Semi-Independent Living Adelaide
Semi-Independent Living in Adelaide
Most NDIS conversations about accommodation jump straight to Supported Independent Living, where 24/7 support is built into a shared home. But a lot of participants don’t need that much support. They need help two or three days a week, they want their own place, and they are ready to run most of their life themselves. That is where semi-independent living fits.
This page explains what semi-independent living looks like with EDSA, who it suits, and how it differs from full SIL.
What is semi-independent living?
Semi-independent living is not a formal NDIS line item. It is the way a combination of Core supports gets used when a participant wants to live in their own rental or home and brings in support workers for specific tasks, on specific days, rather than having 24/7 cover.
The funding comes from a mix of:
- Assistance with Daily Personal Activities (01_011) for things like showering and medication prompts
- Assistance with Household Tasks (01_020) for cleaning, laundry, meal prep
- Social and Community Participation (04_104) for getting out and about
- Assist Travel and Transport for appointments and errands
Who does semi-independent living suit?
- Young adults moving out of the family home for the first time
- Participants stepping down from SIL or MTA into more independence
- Participants with stable disabilities who want routine support but not constant company
- People with psychosocial disabilities who value their own space but need structure
- Participants who have family or a partner living with them but want their own support
How EDSA delivers semi-independent living in Adelaide
We build the schedule around your week
The first conversation covers what your current week looks like and where support would make the biggest difference. For some participants that is Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings for shower and medication. For others it is Saturday shopping and Sunday meal prep. We don't push a template.
Consistent support workers
Semi-independent living only works if the same one or two support workers keep coming back. Rotating faces defeat the point of building a routine. We match you with workers whose availability matches your preferred days, and we keep them on your roster as long as you are happy with them.
Progressive independence
A lot of semi-independent living participants want to do more themselves over time. Maybe you start with full shopping support and after six months you are doing it solo with a phone call from the worker to check in. We adjust the support down as your confidence grows. The goal is usually not to keep you dependent on us.
Adelaide coverage
We cover inner Adelaide (CBD, Unley, Mitcham, Norwood), the south (Glengowrie, Marion, Brighton, Holdfast Bay), the west (West Torrens, Henley Beach, Port Adelaide) and the north (Prospect, Walkerville, Enfield, Salisbury, Modbury, Parafield).
Semi-independent living vs SIL: which is right?
The question usually comes down to how much support you actually need in an average week, and whether you want to share your home.
Choose Supported Independent Living if: you need overnight support, you need active support for more than 6-8 hours most days, you are comfortable sharing a home with other NDIS participants, or you have very high physical support needs.
Choose semi-independent living if: your support needs are predictable and fit into set hours, you want your own place (alone or with family/partner), you can manage the hours between support visits safely, and your budget covers the hours you need at NDIS rates.
Plenty of participants start in SIL and transition to semi-independent living later. That transition is one of the most rewarding things we help with.
Typical support packages
Light support (5-8 hours/week)
Two or three scheduled visits for personal care, one longer session for household tasks, occasional community access. Suits participants who are largely independent but need reliable help with specific tasks.
Moderate support (10-20 hours/week)
Daily morning routine, weekly cleaning and shopping, 2-3 community outings, check-in calls in between. Suits participants who want their own place but need active support most days.
High-end semi-independent (20-35 hours/week)
Longer daily support, multiple community sessions, meal prep and appointment support built in. This is the upper limit before SIL usually becomes more appropriate.
- Social and Community Participation
- Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
- Semi-Independent Living
- NDIS Respite and Short-Term Accommodation
- NDIS Youth Mentoring
- NDIS Support Workers
Getting started
If you are thinking about moving out, stepping down from SIL, or just want more structure in your current home. You can call us on 0478 271 422, email us at [email protected], or visit us at 122 Morphett Road, Glengowrie SA 5044 to speak with our team directly.
Frequently asked questions
No. Plenty of our semi-independent participants live with partners, family, or housemates. The supports are yours, tied to your NDIS plan, regardless of who else is in the home.
Yes, if your plan includes the hours. Some participants book overnight support a few nights a month when a carer is away or when they need extra security. It is not full SIL, but it is flexible.
We review every three months, or sooner if something changes. More hours, fewer hours, different days — we adjust. If it turns out you need SIL, we help you make that move. If it turns out you can drop to just household tasks, great.
Yes. Your supports are funded through your NDIS plan and are portable. You can rent, own, flatshare, or live with family. What matters is that you are in a safe environment for the hours between support visits.
Usually within 7-14 days of signing your service agreement. If you have an urgent need (for example, a carer going into hospital), we can often start within 48 hours.