SDA vs SIL vs Support Coordination 

5–8-minute read  

In Brief  

• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Support Coordination are three separate NDIS supports that relate to how and where a person lives. 

• SDA refers to the physical home a person lives in, not the supports provided inside the home. 

• SIL refers to the day‑to‑day support a person receives in their home to help with daily living tasks. 

• Support Coordination helps people understand, organise and manage their NDIS supports. 

• Each support serves a different purpose, is assessed separately by the NDIS, and does not automatically include or determine the others. 

• A person may have one, two or all three supports in their NDIS plan, depending on their individual needs and circumstances. 

What is SDA? 

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) refers to the physical dwelling a person lives in. It includes specialist design features that make a home safer, more accessible and easier to live in for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. 

SDA funding supports the housing itself, not the supports or care delivered within the home. You can read more about SDA [here]. 

What is SIL? 

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is a type of support that helps people live in a home. It includes help or supervision with daily tasks such as personal care, cooking meals, cleaning, routines, and overnight support if required. SIL funding cannot be used for housing costs such as rent or day-to-day living expenses like groceries or utilities. 

Working with a Support Coordinator 

Some participants may also have funding for Support Coordination, particularly if their supports are complex or involve multiple services. A Support Coordinator can help people understand their NDIS plan, find suitable providers, coordinate supports, and resolve issues as they arise. For participants receiving SIL, a Support Coordinator may assist with finding a provider and developing a roster of care submission. However, not everyone who receives SIL will automatically have Support Coordination funded, this depends on individual circumstances and NDIS approval.

What’s the difference? 

While SDA, SIL and Support Coordination are often discussed together, they serve very different roles within the NDIS: 

• SDA supports the physical housing for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs, ensuring homes are safer, more accessible and suitable to live in. SDA funding covers housing only. 

• SIL supports the day-to-day assistance provided inside the home. SIL can be delivered in many housing types, including SDA homes, private rentals and family homes. It is about how a person is supported, not where they live. 
• Support Coordination helps people understand, organise and manage their NDIS supports. It does not provide housing or daily care but supports informed decision-making and coordination of services. 

Common misconceptions 

“If I have SDA, my supports are included” 

SDA only funds the physical home, not support workers or care. Other supports, such as SIL, are funded separately and are not included in SDA funding. 

“If I have SIL, I must live in SDA” 

SIL can be delivered in many types of housing, not just SDA. Receiving SIL funding does not mean someone needs specialist housing, rather it means they need help with daily living tasks. 

“SIL and Support Coordination are the same thing” 

While both support participants, they serve different purposes. SIL provides daily living support, while Support Coordination helps people understand and manage their supports. They are funded under different parts of a NDIS plan and assessed separately. 

“These supports lock me into one provider” 

Because SDA, SIL and Support Coordination are funded separately, people can usually change support providers without needing to move house and can change housing without changing who supports them. However, changing one support may affect how others are delivered in practice. Changes should be planned carefully to ensure continuity and that supports continue to meet the individual’s needs. 

 “Having one means the others will automatically be funded” 

Each support is assessed individually by the NDIS. Having SDA does not automatically mean SIL or Support Coordination will be funded, and having SIL does not automatically mean someone qualifies for SDA. 

 “Support Coordination provides care or housing” 

Support Coordination does not deliver housing or daily supports. It focuses on guidance, planning, coordination and problem-solving to help people access the right services. 

Overall SDA, SIL and Support Coordination each play a different role within the NDIS, but they often work together to support how and where a person lives. Understanding the difference between these supports can feel overwhelming, but it is an important step in navigating housing and support options. Clear understanding helps participants, families and supports make informed decisions, protect choice and control, and ensure housing and supports are set up in a way that best supports a person’s goals, independence and wellbeing.