NDIS registration groups (also called "classes of support") are the codes that say what a provider is registered to deliver. They sit on your registration certificate, they determine which Practice Standards modules you're audited against, and they control which supports you can lawfully claim for. For years there was no class of support written specifically for SIL — providers registered under broader daily-life groups. The 2026 reforms changed that by creating a dedicated one.
What registration group 0138 is
The exact name, taken from the NDIS Commission's mandatory-registration guidance, is:
0138 – Assistance with supported independent living. A new registration group being added to the registration certificates of approved providers who deliver SIL. Its definition is set out in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Rules 2018.
Three practical consequences follow from 0138 existing:
- It is the lawful authority to deliver SIL. From 1 July 2026, in-scope providers need to hold this group (or be inside an approved transition pathway) to keep delivering supported independent living.
- It pulls in the new SIL Practice Standards. Holding 0138 means you're certified against the new supplementary SIL module — the four outcomes we cover in the new SIL Practice Standards explainer — on top of the Core Module.
- It's a certification audit, not verification. SIL is high-risk, intensive support, so 0138 sits on the certification (full audit) side of the line, not the lighter verification pathway.
0138 vs 0115: the difference that matters
This is the single most common point of confusion, so it's worth being exact. Many SIL providers have historically registered under 0115 – Assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement. That group is broad: it covers shared-living daily-life supports generally. 0138 is narrower and SIL-specific, created so SIL can be regulated against standards written for it, with mandatory registration attached.
| Group | What it is |
|---|---|
| 0115 | Assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement — the existing, broader group many SIL providers have held |
| 0138 | Assistance with supported independent living — the new, SIL-specific class of support, tied to mandatory registration and the new SIL Practice Standards module from 1 July 2026 |
If you currently hold 0115 and deliver SIL, the Commission's transition pathways set out how you move to holding 0138. The key point: holding 0115 alone won't be enough to keep delivering SIL once mandatory registration starts if you're in scope. Don't assume your existing group carries you through — check the pathway that matches your situation. Our registration groups explainer has the wider map of how the groups fit together.
Who needs 0138 (and who doesn't)
Mandatory SIL registration is targeted, not universal — the Commission has published transition pathways that depend on your current registration status and the supports you deliver. In broad terms:
- You're likely in scope if you deliver supported independent living supports — the rostered, often 24/7, support that helps a participant live in a shared or individual home.
- Your pathway differs depending on whether you're already registered (e.g. under 0115), unregistered (including sole traders), have already applied or plan to apply before 1 July 2026, plan to apply after, or plan to start delivering SIL in future.
- If you choose not to register, you must stop delivering SIL and follow the Commission's notification and participant-transition steps — you can't simply keep going unregistered.
Because the in-scope test and the pathways are detailed, the safest move is to read the Commission's mandatory-registration page for SIL and identify your exact pathway, rather than guessing from a summary. Getting this wrong is expensive: the penalty for unregistered delivery is criminal, not just administrative.
0138 means a certification audit — be ready with the paperwork
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See what's in the kit →What it takes to be registered under 0138
The Commission's guidance is explicit that registered SIL providers must:
- Hold certification against the NDIS Practice Standards — the Core Module, audited by an approved quality auditor.
- Comply with the new supplementary module for supported independent living Practice Standards — the SIL-specific four outcomes.
- Meet all other conditions of registration — worker screening, key personnel suitability, the NDIS Code of Conduct, and the rest of the standing obligations.
Translated into documents, that's a complete, customised policy suite plus the registers and forms that prove the policies are used, plus the SIL-specific evidence the new module asks for. The table below is the practical core of what an assessor will sample for a 0138 certification:
| Layer | Examples |
|---|---|
| Core policies | Governance, risk, incident management, privacy, complaints, WHS, HR — see our SIL policy checklist |
| Registers | Incident, complaints, risk, worker screening, training, continuous improvement — all current and in use |
| SIL-specific | SIL service agreement (tenancy separated from support), per-home emergency plans, medication records, supported decision-making evidence |
| Audit aids | Audit evidence checklist mapping each record to its Practice Standard outcome |
How to get 0138 on your certificate
The mechanics follow the standard NDIS certification process, with the SIL module added:
- Apply through the NDIS Commission, selecting the supported independent living class of support as part of your application or variation.
- Complete a self-assessment against the Core Module and the SIL supplementary module.
- Engage an approved quality auditor for a certification audit — Stage 1 (desktop) then Stage 2 (on-site), including sampling at SIL homes.
- Close any non-conformities the auditor raises within the required timeframe.
- Receive your outcome; the Commission adds 0138 to your registration certificate and sets your registration period.
Auditors are booking out well ahead in 2026 as providers race the deadline, so start the documentation and booking now. Our SIL provider registration guide 2026 walks the full Commission process step by step, and the SIL audit survival guide maps every document an assessor expects to see.
Frequently asked questions
What is NDIS registration group 0138?
"0138 – Assistance with supported independent living" is the new NDIS class of support added to the registration certificates of providers who deliver SIL. Its definition is in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Rules 2018. From 1 July 2026, in-scope SIL providers must hold it.
What is the difference between 0138 and 0115?
0115 is the broader "Assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement" group many SIL providers have held. 0138 is the new, SIL-specific class of support tied to mandatory registration and the new SIL Practice Standards module. Holding 0115 alone won't be enough to keep delivering SIL if you're in scope.
Do I need 0138 to keep delivering SIL?
If you're in scope for mandatory SIL registration, then from 1 July 2026 you must be registered to deliver SIL. Delivering it unregistered on or after that date may breach the NDIS Act, with a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment, 120 penalty units, or both.
What documents does 0138 require?
Certification against the Core Module plus the new supplementary SIL module, and all other conditions of registration. In practice: a full customised policy suite, the registers and forms that prove implementation, and SIL-specific documentation mapped to the four new SIL outcomes.
Important: This article provides general guidance about NDIS registration requirements. It is not legal or professional advice, and the registration rules and transition pathways are detailed and subject to change. Always confirm your exact obligations and pathway with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission before acting.