What we heard from the NDIA and NDIS Commission about SIL registration | Choice and control | NDIS | News
| Free resource | Events | News
| Video | Event
| Choice and control | NDIS | News
| Free resource | Events | News
| Video | Event
Self Manager Hub recently held a workshop with the NDIA and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
The workshop focused on the new mandatory registration rules for Supported Independent Living, also known as SIL.
We know many people who self-manage or self-direct their supports are worried about what this could mean.
The message from the workshop was clear: the NDIA and NDIS Commission said these changes are not intended to capture people who self-direct our own supports.
That includes many people who directly employ workers, use contractors, use a Service for One arrangement, or have a nominee coordinating supports.
Watch the short video from the workshop
We encourage you to watch the short video from the workshop.
It includes key information from Alex Rosenthal from the NDIA and Nicole Mahar from the NDIS Quality & Safeguards Commission.
We apologise that we were unable to record the full workshop because of technical difficulties. We know this is frustrating, especially because the discussion was important and detailed.
We have used the transcript to prepare this summary for the Self Manager Hub community.
What is changing?
From 1 July, providers delivering SIL supports will need to start the registration process.
There will be a transition period.
The NDIA and NDIS Commission said no one should be left without supports on 2 July because of this change.
Providers who are captured by the new SIL registration requirement will need to work towards registration by 1 October.
What is SIL?
SIL stands for Supported Independent Living.
The NDIA described SIL as support for people who need regular, ongoing support at home. This may include support during the day and overnight.
The NDIA also said SIL is not only about the number of hours someone receives. It is about the type of support and how it is delivered.
SIL is usually delivered by a provider that manages the support workers and delivers the support as a package.
Who is this change aimed at?
The change is aimed at providers.
This means businesses or organisations that manage and deliver SIL supports.
It is aimed at providers who organise the staff, manage the service and deliver the support to the participant.
It is not aimed at participants or nominees who are directing and coordinating our own supports.
What if I directly employ my own workers?
The NDIA said the new SIL registration requirement is not intended to apply to people who directly employ our own support workers.
This includes people who self-manage.
The key issue is whether you, or your nominee, are directing and coordinating the support yourself.
What if I use contractors or sole traders?
The NDIA and NDIS Commission said that if you are self-directing the support, and the worker is working under your direction, the arrangement is not intended to be captured by the SIL registration rule.
This was an important point in the workshop because many self-managers use sole traders or ABN workers.
What if I use a Service for One?
The NDIS Commission said the SIL registration change is not designed to disrupt Service for One arrangements.
Some Service for One arrangements may already be registered for other reasons, such as restrictive practices or behaviour support.
Those existing requirements still apply.
But the new SIL registration rule itself is not intended to force Service for One arrangements to register as SIL providers simply because they provide high levels of support.
What if I use a plan manager?
If you use a plan manager to pay workers you organise and direct yourself, that is different from buying a full SIL service from a provider, and you won’t be captured by the SIL registration rule.
What if I buy SIL from an unregistered provider?
If you are using a provider to deliver SIL and that provider is in charge of the delivery of your roster of supports, they are likely to be captured by the new rule. They will need to register.
You can ask:
- Are you starting the registration process?
- Will you be able to keep providing my supports after 1 October?
The NDIA and NDIS Commission said they will also contact providers who appear to be delivering SIL.
The Commission will also make information available so people can check provider registration status.
Will my plan change because of this?
The NDIA said this mandatory SIL registration change will not change participant plans.
It will not automatically change your plan management arrangements.
It will not remove self-management.
It will not require self-managers to change how we claim.
The NDIA said self-managers can continue claiming at the support category level.
Do I need to prove I am exempt?
The NDIA and NDIS Commission said they do not expect participants or nominees to prove that they are exempt.
They said the focus will be on providers who are claiming for SIL and who may need to register.
That said, it is still a good idea to make sure your workers and any intermediaries understand your arrangement.
For example, if you self-direct your supports and use ABN workers, it may help to explain that they are working under a self-directed model.
What about future mandatory registration changes?
The workshop also touched on possible future registration changes.
There is still a lot we do not know.
The NDIS Commission said further work is expected on self-directed supports, especially before broader mandatory registration changes are introduced.
Self Manager Hub will keep advocating strongly so that people who self-direct our supports are not forced into models that take away our choice and control.
We are still waiting for the actual rule
We are still waiting for the actual SIL registration rule to be released.
The NDIA and NDIS Commission said the rule has been drafted and more resources are coming. You can check out their resources here.
Until we see the final rule, there is still some uncertainty.
Self Manager Hub will share the rule and any plain English information as soon as it becomes available.
What should you do now?
It is sensible to understand your own arrangement and what steps you need to take, if any.
You may want to ask:
- Am I self-directing my own supports?
- Do I directly employ workers?
- Do I use contractors or sole traders?
- Do I use a Service for One arrangement?
- Am I buying a SIL service from a provider?
- Is my plan self-managed, plan-managed, or agency-managed?
If you are buying SIL from a provider, talk to them about registration.
If you are self-directing your supports, the message from the workshop was that these SIL registration changes are not intended to disrupt your arrangement.
Self Manager Hub will keep you updated
Self Manager Hub will keep working with the NDIA and NDIS Commission to get clear answers for our community.
We will share the final rule, fact sheets, and other updates as soon as they are available.
We will also keep advocating for the rights of people who self-manage or self-direct our supports to keep the workers and arrangements that work for us.