meetings should cover

• Meal planning and food preferences for the coming period
• Household routines and any proposed changes
• Planned activities or outings
• Any concerns or issues raised by participants
• Maintenance requests or issues with the property
• House rules and any proposed changes (developed collaboratively, not imposed)
• Visitor arrangements
• Fire safety and emergency procedure reminders

Documentation requirements

For each house meeting, providers should record:

• Date, time, and location of the meeting
• Names of participants present (and reason for any absences)
• Staff members present
• Agenda items discussed
• Decisions made and who made them (demonstrating participant-led decision-making)
• Action items and responsible person
• How participants who were absent were consulted separately

House meeting records serve as powerful audit evidence that your service is participant-led. They demonstrate compliance with Outcomes 1.1 (Person-Centred Supports), 1.4 (Independence and Informed Choice), and 1.5 (Privacy and Dignity).

8. Fire Safety and Building Compliance

Fire safety is a critical compliance area for group homes, sitting at the intersection of NDIS Practice Standards, state building codes, and work health and safety legislation. Failures in fire safety can result in serious harm and represent one of the most scrutinised areas during audit.

Building classification

The classification of a group home under the Building Code of Australia (BCA) affects which fire safety provisions apply:

• Class 1b — a boarding house, guest house, or similar dwelling with a floor area not exceeding 300m2 and accommodating no more than 12 people. Many smaller group homes fall into this category.
• Class 3 — a residential building providing long-term or transient living for a number of unrelated persons, including residential care buildings. Larger group homes, or those with specific characteristics, may be classified as Class 3, which triggers more stringent fire safety requirements.

The classification determines requirements for smoke detection, fire separation, exits, emergency lighting, and fire resistance. Providers must confirm the building classification of every property they operate as a group home.

Essential fire safety requirements

• Interconnected smoke alarms in every bedroom, hallway, and living area — compliant with AS 3786
• Fire extinguishers and fire blankets in accessible locations (particularly the kitchen)
• Clearly marked emergency exits with unobstructed egress paths
• Emergency lighting where required by building classification
• A written fire safety and evacuation plan specific to the property
• Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for each participant, accounting for their mobility, communication, and cognitive needs
• Regular fire drills — at least quarterly, documented with participant participation records
• Annual fire safety equipment inspection and maintenance records
• Annual Fire Safety Statement (where required by state legislation)

Participant-specific evacuation planning

Generic evacuation plans are insufficient for group homes. Each participant must have an individualised Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) that addresses:

• The participant's mobility capacity and any mobility aids required during evacuation
• Communication needs — how the participant will be alerted to an emergency (visual alarms for deaf participants, tactile alerts for deaf-blind participants)
• Cognitive and behavioural considerations — whether the participant may become distressed, resistant, or confused during evacuation
• The level of staff assistance required to evacuate the participant
• Assembly point and post-evacuation support arrangements

State-specific fire safety resources

Each state and territory has a fire safety regulator with requirements specific to residential care settings. Providers should consult their state authority for jurisdiction-specific obligations, including whether routine fire safety inspections by the fire service are required for group home properties.

9. Overnight Supervision Requirements

Overnight support in group homes is funded through one of two models, and the distinction has significant implications for staffing, compliance, and participant safety.

Active night support

Active night support means a staff member is awake and available throughout the night to provide support as needed. This model is funded when one or more participants in the home have support needs that require regular or unpredictable overnight intervention, such as:

• Repositioning or personal care during the night
• Seizure monitoring or other medical observation
• Behavioural support for participants who may be active or distressed overnight
• Medication administration at scheduled overnight times

Sleepover support

Sleepover support means a staff member is present in the home and available if needed, but is able to sleep during the night. This model is appropriate where participants generally do not require overnight intervention but there is a need for someone to be on-site in case of emergency.

Compliance requirements for overnight support

• The type of overnight support (active or sleepover) must match what is funded in participants' SIL plans
• If active night support is funded, staff must remain awake and available — sleeping during an active night shift is a compliance breach
• Shift notes must record overnight observations, any support provided, and the times of any participant interactions
• The sleepover room or space must meet workplace health and safety requirements (appropriate bedding, ventilation, proximity to participants)
• Emergency procedures specific to overnight scenarios must be documented and practiced

10. Documentation and Record-Keeping for Group Homes

Group homes generate substantial documentation requirements. The shared living environment means that each participant's individual records must be maintained alongside household-level documentation. At audit, the ability to produce comprehensive, well-organised records is often the difference between conformance and non-conformance.

Individual participant records

• Individual support plan (updated at least annually or when needs change)
• Service agreement (signed by the participant or their nominee)
• Risk assessments specific to the participant
• Medication charts and administration records (MAR sheets)
• Mealtime management plans (where applicable)
• Behaviour support plans (where applicable)
• Health management plans
• Shift notes and progress records — these must be individualised, not generic entries for "the house"
• Goal progress records linked to NDIS plan goals
• Incident reports involving the participant
• Complaints and feedback records

Household-level records

• House meeting minutes
• Fire safety and evacuation plans (property-level plus individual PEEPs)
• Fire drill records
• Building maintenance and inspection logs
• House safety inspection checklists (regular environmental safety checks)
• Staffing rosters mapped to the funded roster of care
• Shift handover records
• Household risk register
• Communal supplies and household expenditure records (where participant funds are used)

Common documentation failures in group homes

Auditors frequently identify these documentation issues in group home settings:

• Generic shift notes — notes that describe what happened "in the house" without individualising observations and support for each participant
• Missing house meeting records — no evidence that participants have input into household decisions
• Outdated support plans — individual plans that have not been reviewed when participants' needs have changed
• Incomplete fire drill records — fire drills not conducted regularly, or records not showing how each participant participated
• Roster discrepancies — actual staffing not matching the funded roster of care

11. Preparing Your Group Home for a Certification Audit

A certification audit for a SIL provider operating group homes typically involves both a desktop review of your policies and procedures, and an on-site visit to at least one group home property. The on-site component is where group-home-specific compliance is most closely examined.

What auditors will look for on-site

• The physical environment — Is the home clean, safe, well-maintained, and accessible? Are there any obvious hazards?
• Fire safety equipment — Are smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and emergency lighting in place and maintained?
• Evacuation plans — Are evacuation plans displayed, and do they include participant-specific information?
• Medication storage — Are medications stored securely, labelled correctly, and within expiry dates?
• Participant spaces — Do participants have personalised private spaces? Does the home feel like a home, not an institution?
• Records on-site — Are shift notes, handover records, and emergency information accessible to staff on shift?

Participant and staff interviews

Auditors will interview both participants and staff during the on-site visit. Participants may be asked about:

• Whether they chose to live in this home and with these housemates
• Whether they have choice in their daily routine, meals, and activities
• Whether they feel safe and whether staff treat them with respect
• Whether they know how to make a complaint
• Whether they have had input into their support plan

Staff may be asked about:

• Their understanding of each participant's individual support plan and goals
• How they manage medication, incidents, and emergencies
• How they support participant choice in the shared environment
• Their training and supervision arrangements
• How they handle conflict between participants

Pre-audit checklist for group homes

• All participant support plans are current and reflect actual support delivered
• Service agreements are signed and up to date for every participant
• Shift notes are individualised, goal-linked, and free of subjective language
• House meeting minutes are recorded for the past 12 months
• Fire safety equipment has been inspected and maintained (records available)
• Fire drills have been conducted quarterly with documented participation
• Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans exist for each participant
• Medication administration records are complete and accurate
• Staffing rosters match the funded roster of care
• Building maintenance log shows regular inspections and timely repairs
• Risk assessments are current for both individual participants and the household
• Staff training records are complete, including mandatory training modules
• Complaints and feedback records show how issues were resolved
• Incident reports are complete and any required NDIS Commission notifications were made

Getting Your Group Home Compliance Right

Operating an NDIS group home is one of the most complex compliance challenges in the disability services sector. The combination of multiple participants' individual needs, shared living dynamics, physical safety requirements, and extensive documentation obligations creates a compliance environment that requires careful, systematic management.

The key to success is treating each participant as an individual within the shared setting. Your documentation, support delivery, and household governance should all demonstrate that the group home is not an institution but a genuine home where each person has choice, dignity, and individualised support.

With the 1 July 2026 registration deadline approaching, SIL providers operating group homes who are not yet registered should begin their compliance preparation immediately. The certification audit process takes time, and having robust policies, procedures, and records in place before the audit is essential.

For a complete set of audit-ready policies, procedures, and templates designed specifically for SIL providers — including group home documentation — explore the SIL Rescue Kit on our homepage.