Mandatory SIL registration update
SIL Provider Registration Deadline: 1 October 2026
Mandatory registration for supported independent living (SIL) commenced on 1 July 2026. Providers already delivering SIL without registration have a limited window: a valid registration application must be submitted by 1 October 2026 for SIL delivery to continue while the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission assesses it. This page explains the date, the 0138 pathway and the evidence you need before you lodge.
2026 Changes & Updates8 min readLast reviewed:
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Who this guide is for
- Existing providers delivering SIL without registration
- Registered providers that need to add 0138 to their scope
- SIL managers and quality staff preparing evidence before lodging
- Boards and key personnel deciding whether to apply or transition participants
The deadline in one sentence
If your organisation was already delivering supported independent living without registration, you must submit a valid NDIS registration application by 1 October 2026 to keep delivering SIL while the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission assesses that application. If you do not apply by that date, you must stop delivering SIL and support affected participants to transition.
Who this deadline applies to
The 1 October 2026 date is for existing unregistered SIL providers — organisations and sole traders that were already delivering SIL to participants before mandatory registration commenced on 1 July 2026 and are not yet registered for it.
It is not a general amnesty. A provider that starts delivering SIL after mandatory registration commenced does not get a continuation window: registration must be in place before SIL is delivered. Providers that are already registered but do not hold 0138 in scope also need to vary their registration to add the group before delivering SIL.
If you are unsure which description fits you, check your current registration certificate and scope, and confirm your position against the NDIS Commission guidance linked in the sources section below. Transition arrangements are conditional and the Commission decides how they apply to your circumstances.
What counts as applying by the deadline
A submitted application only holds the continuation window open if it is valid. In practice that means the application is complete, accurate and covers the right scope:
- Submitted through the NDIS Commission's application system on or before 1 October 2026
- Lodged by the correct legal entity, with matching ABN and entity details
- Includes 0138 Assistance with Supported Independent Living in the requested scope, alongside any other groups you deliver
- Names all key personnel, with their declarations and screening details supplied
- Includes an honest self-assessment against the applicable NDIS Practice Standards rather than an aspirational one
- Describes the outlets, participant numbers and delivery arrangements you actually run
Applying is not approving
Submitting on time preserves your ability to keep delivering while you are assessed. It does not mean you are registered, and it does not guarantee an outcome. You still complete a certification audit with an approved quality auditor, and the Commission still makes the registration decision. We cannot fast-track that process or promise a completion date.
The 0138 registration pathway, step by step
Every SIL applicant follows the same sequence. Understanding it before you lodge helps you submit an application that will not stall.
- 01
1. Scope your registration
Confirm the classes and groups you deliver. 0138 Assistance with Supported Independent Living covers the SIL support itself; personal care, community participation, behaviour support and SDA are separate and add to your audit scope.
- 02
2. Submit a valid application
Complete the application in the Commission's system with entity details, key personnel, outlets and a genuine self-assessment. For existing unregistered SIL providers this must happen by 1 October 2026.
- 03
3. Receive your Initial Scope of Audit
The Commission issues an Initial Scope of Audit setting out which standards apply and the size of the audit. This document is authoritative — no consultant or auditor can widen or narrow it.
- 04
4. Engage an approved quality auditor
You choose and pay an approved quality auditor directly. Fees are quoted by the auditor based on your scope, participant numbers and locations, and are entirely separate from any assistance fee you pay us.
- 05
5. Complete the certification audit
SIL is assessed by certification audit, generally in two stages: a review of your management system, then an on-site or remote assessment of how it operates, including interviews with key personnel, workers and (with consent) participants.
- 06
6. Commission assessment
Your auditor submits its report to the NDIS Commission. The Commission conducts its own suitability assessment covering key personnel, past conduct and capability, and may ask for further information.
- 07
7. Registration decision
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission decides whether to register you, for which groups, for what period and with what conditions. Only the Commission makes this decision.
Evidence checklist before you apply
You do not need a finished audit file to lodge, but the stronger your evidence at application, the fewer delays later. Before submitting, make sure you can produce:
- Current entity details, ABN and business structure, and the correct registered legal name
- Key personnel details, declarations and current NDIS worker screening outcomes
- A worker compliance register covering screening, orientation, training and supervision
- Governance documents: risk management, continuous improvement, complaints and incident management
- SIL-specific operational records: rosters, handover records, house risk assessments and medication management
- Participant documentation: service agreements, consent records and support plans reflecting real delivery
- Restrictive practice records, behaviour support plan links and any state or territory authorisation evidence
- A completed self-assessment against the core NDIS Practice Standards plus the SIL standards
Claiming and invoicing implications after 1 July 2026
Because SIL now requires registration, your ability to claim for SIL supports follows your registration status and the transition arrangements that apply to you. If you are relying on the continuation window created by applying before 1 October 2026, treat your claiming position as conditional on that application remaining valid.
Practical steps: check your service agreements describe SIL accurately, make sure your service bookings and claims match the supports you are registered or permitted to deliver, and keep records that would let you demonstrate the basis on which you claimed for any period.
Claiming rules are set by the NDIA and the Commission, not by us. Confirm the current position using the official NDIS claiming guidance for SIL supports linked below before changing how you invoice.
What happens if you miss 1 October 2026
If an existing unregistered SIL provider does not submit a valid application by 1 October 2026, it must stop delivering SIL. Continuing to deliver a support that requires registration exposes the provider to compliance and enforcement action, and puts participants' supports at risk.
In that situation the priority is participant safety and continuity: notify affected participants and, where relevant, their nominees, plan managers or support coordinators as early as you can; give them clear written information about when your SIL delivery ends; and cooperate with the transition to a registered provider so that support does not lapse.
You can still apply for registration after the date — you simply cannot deliver SIL in the meantime. If you intend to return to SIL, plan on completing the application and certification audit first.
Who does what in SIL registration
Registration involves several distinct parties. Confusing their roles is one of the most common reasons providers misjudge timing.
| Party | Role | What they cannot do |
|---|---|---|
| Your organisation (the provider) | Decides to apply, scopes the registration, produces evidence, runs compliant SIL operations and lodges the application on time. | Cannot self-certify compliance or extend the deadline. |
| NDIS Provider Registration (our service) | Independent private assistance: scoping support, personalised policies and procedures, self-assessment help and audit preparation for a $500 service fee. | Cannot audit you, approve you, influence the decision or guarantee an outcome. |
| Approved quality auditor | Independently assesses you against the applicable NDIS Practice Standards and reports findings to the Commission. You engage and pay them directly. | Cannot register you or change your Initial Scope of Audit. |
| NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission | Sets registration requirements and practice standards, issues the Initial Scope of Audit, assesses suitability and makes the registration decision. | — |
| NDIA | Administers the scheme, participant plans, funding and payments, and publishes claiming guidance for SIL supports. | Does not make provider registration decisions. |
Where to go next
Free printable checklists
Frequently asked questions
- What is the SIL registration deadline?
- 1 October 2026. An existing unregistered SIL provider must submit a valid NDIS registration application by that date to continue delivering SIL while the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission assesses the application.
- When did mandatory registration for SIL start?
- Mandatory registration for supported independent living commenced on 1 July 2026. From that date SIL must be delivered by a registered NDIS provider, subject to the transition arrangements for existing providers.
- Which registration group covers SIL?
- 0138 Assistance with Supported Independent Living. It is assessed through an independent certification audit against the applicable NDIS Practice Standards, including the new SIL standards.
- Can I keep delivering SIL after 1 October 2026 while my application is assessed?
- Only if you were already delivering SIL unregistered and you submitted a valid application by 1 October 2026. Submitting is not approval, and the Commission can ask for more information or refuse an application.
- What happens if I do not apply by 1 October 2026?
- You must stop delivering SIL. Notify affected participants and their support networks in writing, help them transition to a registered provider, and complete registration before delivering SIL again.
- Do I need a certification audit for SIL?
- Yes. SIL is a certification pathway support. You engage and pay an approved quality auditor, who assesses you against the core NDIS Practice Standards plus the SIL standards and reports to the Commission.
- Who decides whether my SIL registration is approved?
- The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Auditors assess and report; the NDIA administers plans and payments; registration-assistance services such as ours help you prepare. None of them make or influence the decision.
- How much does SIL registration cost?
- There are two separate costs: audit fees quoted by your chosen approved quality auditor based on your scope, participant numbers and sites, and any assistance fee. Our registration support service fee is $500 and does not include auditor fees.
Official sources and further reading
Requirements change. Always confirm the current position with the relevant authority before making decisions.
- NDIS Commission — Mandatory registration: supported independent living (SIL)
- NDIS Commission — Mandatory registration SIL: information for existing SIL providers
- NDIS — Mandatory registration for supported independent living (SIL) and NDIS digital platform providers
- NDIS — Guide to providing supported independent living (SIL)
- NDIS — How to claim supported independent living (SIL) supports
Ready to move forward?
Get an indicative pathway in about a minute, or start your registration with personalised support for your documents, self-assessment and audit preparation.
NDIS Provider Registration is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NDIA or the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. We provide application preparation and audit preparation support; independent auditor fees are separate and registration decisions are made by the Commission.