Deciding to move into Supported Independent Living (SIL) is an important moment for many people with disability, especially those who are looking to move out of home but are unable to live on their own.
You will likely have many questions when considering this support option. To assist you, we have compiled the 10 most frequently asked questions about about Supported Independent Living.
1. What is Supported Independent Living?
The NDIS defines Supported Independent Living (SIL) as: “Help with and/or supervision of daily tasks to develop the skills of an individual to live as independently as possible.
These are the supports provided to a participant in their home, regardless of property ownership, and can be in a shared or individual arrangement.”
At Challenge, we offer SIL as a shared living arrangement in spacious modern homes with experienced support workers on hand 24/7.
Our trained staff are available to support house members with personal care, meal preparation, household tasks, shopping, attending medical appointments, recreational activities and much more.
2. Who manages and works in Challenge Supported Independent Living?
We only employ experienced and trained support workers. They provide support within our shared homes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while house members are in their home.
This includes shifts during the day and sleepover or active overnight shifts. Support workers are managed by a supervisor and overseen by a regional manager.
Challenge staff vary in age, gender and nationality, and we promote cultural diversity amongst our staff to ensure we are always providing the best possible support for our clients from all backgrounds.
3. How many people could I be living with?
Challenge shared homes range in size from two to six bedrooms.
Depending on your individual needs, we will work to ensure you are well matched within your new home, making sure your fellow house members are close to your age and share some of your interests.
You can browse our Supported Independent Living vacancies page and see the number of bedrooms in each home.
4. What are the costs of Supported Independent Living?
SIL is funded for eligible people by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) under Core Supports – Assistance with Daily Life.
The NDIS does not cover the cost of rent, utilities, meals and transport.
This is paid to Challenge as residential fees for the running costs of the home and is most commonly paid out of your Disability Support Pension.
The only additional costs you will have are medical costs and personal spending money.
To learn more about funding and eligibility, read our blog: What NDIS funding for Supported Independent Living means for you.
5. Do I have to move in full-time at first?
You don’t have to move into SIL full-time straight away.
Depending on your current living situation, you can transition to living in your new home by staying there on weekends or a couple of nights every week until you are ready to move in full-time.
6. What happens if I get sick in Supported Independent Living?
If you become unwell while you are in SIL, a support worker will be rostered on to support you at home when you are unable to attend your regular daily activities such as work or day programs.
A support worker is also available to help you seek medical treatment and attend appointments if required.
7. Can I still use the services I used before moving, e.g. see my doctor and attend my usual day program?
Yes, you can keep all your services the same and Challenge will work closely with your other service providers to ensure your needs are being met.
Challenge support workers can also assist in taking you to these appointments within limits.
8. Can my friends and family visit?
Yes, absolutely! Challenge encourages family and friends to visit as often as you like. Our policies ensure that your right to meaningful relationships is protected and supported at all times.
Challenge can also provide transport, within limits, to events and family outings. This can be rostered in your SIL plan to include extra support.
You are also able to go out independently if you choose and staff will work with you to provide any support you may require to achieve this.
9. What can I bring to my new home?
You can bring any personal possessions that you would like in your bedroom. This includes your bed, bedside table, clothes, keepsakes, photos, decor and optional TV.
Extra possessions that you may wish to bring to the house for common areas will need to be discussed with the home supervisor and the other house members, as all of the common areas of the home are fully furnished by Challenge.
10. Where can I find shared homes for Supported Independent Living?
Challenge currently manages homes spread throughout regional and metropolitan areas in New South Wales and Queensland.
We are continuously expanding our services into new areas so it is best to contact us for the location of appropriate services close to you.
If you would like to see the houses we have available now, you can view our current vacancies by visiting our Supported Independent Living vacancies page.
Do you have more questions about Supported Independent Living with Challenge that haven’t been covered here? Call 1800 679 129 to talk to our friendly team or enquire here.
