On 24 June 2026, the NDIS Commission listed the SIL-related Provider Registration Rules amendment and SIL Quality Indicators Guidelines as made. From 1 July 2026, SIL registration moves into the new registration group 0138 - Assistance with supported independent living. Registered SIL providers need certification audits against the Core Module, the new supplementary SIL module, and any other relevant modules. If you already deliver SIL and are not registered, check the Commission transition pathway immediately; one pathway refers to applying by 1 October 2026 while continuing during the application process.
What changed on 24 June 2026?
The 24 June update matters because the key SIL instruments are no longer just draft reform language. The NDIS Commission reform hub now points to made instruments for mandatory SIL registration and the SIL-specific Quality Indicators. The Federal Register also lists the Provider Registration Rules amendment as F2026L00802 and the SIL Quality Indicators Guidelines as F2026N00443.
For a provider, this changes the practical question from "what might be required?" to "what evidence do we need to show from 1 July 2026?" The answer is not just a policy folder. You need policies, registers, forms, training records, participant records, house-level evidence and a clean explanation of how support, housing and tenancy arrangements are kept distinct.
| Instrument or guidance | Why it matters | Provider action |
|---|---|---|
| NDIS Commission reform hub, updated 24 June 2026 | Confirms the SIL-related reform instruments have been made and points providers to the current transition material. | Treat old "draft only" copy as stale and review your transition pathway. |
| Provider Registration Rules amendment, F2026L00802 | Adds the framework for mandatory registration, including new registration classes such as 0138. | Map your service to the correct registration group before applying. |
| SIL Quality Indicators Guidelines, F2026N00443 | Inserts a supplementary SIL module with specific outcomes and quality indicators. | Prepare evidence beyond the Core Module; auditors will look for SIL-specific implementation. |
Which dates matter for SIL providers?
The two live dates are 1 July 2026 and 1 October 2026, but they do different jobs. The new requirements commence on 1 July 2026. The 1 October date appears in a Commission transition pathway for unregistered providers currently delivering SIL, where the pathway says they can continue during the application process if they apply by that date. Do not assume that pathway covers every provider type or every factual scenario.
| Date | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 24 June 2026 | The made SIL instruments were registered/listed. | Update sales copy, policies and audit preparation material to cite the made instruments, not draft proposals. |
| 1 July 2026 | Mandatory SIL registration and the new SIL Quality Indicators commence. | Check whether you must be registered, whether you are already registered for the correct group, and whether your audit scope includes SIL. |
| 1 October 2026 | Application date mentioned in one transition pathway for unregistered providers currently delivering SIL. | If this sounds like your situation, verify the pathway on the NDIS Commission page and lodge early enough to handle audit delays. |
This page is general information, not legal or registration advice. The NDIS Commission and your approved quality auditor decide what applies to your organisation. Use this as a practical evidence map, then confirm your pathway from the official source.
What is registration group 0138?
Registration group 0138 is the new NDIS registration group for "Assistance with supported independent living". In plain English, it is the group that captures SIL supports: help with daily living in a shared or individual living arrangement where people need regular or higher-intensity support to live safely and as independently as possible.
The registration group matters because it tells the NDIS Commission and the auditor what risk profile and standards apply. A provider that previously thought of itself as only "daily activities" or "accommodation support" may need to check whether its actual service is SIL and therefore sits inside the 0138 transition.
Search phrase to remember
If you are researching the official material, search for "0138 Assistance with supported independent living", "mandatory registration SIL", and "SIL Quality Indicators Guidelines 2026". Those phrases are more precise than general searches for "NDIS group home rules".
What are the new SIL Practice Standards outcomes?
The SIL Quality Indicators Guidelines create a supplementary SIL module with four outcome areas. They sit on top of the general Practice Standards rather than replacing them. That means an auditor can still look at governance, risk, incidents, complaints, human resources and participant rights under the Core Module, while also checking SIL-specific evidence.
| SIL outcome area | What it is really asking | Evidence to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Supported decision-making | Can participants make informed choices about their home, supports and daily life, with communication support where needed? | Decision-making policy, participant communication preferences, consent records, goal-linked support plans, Easy Read or accessible information where relevant. |
| Safeguarding | Are risks, incidents, abuse, neglect, restrictive practices and worker conduct managed before they become harm? | Safeguarding policy, incident register, restrictive practices register, worker screening register, risk assessments, post-incident review records. |
| Practice governance | Does management actively monitor SIL practice quality across homes, staff and participants? | Governance framework, quality improvement register, supervision records, training matrix, internal audit schedule, complaints and feedback register. |
| Tenancy, housing and support arrangements | Are housing and support arrangements clear, separate, fair and not used to pressure participants? | SIL service agreement, tenancy/housing separation guidance, participant handbook, conflict of interest policy, transition/exit records, house rules review evidence. |
What evidence should providers prepare first?
Auditors usually sample whether your system is implemented, not whether a policy exists in isolation. A strong evidence pack gives the auditor a clean trail from policy to register to completed record to management review. For SIL, that trail should include both participant-level and house-level evidence.
- Policy layer: risk, incidents, complaints, medication, safeguarding, supported decision-making, worker screening, service agreements and tenancy/support separation.
- Register layer: incident register, complaints register, risk register, worker screening register, training register, quality improvement register and document control register.
- Completed record layer: sample incident forms, progress notes, medication records, participant support plans, emergency drills, supervision records and staff induction sign-offs.
- Review layer: minutes, corrective actions, post-incident reviews, internal audit results and evidence that management changed practice when risks were found.
| If the auditor asks... | Have this ready | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| "Show how participants make choices about their home and support." | Supported decision-making procedure, communication profile and signed support/service agreement. | Connects participant rights to daily SIL practice. |
| "Show how you know workers are safe and competent." | Worker screening register, induction checklist, training matrix and supervision notes. | Shows the human resources system is operating, not merely described. |
| "Show how incidents improve practice." | Incident report, incident register entry, management review and quality improvement action. | Turns a negative event into evidence of governance and continuous improvement. |
| "Show housing and support are not bundled unfairly." | Separate tenancy/support terms, participant handbook, conflict of interest policy and exit/transition procedure. | Addresses the SIL-specific risk of housing leverage or unclear arrangements. |
Need the evidence base, not just the article?
The Complete SIL Kit includes 74 editable Word documents, registers, forms, worked examples and an audit evidence checklist mapped for SIL providers preparing around the 2026 transition.
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Templates and general information only. No template kit can guarantee registration or audit success.
What should a small SIL provider do this week?
The best next step is a fast gap audit against the four SIL outcome areas plus the Core Module. Do not wait until an auditor is booked to discover missing registers or stale service agreements.
- Confirm your pathway: read the NDIS Commission SIL transition page and identify whether you are new, registered, unregistered, or adding SIL to an existing registration.
- Map your services to 0138: write down exactly which SIL supports you deliver, in which homes, and under which participant arrangements.
- Build an evidence list: one line per required policy, register, completed record and management review item.
- Fix high-risk gaps first: worker screening, restrictive practices, incidents, medication, emergency management and service agreements.
- Create an audit folder: separate policy documents from proof of use. Auditors need both.
- Book or speak with an approved quality auditor early: audit availability can become the bottleneck during deadline periods.
Official sources used
- NDIS Commission reform hub - current reform status and 24 June 2026 update.
- Mandatory registration for supported independent living - SIL transition and registration pathway guidance.
- F2026L00802 - Provider Registration Rules amendment.
- F2026N00443 - SIL Quality Indicators Guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
What is NDIS registration group 0138?
Registration group 0138 is Assistance with supported independent living. It is the registration group created for SIL under the 2026 mandatory registration changes.
When do the new SIL registration requirements start?
The made instruments were registered/listed on 24 June 2026 and commence on 1 July 2026. Providers should check the transition pathway that applies to their service.
What are the new SIL Practice Standards outcomes?
The supplementary SIL module covers supported decision-making, safeguarding, practice governance, and tenancy, housing and support arrangements.
Does a SIL provider need a certification audit?
The NDIS Commission states that registered SIL providers need certification audits. The audit scope includes the Core Module, the supplementary SIL module and other relevant modules.
Can an unregistered provider keep delivering SIL while applying?
The NDIS Commission describes transition pathways. One pathway for unregistered providers currently delivering SIL says they can continue during the application process if they apply by 1 October 2026. Check the official pathway before relying on this.