What is SIL Registration?
Supported Independent Living — known in the NDIS support catalogue as Support Category 3 (Daily Activities) — refers to the funded supports that help people with disability live as independently as possible in shared or individual accommodation settings. SIL typically involves overnight support workers, assistance with daily living tasks, personal care, and active supervision, often delivered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Until recently, the NDIS operated a dual-market model in which some participants — particularly those who self-managed or plan-managed their funds — could engage unregistered providers for certain supports. SIL was one of the areas where this created significant ambiguity. That ambiguity has now been resolved by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission through a binding policy change: from 1 July 2026, all providers delivering SIL supports must hold current NDIS registration, regardless of how a participant's plan is managed.
Why Did Registration Become Mandatory for SIL?
The NDIS Commission's rationale is grounded in participant safety. SIL is classified as a higher-risk support because it involves:
- Continuous or overnight care for people who may be highly vulnerable
- Workers in positions of significant power and trust within a participant's home
- Complex support arrangements requiring trained staff, documented risk management, and robust incident reporting
- Potential for serious harm if practice quality is inadequate
The Commission has cited a series of serious incidents involving unregistered SIL providers — including incidents of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation — as justification for closing the registration loophole. Registration brings SIL providers into the NDIS Practice Standards framework, subjects them to regular certification audits, and ensures participants and their families have enforceable quality and safety protections.
Registered vs Unregistered SIL Providers After 1 July 2026
| Status | Can deliver SIL? | Can receive NDIS funding? | Subject to audit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered provider (with SIL registration group) | Yes | Yes — all plan management types | Yes — certification audit required |
| Unregistered provider | No — from 1 July 2026 | No — cannot claim SIL line items | Not applicable (cannot operate) |
Who Must Register?
The mandatory registration requirement applies to any organisation or sole trader delivering supports that fall within the SIL registration group, which the NDIS Commission defines as including:
- Support workers rostered to provide overnight support in shared or individual accommodation
- Providers operating SIL houses (shared living arrangements under an NDIS SIL funding approval)
- Providers delivering active overnight supervision, even where classified as Assistance with Daily Life rather than formally labelled SIL in a participant's plan
- Host providers subcontracting SIL delivery to other organisations (the registered provider remains responsible)
If you are unsure whether your specific support arrangement triggers the SIL registration requirement, contact the NDIS Commission directly at ndiscommission.gov.au or call 1800 035 544.
The 7-Step SIL Registration Process
NDIS provider registration is administered by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 and the NDIS (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Rules 2018. The process for SIL providers follows seven distinct stages, each with its own requirements and timeframes.
Self-Assessment Against the NDIS Practice Standards
Before lodging any application, map your current operations against the NDIS Practice Standards — specifically the Core Module (all 8 outcome areas) and any applicable supplementary modules. For most SIL providers this will include the High Intensity Daily Personal Activities module. Identify gaps between your current documentation, systems, and processes and what the Standards require. This gap analysis forms the foundation of your registration project plan.
Apply via the NDIS Commission My Provider Portal
Lodge your registration application through the My Provider Portal at ndiscommission.gov.au. You will need to nominate the specific registration groups you are seeking (select the SIL group), provide your organisation's legal details, governance structure, key personnel, and answer a series of suitability questions. There is no application fee. Once submitted, the Commission will generate a unique application reference number — you will need this when engaging your auditor.
Nominate an Approved Quality Auditor (AQA)
SIL registration requires a certification audit, which must be conducted by an NDIS Commission-approved auditing body. After submitting your portal application, you will be prompted to nominate an AQA. The Commission maintains a public register of AQAs at ndiscommission.gov.au. You are free to select any approved auditor, and you pay the auditor directly — costs vary significantly. Book as early as possible: with the July 2026 deadline approaching, auditor availability is shrinking rapidly and many are already booked 6–8 weeks out.
Complete the Self-Assessment Questionnaire
The Commission will provide a formal self-assessment questionnaire via the portal. This requires you to rate your current compliance against each Practice Standard outcome and provide brief evidence statements. Be honest — auditors use this document to calibrate their review scope. Overstating compliance creates credibility problems during the audit; understating it extends the review scope unnecessarily. Your policies, procedures, and operational records should be substantially complete before completing this step.
Auditor Document Review (Desktop Audit)
Your nominated AQA will conduct a comprehensive desktop review of your submitted documents. This is not a light scan — auditors systematically check every policy against the corresponding Practice Standard outcome, look for internal consistency across documents, and verify that your stated procedures are operationally plausible. You will typically submit your full policy and procedure suite, governance documents, staff screening registers, training records, and sample completed forms. Expect a list of clarification requests (called a "request for further information" or RFI) from the auditor.
On-Site Certification Audit
Unlike a verification audit (used for lower-risk supports), SIL registration requires a mandatory on-site visit. The auditor will attend your operational premises, inspect your physical environment if relevant, interview management and frontline staff, and — critically — speak with NDIS participants receiving your supports. Participants are interviewed privately to assess whether their experience aligns with your documented policies around rights, choice, control, and safety. Auditors look for evidence that your quality management system is actually embedded in day-to-day practice, not just written down. If the auditor identifies non-conformances, they will document these and you may need to provide corrective action evidence before a recommendation can be made.
Commission Decision and Certificate Issued
After the auditor submits their report and recommendation, the NDIS Commission makes the final registration decision. If the recommendation is positive, the Commission issues a registration certificate specifying the registration groups, conditions (if any), and the certificate expiry date (typically 3 years). You will also be listed on the public NDIS provider register. If the Commission seeks additional information or imposes conditions, there is a further review period before the certificate is issued.
The end-to-end registration process takes a minimum of 3–4 months under ideal conditions — and that assumes your documents are ready before you apply. With the 1 July 2026 deadline 86 days away, providers who are not substantially document-ready right now face a very real risk of not meeting the deadline.
What Documents Do You Need for SIL Registration?
Documentation is where most SIL registration applications succeed or fail. The NDIS Practice Standards Core Module comprises 8 outcome areas, each containing multiple quality indicators that your organisation must demonstrate compliance with. Your auditor will systematically map your submitted documents to every indicator. There is no shortlist of "essential" documents — you need comprehensive coverage across all outcomes.
The 8 Practice Standards Core Module Outcome Areas
| Outcome | Title | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rights and Responsibilities | Participant rights, privacy, dignity, choice and control |
| 2 | Governance and Operational Management | Leadership, strategic oversight, financial governance, insurance |
| 3 | Risk Management | Risk framework, hazard identification, operational risk controls |
| 4 | Quality Management | Continuous improvement, complaint handling, feedback systems |
| 5 | Incident Management | Incident reporting, NDIS Commission notifications, Reportable Incidents |
| 6 | Human Resources | Staff recruitment, screening, induction, training, supervision |
| 7 | Participant Supports | Support planning, individual needs assessment, person-centred practice |
| 8 | Transitions | Service entry, exit, and transition planning — including unexpected transitions |
In addition to the Core Module, SIL providers delivering personal care, complex bowel management, PEG feeding, tracheostomy care, or other clinical supports will need to satisfy the High Intensity Daily Personal Activities supplementary module (Practice Standard 2.1 through 2.9), which requires evidence of additional worker competencies and clinical supervision arrangements.
The Full Document Suite You Will Need
Across these outcome areas, a complete SIL registration document portfolio typically includes:
Policies (minimum 25 required)
- Participant Rights and Responsibilities Policy
- Privacy and Confidentiality Policy
- Dignity of Risk Policy
- Conflict of Interest Policy
- Governance and Accountability Policy
- Financial Management Policy
- Risk Management Policy
- Incident Management Policy (mapped to Outcome 2.4 — Incident Management)
- Reportable Incidents Policy (aligned to Section 73Z of the NDIS Act)
- Complaints and Feedback Policy
- Continuous Improvement Policy
- Whistleblower Protection Policy
- Recruitment and Selection Policy
- Worker Screening and Verification Policy
- Code of Conduct Policy
- Training and Professional Development Policy
- Supervision and Performance Management Policy
- Support Planning Policy
- Person-Centred Active Support Policy
- Medication Management Policy
- Behaviour Support Policy (including restrictive practice authorisation requirements)
- Safeguarding and Abuse Prevention Policy
- Emergency and Disaster Management Policy
- Service Entry, Exit and Transitions Policy
- Document Control and Records Management Policy
Forms and Templates (minimum 25 required)
- Service Agreement template
- Participant Needs Assessment form
- Individual Support Plan template
- Risk Assessment template (individual and environmental)
- Incident Report form
- Complaint and Feedback form
- Medication Administration Record
- Handover and Communication form
- Worker Induction checklist
- Supervision Record template
- Continuous Improvement Register template
- Staff Performance Review form
- Emergency Contact and Evacuation Plan template
- Consent forms (photography, information sharing, treatment)
- Exit and Transition Plan template
Operational Registers (minimum 10 required)
- Worker Screening Register (NDIS Worker Screening Check status for all staff)
- Training Register
- Incident Register
- Complaint Register
- Reportable Incident Register
- Risk Register
- Continuous Improvement Register
- Asset and Equipment Register
- Key Personnel Register
- Document Version Control Register
Governance Documents
- Constitution or Trust Deed (for companies, incorporated associations, or trusts)
- Certificate of Incorporation or ASIC extract
- Board/committee meeting minutes (demonstrating active governance)
- Organisational chart
- Key personnel declarations (fit and proper person requirements)
- Current insurance certificates (public liability, professional indemnity, workers compensation)
Don't Build Your Document Suite from Scratch
The SIL Rescue Kit includes 65 audit-ready documents — all 25 policies, 25 forms, and 10 operational registers — pre-mapped to every NDIS Practice Standard outcome. Written by NDIS compliance specialists. Download and customise in hours, not months.
Get the SIL Rescue Kit — $297How Much Does SIL Registration Cost?
One of the most common misconceptions about NDIS registration is that the NDIS Commission charges significant fees. In fact, the Commission charges nothing. The costs fall entirely on the provider, and they relate to the audit process and document preparation — not the application itself.
| Cost Component | Low Estimate | High Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDIS Commission application fee | $0 | $0 | Always free |
| Approved Quality Auditor (AQA) fee | $3,000 | $15,000+ | Depends on provider size, number of sites, participant numbers, and auditor. Small sole trader: ~$3k–$5k. Multi-site SIL provider: $10k–$15k+ |
| Document preparation — DIY | $0 | $500 | Your staff time only, plus template costs |
| Document preparation — pre-built kit | $297 | $1,500 | Faster, lower risk than DIY; NDISCompliant SIL Rescue Kit starts at $297 |
| Document preparation — consultant | $3,000 | $8,000+ | Full-service NDIS compliance consultant; varies widely by scope |
| Staff time (internal) | $1,000 | $5,000+ | Management time for self-assessment, portal application, audit coordination, staff interviews, and corrective action responses |
| Corrective action remediation (if required) | $0 | $3,000+ | If auditor identifies non-conformances, additional consultant or staff time may be needed |
| Total realistic range | $5,000 | $25,000+ | Most small-to-medium SIL providers spend $6,000–$12,000 total |
The largest variable is AQA fees. Auditors charge based on the complexity of your service model — the number of NDIS participants you support, how many locations you operate across, and the range of supports delivered. Always obtain at least two quotes before confirming an auditor.
The biggest controllable cost is document preparation. A pre-built, auditor-tested document kit eliminates months of policy writing and dramatically reduces the risk of costly non-conformances during the audit — which can add thousands in additional consultant fees and auditor re-review time. The SIL Rescue Kit at $297 is the most cost-effective starting point for providers who want audit-ready documents without the consultant price tag.
How Long Does SIL Registration Take?
The honest answer — which many registration consultants are reluctant to say clearly — is that a realistic end-to-end timeline from zero to registered certificate is four to five months under normal circumstances. As of April 2026, with the deadline 86 days away, that window has effectively closed for providers starting from scratch.
Realistic Stage-by-Stage Timeline
| Stage | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Document preparation (starting from scratch) | 6–12 weeks | 8–10 weeks is typical for providers building a document suite independently; 2–4 weeks with a pre-built kit |
| Portal application and auditor selection | 1–2 weeks | AQA booking availability is currently 6+ weeks; some auditors are fully booked through May |
| Desktop document review (auditor) | 2–4 weeks | Not within your control once submitted |
| Responding to auditor RFIs / corrective actions | 0–4 weeks | Zero if documents are comprehensive; up to 4 weeks if non-conformances are identified |
| On-site certification audit | 1–2 days on site | Scheduling depends on auditor availability |
| Commission decision post-audit | 4–8 weeks | Commission processing times are currently running toward the upper end due to application volume |
| Total minimum (optimal scenario) | 12–16 weeks | Only achievable with ready documents, fast auditor booking, no non-conformances, and prompt Commission processing |
Why You Should Not Wait Past April 2026
Two converging pressures make further delays extremely risky:
1. Auditor availability is collapsing. The NDIS Commission's AQA register lists approved auditors across Australia, but the pool is not unlimited. Every SIL provider in the country is facing the same deadline, creating an unprecedented demand spike. Providers who contact auditors this week are being told the earliest available desktop review slots are in May — which pushes the on-site audit into June and the Commission decision beyond 1 July.
2. Non-conformances add unpredictable delay. If your auditor identifies major non-conformances — missing policies, unimplemented procedures, gaps in worker screening — you will be required to remediate before the audit can conclude. Major non-conformances routinely add 2–6 weeks to the process. There is no guarantee remediation will be completed before the deadline.
If you do not have your documents substantially complete by mid-April 2026, obtaining your registration certificate before 1 July 2026 is unlikely. The only path forward for late-stage providers is to move immediately: use a pre-built document kit to compress the preparation phase from months to weeks, and contact multiple AQAs simultaneously to secure the earliest possible audit booking.
Common Reasons SIL Registration Applications Fail
Based on the NDIS Commission's published audit outcomes and practitioner experience, the following are the most frequent reasons SIL registration applications result in non-conformance findings — or outright refusal.
1. Missing or Incomplete Policy Documents
The most common finding. Providers submit policies covering some Practice Standard outcomes but not all. Auditors look for comprehensive coverage — every outcome area must have corresponding documented procedures. Particular gaps frequently appear in Outcome 2.4 (Incident Management), Outcome 2.5 (Feedback and Complaints), and Outcome 2.9 (Transitions). A policy that merely states an intention ("we will manage incidents appropriately") without describing the specific steps, responsibilities, and timelines is treated as non-conformant.
2. Policies Not Mapped to Practice Standards Outcomes
Having a policy is not the same as demonstrating how it satisfies a Practice Standard indicator. Auditors expect your quality management system to show clear traceability: which policy addresses which outcome, and where in the policy the relevant indicator is satisfied. If you present a generic "Incident Policy" without linking it explicitly to the NDIS Practice Standards outcome indicators (e.g., Outcome 2.4.1 — a system for managing, investigating, and recording incidents), auditors cannot confirm compliance, and a finding results.
3. Incomplete or Outdated Worker Screening Register
Under the NDIS (Worker Screening) Act 2020, every worker engaged in risk-assessed roles — and virtually all SIL support workers qualify as risk-assessed — must hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check. Auditors will examine your Worker Screening Register during both the desktop review and the on-site audit. Missing entries, expired clearances, or workers recorded as "pending" clearance who are already providing unsupervised support are among the most serious findings an auditor can make. This finding can delay or derail registration entirely.
4. No Continuous Improvement Evidence
The NDIS Practice Standards require providers to demonstrate an operational continuous improvement system — not just a policy that says one exists. Auditors look for a populated Continuous Improvement Register showing actual improvement activities: complaints that resulted in policy changes, incidents that triggered procedure reviews, participant feedback that changed support practices. A blank or template-only register is a clear signal that the quality management system is not embedded in real operations.
5. Missing or Inadequate Governance Documentation
For organisations that are companies or incorporated associations, auditors expect evidence of active governance: board meeting minutes that discuss quality and risk matters, documented key personnel arrangements, and confirmation that the organisation's governing documents authorise the delivery of disability supports. Providers that cannot produce recent board minutes discussing operations routinely receive Outcome 2.1 (Governance and Operational Management) non-conformance findings.
6. Support Plans Not Individualised
Template support plans with minimal customisation — or plans that have not been updated to reflect a participant's current goals, needs, and risk profile — are a major red flag during participant file reviews. Auditors will check a sample of participant files during the on-site audit. Plans must demonstrate genuine person-centred practice: clear goals developed with the participant, identified risks with specific mitigation strategies, and evidence of participant involvement in plan development and review.
Choosing an Approved Quality Auditor
What is an Approved Quality Auditor?
An Approved Quality Auditor (AQA) is an organisation that has been assessed and approved by the NDIS Commission to conduct provider registration audits. AQAs employ individual auditors who are qualified and experienced in NDIS Practice Standards assessment. The AQA is not part of the NDIS Commission — they are independent third-party organisations that the Commission has authorised to conduct audits on its behalf. The Commission makes the final registration decision; the AQA provides a recommendation based on their audit findings.
Finding an AQA
The NDIS Commission maintains a public register of all approved AQAs at ndiscommission.gov.au/providers/registered-ndis-providers/approved-quality-auditors. The register shows each AQA's name, contact details, and the states and territories they service. Not all AQAs operate nationally — some are state-based, which can affect availability and pricing in regional areas.
Questions to Ask Before Booking an AQA
- What is your earliest available slot for a SIL certification audit? Given the July 2026 deadline, this is your first qualifying question. If the auditor cannot commence the desktop review before mid-May, your timeline is at serious risk.
- How many SIL provider audits have you conducted in the past 12 months? Experience with SIL-specific audit requirements matters. Auditors familiar with overnight support models, staff rostering, and SIL-specific incident reporting are better placed to conduct a fair and efficient audit.
- What is your typical turnaround from document submission to desktop review completion? This varies from 1 week to 6 weeks depending on the AQA's current workload.
- How many on-site days will the certification audit require? For small SIL providers (1–2 houses, under 20 participants), 1 day is typical. For larger providers, plan for 2 days minimum.
- What is your fee structure, and what is included? Confirm whether travel costs, report preparation, and RFI follow-up are included or charged separately.
- What happens if non-conformances are identified — is re-review included in your fee? Some AQAs include one round of corrective action review in their quoted fee; others charge separately.
Cost Comparison Tips
Obtain at least two quotes before confirming an AQA. When comparing quotes, ensure you are comparing like for like — some auditors quote a base fee that excludes travel, on-site time beyond a single day, or corrective action follow-up. A lower headline fee can become the more expensive option once these variables are included.
Do not choose an auditor on price alone. An auditor who is unfamiliar with SIL-specific requirements may identify spurious non-conformances or miss genuine risks, creating problems in both directions. Ask for references from other SIL providers they have audited.
Contact three AQAs simultaneously rather than sequentially. Given current demand, the difference between contacting three auditors at once versus one at a time can mean the difference between a May audit booking and a July one. Provide each AQA with your provider size, number of sites, and number of participants so they can give you an accurate quote and availability assessment in the first contact.
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The SIL Rescue Kit includes every policy, form, and operational register you need for SIL registration — pre-mapped to every NDIS Practice Standard outcome. Trusted by SIL providers across Australia. $297. Download today.
Download the SIL Rescue Kit — $297Important: This article provides general guidance about NDIS compliance requirements. It is not legal or professional advice. Requirements may change as the NDIS Commission updates its policies and Practice Standards. Always verify current requirements with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission or a registered NDIS consultant before making compliance decisions.