Supported Independent Living in Craigieburn: Choice and Independence

What Supported Independent Living Means

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is an NDIS-funded support category that helps people with disability live as independently as possible in their own home or in a shared living arrangement. It covers the assistance participants need with daily tasks, not the cost of rent or the home itself.

SIL is designed for people who need regular support to manage their day safely and comfortably. That support might be available during the day, in the evenings, overnight, or across 24 hours where a participant's needs and NDIS plan require it.

In a shared SIL home, participants typically live with one or more housemates and share the cost of support staff. In an individual arrangement, the participant lives alone and receives support tailored entirely to them. In both settings, participants remain involved in everyday decisions about how their home runs and how their support is delivered.

SIL does not replace a person's autonomy. It supports it.

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Who May Benefit from SIL Support

SIL may suit participants who:

• Need regular assistance with personal care or daily routines
• Require overnight or active 24-hour support
• Have mobility support needs or need help with transfers
• Want to develop practical life skills and greater independence
• Need consistent help with household tasks and routines
• Prefer shared living with compatible housemates
• Are building confidence to manage more of their daily life
• Have SIL included in their NDIS plan, or are exploring whether SIL funding may be appropriate

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Our Supported Independent Living Services in Craigieburn

We provide a broad range of SIL supports across Craigieburn and the surrounding northern suburbs, including Roxburgh Park, Mickleham, Kalkallo and Donnybrook. Our support workers live and work in this community. They understand the local area, including transport routes along the Hume Freeway corridor, access to services around Craigieburn Town Centre, and connections to local health and community facilities.

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Personal Care and Daily Routines

Supporting someone with personal care requires skill, patience and genuine respect. Our team assists with:

• Showering, bathing and personal hygiene
• Dressing and grooming
• Toileting and continence support
• Mobility assistance and safe transfers
• Morning and evening routines
• Medication reminders

We follow each participant's preferred routine rather than a fixed schedule that suits the house.

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Meals and Household Tasks

A well-run home environment makes a real difference to daily wellbeing. Our team can assist with:

• Meal planning and cooking
• Grocery shopping
• Cleaning and laundry
• Home organisation
• Safe household routines

Where participants want to be involved in these tasks, we encourage that. Taking part in everyday household activities is one of the ways people build confidence and practical skills over time.

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Life Skills Development

Many participants in our SIL homes work toward greater independence over time. We support skill building across areas such as:

• Budgeting and managing money
• Cooking and food preparation
• Using public transport around Craigieburn and into the CBD
• Daily planning and organisation
• Communication and decision making
• Managing appointments and health needs

Progress looks different for everyone. We work at the participant's pace and celebrate small steps as well as larger milestones.

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Community Participation

Being part of the Craigieburn community matters. Our support workers assist participants to access local activities, services and connections, including:

• Social outings and recreational activities
• Shopping at Craigieburn Central and nearby centres
• Attending appointments
• Hobbies and interest groups
• Visiting family and friends
• Volunteering opportunities where suitable

We support participants to build and maintain meaningful connections in the community rather than just within the home.

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Overnight and Ongoing Assistance

Some participants need support that continues beyond daytime hours. We can provide:

• Scheduled daily support across morning, afternoon and evening shifts
• Sleepover support, where a worker is on site overnight and available when needed
• Active overnight support, where a worker remains awake and actively assists through the night
• Regular monitoring and check-ins
• 24-hour support where this is approved and funded in the participant's NDIS plan

The level of overnight support is determined by the participant's needs, their NDIS plan, and the recommendations of their support team.

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How Our SIL Support Works

Getting started with SIL involves a number of steps. Here is how the process typically works with us.

Initial Conversation

We begin with a relaxed conversation to understand the participant's situation, preferences and what they are looking for in a SIL arrangement. Families, carers and support coordinators are welcome to be part of this discussion.

Support Needs Review

We work through the participant's NDIS plan and support needs in detail. This helps us understand what level of support is required, how many hours may be needed each day, and whether shared or individual SIL is likely to be the better fit.

Personalised Planning

We develop a support plan that reflects the participant's daily routine, personal goals, communication preferences and any clinical or cultural requirements. Nothing is set in a way that cannot be adjusted as needs change.

Service Agreement

Once the participant and their support network are comfortable with the plan, we put a clear service agreement in place. This outlines what support will be provided, when, and how it will be delivered.

Ongoing Reviews

We review the support plan regularly with the participant and their team. As goals are achieved or circumstances change, we adjust the plan to stay relevant and useful.

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Support for Families, Guardians and Coordinators

We work closely with the people around each participant, including families, guardians, support coordinators, plan managers, nurses and allied health professionals. Good SIL support depends on clear communication and a shared understanding of the participant's needs and goals.

In practice, this means:

• Keeping families informed of how support is progressing
• Collaborating with support coordinators during initial planning and ongoing reviews
• Coordinating with allied health professionals around mobility, communication or clinical needs
• Discussing transition plans with all relevant parties before any change in living arrangements
• Providing clear service agreements and progress updates
• Adjusting support promptly when a participant's needs shift