SDA and SIL: how they work together (and where to search for each)

By SDA Listings Editorial · 21 July 2026 · 7 min read

The split, in one paragraph

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is capital funding: the NDIA pays the building owner an annual amount per bedroom for a suitably built or modified home. Supported Independent Living (SIL) is support funding: the NDIA pays a support provider to roster workers who assist you daily. They are two separate line items in a plan and two separate agreements you sign.

Where to search each

• SDA Listings — search Specialist Disability Accommodation vacancies across Australia.
• SIL Connect — search Supported Independent Living vacancies and providers.

A typical decision path

1. Confirm your funding. Check your NDIS plan for SDA and SIL amounts (and the design category and support ratio).
2. Anchor on location. Draw a radius around family, day programs and preferred hospitals.
3. Shortlist SDA homes. Use SDA Listings to find 3–5 suitable properties in your category and building type.
4. Line up SIL. For each home, either use the incumbent SIL provider or compare alternatives on SIL Connect.
5. Sign in order. Sign the SDA occupancy agreement, then the SIL service agreement. Never sign SIL before SDA is confirmed.

Choice and control

Because SDA and SIL are separate, you can switch SIL providers without moving home, and you can move home without losing your SIL workers (subject to their coverage area). This is why we recommend treating them as parallel decisions, using the coordinator workspace on SDA Listings and the provider directory on SIL Connect.

Reasonable rent contribution and other costs

SDA participants also pay a Reasonable Rent Contribution and Commonwealth Rent Assistance towards rent — separate from SIL. Read reasonable rent contribution for the numbers.

Cross-links to explore

Compare our SIL vs SDA overview, then head to SIL Connect when you are ready to search Supported Independent Living options.