SIL Assessments by Occupational Therapists: What's Involved and How to Prepare

If you're exploring Supported Independent Living under the NDIS, you'll likely need a SIL assessment before funding can be approved. This assessment, completed by a qualified occupational therapist, determines whether SIL is reasonable and necessary for your situation and what level of daily support you need. This guide walks through what the assessment involves, what the OT is looking for, and how to prepare.

What is a SIL assessment?

A SIL assessment is a detailed functional assessment completed by an occupational therapist. It looks at a person's ability to carry out everyday tasks and determines what level of support they need to live more independently, often in a shared living environment.

The OT assesses areas like cooking and meal preparation, showering, dressing and hygiene, taking medication, managing money and appointments, cleaning and household tasks, communicating needs, and behavioural and emotional regulation. They gather this information through observation, interviews with the participant and carers, and clinical judgement. In some cases, they'll also use standardised tools like the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) or the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool (MOHOST).

The OT is also considering your current living situation, the support you already receive, what you can do independently versus where you need help or prompting, any behavioural or medical complexities, your NDIS goals, and what the least restrictive, most appropriate support model looks like.

Why the NDIS requires a SIL assessment

SIL funding is not automatically included in an NDIS plan. You need to provide strong supporting evidence showing that this level of support is reasonable and necessary. The OT's report is the core piece of that evidence. It demonstrates your current support needs, explains your functional capacity across daily living activities, outlines risks if appropriate supports aren't in place, and justifies the need for ongoing or 24/7 support in a shared living setting. Without a thorough assessment, it's difficult for the NDIA to approve this type of funding.

"Without a thorough SIL assessment, it's difficult for the NDIA to approve this type of funding, even when the need is clear."

What goes into the report

Once the assessment is complete, the OT writes a formal SIL Assessment Report. This includes a summary of your daily functional capacity, a clear outline of your support needs across a 24-hour period, clinical justification for SIL funding, recommendations on the appropriate support ratio (for example, 1:3, 1:2, or 1:1), and information on any assistive technology or home modifications needed.

The report is submitted as part of your evidence to the NDIS. It may sit alongside other supporting documents like behaviour support plans, GP letters, or housing goal statements.

How to prepare for a SIL assessment

Good preparation helps the OT write the strongest possible report. Talk openly about what your day actually looks like, including the difficult parts. Be honest about what you can and can't do without support, because the report needs to reflect reality rather than a best-case scenario. Gather any existing documentation like medical letters, previous therapy reports, or incident records.

Include your informal supports in the process. Family members, carers, or support workers who are part of your daily life can offer context that strengthens the assessment. And think about your goals ahead of time. What does independence look like to you? What kind of living arrangement would help you work towards that?

What happens after the report is submitted

Once your SIL Assessment Report and any supporting documents are submitted, the NDIS reviews the evidence as part of your plan. Timeframes vary, but a thorough, well-evidenced report gives your application the best chance of being approved without additional back-and-forth. Your support coordinator can help track progress and follow up with the NDIA if needed.

How CARED can help

CARED works alongside participants, support coordinators, and families to make the SIL assessment process clearer and more manageable. We can connect you with experienced occupational therapists who understand what the NDIS is looking for and know how to write a report that gives your application the strongest foundation.