The NDIS Just Got Tougher
The old way is breaking, and if your systems are messy, that is now a real business risk. Too many providers still run on scattered notes, manual timesheets...
If your organisation delivers supported independent living (SIL), this is the update you cannot ignore.
From 1 July 2026, some SIL providers will need to be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This change is part of the wider NDIS reform work focused on participant safety, quality support, and stronger provider accountability. That sounds big because it is. But it does not need to feel confusing.
The best thing providers can do right now is simple. Work out where your business sits. Then start preparing early. Because SIL is not the kind of service you want to rush at the last minute.
The NDIS Commission has confirmed that mandatory registration will apply to supported independent living and NDIS digital platform providers from 1 July 2026.
For SIL, this means providers may need to meet registration requirements such as:
A new registration group is also being introduced.
This new class is 0138 Assistance with supported independent living. So, if your organisation currently delivers SIL under older registration settings, or you are unregistered and delivering SIL, now is the time to review your pathway.
Not every home and living support is SIL.
The NDIS Commission describes supported independent living as a package of home and living support for people with higher support needs.
It usually applies when:
It is not SIL if a participant only receives a few hours of support a day or week.
It is also not SIL if the participant chooses, manages, directs, plans, and rosters their own support workers.
That means the name you use for the service is not the deciding factor.
The actual support arrangement is what matters.
There is no simple exemption just because you work as an individual.
So, if you are a sole trader offering shared living support, daily living support, or long-hour home support, check the definition carefully.
If it fits, this reform may apply to you.
The goal is not just more paperwork.
The NDIS Commission has said mandatory registration is being introduced because people with disability can face higher risks when services have low regulation and oversight.
(https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/about-us/ndis-commission-reform-hub/mandatory-registration)
Registration is meant to help:
For SIL, this is especially important.
Participants are not just receiving a service.
They are receiving support inside their home.
That changes everything.
A participant should feel safe at home. They should feel heard. They should be able to make choices. They should understand their rights. They should not feel like speaking up could risk their support or housing.
That is the heart of this reform.
The NDIS Commission has published transition pathways for different provider situations.
Here is the simple version.
1. You are already registered under 0115 and delivering SIL
This is the easiest pathway.
Your registration will be updated to the new SIL registration group. You do not need to apply separately for the new group.
But you still need to prepare.
From 1 July 2026, you must comply with the new SIL Practice Standards to remain registered. Your next audit after that date may assess you against the new standards.
2. You are unregistered and already delivering SIL
If you apply before 1 July 2026, you may be able to continue delivering SIL while your application is in progress.
If you apply after 1 July 2026, you must apply under the new 0138 SIL class. You can continue delivering during the process only if you apply by 1 October 2026.
That date matters.
If you are currently delivering SIL and do not apply by 1 October 2026, you may need to stop delivering SIL. The NDIS Commission also states that providing SIL without registration can be a serious offence.
3. You are registered, but not under 0115
If you want to deliver SIL in future, you will need to apply to vary your registration.
If you apply before 1 July 2026, the application may relate to 0115. If you apply after 1 July 2026, it will relate to 0138.
Depending on timing, your audit may include the new SIL Practice Standards.
4. You are new to the NDIS and want to deliver SIL
You cannot deliver SIL until your registration is approved.
If you apply after 1 July 2026, you will apply under the new 0138 group, and your audit will include the new SIL Practice Standards.
So, build your systems properly from day one.
The SIL Practice Standards are still marked as draft at this stage. So, providers should avoid treating every detail as final.
But the direction is clear.
The draft module focuses on four key areas.
Supported decision-making
Participants should be supported to make real decisions about their home, routines, relationships, supports, and daily life.
(https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-05/Draft-SIL-Practice-Standards-Module-PDF.pdf)
This means providers need more than a policy.
They need everyday practice that shows workers are listening, giving time, using accessible communication, and respecting the participant’s will and preferences.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is about safety but not control.
The draft standard focuses on keeping participants safe from violence, abuse, neglect, bullying, conflict, and harm while still respecting choice and dignity of risk.
(https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-05/Draft-SIL-Practice-Standards-Module-PDF.pdf)
That means providers need clear ways to identify risks, respond early, document concerns, and support people without taking over their life.
Practice governance
This is about how support actually works inside the home.
Are workers trained?
Are handovers clear?
Are participant needs understood across shifts?
Are incidents and risks reviewed?
Are shared homes managed with care?
The draft standard points to consistent, rights-based, person-centred support.
(https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-05/Draft-SIL-Practice-Standards-Module-PDF.pdf)
Tenancy, housing, and support agreements
This part is very important for SIL homes.
Participants need to understand the difference between their service agreement and tenancy agreement. They should also know their tenancy rights and feel safe to raise concerns.
(https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-05/Draft-SIL-Practice-Standards-Module-PDF.pdf)
A participant should not feel like their home depends on staying quiet.
That is a big message for providers.
Start with the basics.
Do not wait for the final week before the deadline.
Review your current systems and ask:
This is where digital systems can make a real difference.
Good documentation is not just admin.
It is evidence of care.
With more focus on audits, practice standards, incident management, participant voice, and daily support records, providers need systems that make work easier to track.
eZaango Care Partners offers NDIS software designed to help providers manage daily operations, documentation, care delivery, and accommodation workflows in one place.
For SIL and accommodation providers, the Accommodation and Care Solutions feature can support shift management, rostering, scheduling, and participant management for SIL and STA settings.
For daily documentation, Progress Notes can help teams record participant progress, care notes, internal notes, and shift details in a clearer way.
For safety and follow-up, the Incident Management System can help providers document incidents, track actions, and maintain better oversight.
For participant visibility and feedback, Participant Pro supports participants with updates, feedback options, and clearer access to information.
And when the focus is on compliance, audits, and service quality, having everything scattered across paper, spreadsheets, messages, and inboxes can create more pressure than needed.
A connected system helps your team stay organised. It also helps you show what happened, when it happened, and what action was taken.
Here is a simple place to start.
This is not about creating panic. It is about being ready.
Mandatory SIL registration is a major change. But at its core, it is about something very human.
People deserve to feel safe in their own home.
They deserve support that respects their choices.
They deserve workers who understand them.
They deserve providers who can show that quality and safety are not just written in a policy.
They are part of daily practice.
For SIL providers, the next step is clear.
Because 1 July 2026 will arrive quickly. And the providers who prepare early will be in a much stronger place.
CTA: Preparing for mandatory SIL registration? Book a Demo with eZaango and see how simple, connected software can support your NDIS operations.
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