SIL & SDA Assessments Sydney
Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation decisions rest on the quality of your functional evidence. Our occupational therapists complete thorough in-home assessments and write the reports the NDIA relies on when deciding home and living supports.
SIL and SDA are two different things
SIL funds the people who support you. SDA funds the specialist building you live in. Some participants need one, some need both, and many need neither: options like Individualised Living Options (ILO) suit people who want support without a staffed shared house.
Supported Independent Living (SIL)
SIL is help or supervision with daily tasks, like personal care, cooking and household routines, for participants with higher support needs. It is most common in shared living arrangements with rostered support workers, including overnight support where needed. SIL pays for support hours, never rent or groceries.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
SDA is purpose-built or heavily modified housing for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. The NDIA has estimated that around 6 per cent of participants will require SDA, though eligibility is decided individually on your evidence, not by a quota. SDA funding goes to the dwelling; your day-to-day supports are funded separately, so you can change support providers without moving house.
Why the OT report matters
NDIA guidance says home and living decisions rely on current information about your support needs, usually developed by an allied health professional such as an occupational therapist. A vague or outdated report is the most common reason strong applications stall.
Which design category fits is a clinical question
Every SDA dwelling is built to one of four design standards: Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible, Robust and High Physical Support. They describe different kinds of barrier rather than increasing levels of one, so the right category depends on what actually stops you rather than on preference. We set all four out in full, with what each is generally for and the reasoning our reports use, on our SDA assessments page.
What the NDIA looks for, and what we provide
Current functional evidence
A comprehensive functional assessment covering self-care, mobility, communication, household management, safety, overnight needs and community participation, completed in your own environment.
Support needs across 24 hours
The type, intensity and frequency of support you need across a full day and night, including what informal supports realistically provide and where paid support is essential. This is the evidence base a provider’s roster of care is checked against; under current NDIA guidance the roster itself is just one input, not the deciding document.
Options considered
The NDIA expects evidence that alternatives were considered. We address why the recommended arrangement, whether SIL, SDA, ILO or support at home, is the most appropriate option, not just the preferred one.
Clear recommendations
Specific, defensible recommendations linked to assessment findings: support model, staffing intensity, SDA design category where relevant, assistive technology and capacity-building goals.
How a SIL or SDA assessment works
Referral
You, your family or your support coordinator sends a referral. We respond within 24 hours and confirm what evidence the NDIA has asked for.
In-home assessment
We assess where you actually live: your function, routines, environment, risks and supports, usually over one to two visits.
Report in 2 to 3 weeks
A comprehensive, NDIS-ready report with clear recommendations, delivered to you and your nominated contacts.
Follow-through
We answer planner and support coordinator questions about the report, and provide updated evidence if your review requires it.
Related services and guides
ILO Assessments
For participants exploring Individualised Living Options instead of shared supported living.
Functional Capacity Assessments
Comprehensive functional evidence for NDIS planning and reviews.
Home Modifications & Safety
When modifying your current home is the better path to safe, independent living.
Guide: SIL vs SDA
Our plain-English article on which NDIS home and living report you need.
SIL and SDA assessments: your questions answered
Common questions from NDIS participants, families and support coordinators.
What are SIL and SDA assessments?
Who qualifies for SIL?
Who qualifies for SDA?
Do I need a roster of care?
What changed for SIL in 2026?
Can you assess for both SIL and SDA together?
How long does the report take?
How do I start?
Information about NDIS home and living supports is current as at July 2026. Settings change as NDIS reforms roll out; always confirm details with the NDIA, your planner or your support coordinator.
Need a SIL or SDA report the NDIA will take seriously?
We respond to every referral within 24 hours. Mobile occupational therapy across Liverpool, Western Sydney and Greater Sydney.
SIL & SDA guides
Plain-English guides to Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation, written by our occupational therapy team.
SIL and SDA assessments follow the same method, with the evidence graded the same way. Read our full assessment methodology, including the evidence standard every recommendation is written to.