SILSDA Queensland Maximising SIL Impact Conference Agenda  

Registration and Arrival 

Welcome and Introductions 

The success of the NDIS model depends on collaborative, participant-centred approaches — and at the heart of every successful collaboration between Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation providers is clear, respectful, and consistent communication.

​

This session explores how effective language, aligned values, and proactive communication strategies can bridge gaps between providers, eliminate misunderstandings, and create a unified experience for participants. When SIL and SDA teams share goals and communicate openly, they can reduce  service duplication, enhance continuity of support, and build homes where participants feel safe, respected, and empowered.

​

We’ll discuss how early engagement, shared documentation, and clear roles and responsibilities are essential in building sustainable working relationships that lead to stronger participant outcomes and long-term business success.

​

Key Themes:

​

• ​The role of language in setting expectations and maintaining respectful partnerships

• Communication strategies that support proactive problem-solving and accountability

• Creating shared goals and consistent messaging across teams

• Participant-led approaches to ensure choice, control, and satisfaction

• Building trust and transparency through regular reviews and shared documentation

​​

Successful SDA is not just about bricks and mortar—it’s about people living well together. Tenancy matching is a critical factor in ensuring safe, sustainable, and harmonious living arrangements for participants with diverse needs and preferences. Yet, poor matching continues to lead to failed tenancies, participant distress, and costly vacancies.
This presentation explores best practices, ethical considerations, and innovative models for effective tenancy matching in SDA settings.
It will cover:

Why tenancy matching matters: lived experience, risk management, and wellbeing

Practical frameworks for matching based on support needs, communication styles, lifestyle preferences, and compatibility

Lessons learned from failed matches—and how they could have been prevented constraintsBalancing participant choice and control with duty of care and operational

Through real-world examples and emerging approaches, this session will highlight how thoughtful tenancy matching supports quality of life, long-term occupancy, and stronger outcomes for everyone involved.

The release of the 2025–26 NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits has sent ripples through the disability housing and support ecosystem, with particular concern for the viability of Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation services.

This focused panel will bring together SIL and SDA providers, and participant advocate to unpack the direct impacts of the updated pricing framework.
From the 3.95% increase to disability support worker rates to reduced therapy pricing and the conclusion of transitional pricing for group programs, the changes are prompting providers to question the financial sustainability of their models—especially in regional and high-needs environments.

Panellists will respond to the Independent Pricing Committee’s call for more nuanced, differentiated pricing and debate whether the current model can truly reflect the complexity of SIL and SDA service delivery. The conversation will also focus on protecting participant choice and continuity of care in the face of looming provider exits.
 

Break 

As SDA lending expands to support NDIS participants and families seeking to purchase Specialist Disability Accommodation, the success of these models increasingly depends on collaboration. In this session, a leading SDA lender will explain how working closely with SIL providers is essential to creating viable, support-ready housing solutions.

​

SIL providers bring critical knowledge of participants’ day-to-day care needs, helping to shape housing designs that are both practical and sustainable. Their involvement reassures lenders and investors that the home will meet real-world support requirements, reducing long-term vacancy risks and strengthening the overall case for funding.

​

This presentation will highlight how lenders, participants, families, and SIL providers can work together to deliver high-impact housing outcomes. It will also explore how early engagement with SILs can ensure smoother transitions, better long-term support delivery, and more successful participant-led SDA projects.

Without this collaboration, the risk of delays, unsuitable housing, or underutilised assets increases—impacting everyone involved in the SDA ecosystem.

​

Ideal for SIL providers, support coordinators, and family investors, this session will offer insight into the critical role of provider partnerships in unlocking the next generation of SDA housing.

Appendix H of the SDA Price Guide is a misunderstood but essential mechanism that allows NDIS participants with SDA funding to live with individuals who are not SDA-funded.

Often overlooked by providers and support coordinators, Appendix H does not require NDIA approval and is not a separate SDA category. Instead, it provides critical flexibility in housing arrangements, enabling more inclusive and person-centred living options.

This session will unpack the purpose, misconceptions, and practical application of Appendix H—and explore how greater awareness can help remove unnecessary barriers to housing.

This session provides an essential overview of current and upcoming legislative responsibilities for NDIS directors and key personnel. With new statutory duties and enhanced penalties introduced under NDIS Bill No. 2, this workshop ensures attendees stay informed and prepared to meet these strengthened regulatory obligations.

Key Takeaways:
•    Key Roles Demystified: Understand the responsibilities of NDIS directors and key personnel 
•    Compliance Essentials: Explore statutory and common law obligations, including those governed by ASIC and Work Health and Safety standards.
•    Case Studies: Review real-world examples of NDIS breaches and their consequences to glean practical lessons.
•    Regulatory Preparedness: Stay ahead of legislative changes to safeguard your organisation and participants.

Networking and Lunch  

This presentation will cover the key aspects of Disability Worker Screening in Queensland, providing an overview of the screening process, focusing on the responsibilities of organisations and workers to maintain compliance and uphold standards in 2025.
 

For NDIS providers, payroll compliance can be daunting — and getting it wrong can be costly. The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) Award governs thousands of support workers, but its detailed provisions often expose organisations to significant risk.
 
From 24-hour care to broken shifts, sleepovers, and minimum breaks, even small missteps can result in backpay claims and increased pressure on already stretched business models.
 
This practical session will explore:
• The top three SCHADS compliance blind spots for disability providers
• The potential impact of currently pending court decisions on overnight care
• What happens when providers fail to comply
• The role all staff can play in reducing payroll risk
 
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how Award compliance impacts viability, staffing, and reputation — and what proactive steps can safeguard all three.

This session will provide a comprehensive update on upcoming regulatory reforms for Supported Independent Living—including the introduction of new SIL Practice Standards and the move toward mandatory SIL registration.

It will explore the co-design process with people with disability and outline how key recommendations from the NDIS Review and the Disability Royal Commission are being implemented.

​

Attendees will gain clarity on anticipated changes in quality, safety, privacy, and audit requirements.

The session will deliver practical guidance for both registered and unregistered providers on preparing for these reforms, strengthening safeguards, and improving service quality for participants.

​

With mandatory SIL registration on the horizon and compliance expectations for Specialist Disability Accommodation providers continuing to rise, audit readiness and operational compliance have become top priorities. Providers will need to meet NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission standards while balancing service quality, operational efficiency, and risk management.

​

Attendees will learn proven strategies, compliance insights, and internal audit techniques to proactively prepare for audits and strengthen compliance frameworks.

​

Key topics include:

​

• Conducting effective internal audits to identify gaps before external audits

• Audit readiness strategies—documentation, evidence collection, and risk mitigation

• Aligning SDA and SIL policies, procedures, and governance with NDIS Practice Standards

• Common compliance pitfalls and how to address them proactively

• Balancing regulatory requirements with operational excellence and quality service delivery

​

Who should attend:

SIL and SDA providers seeking to take control of their compliance journey, streamline internal audit processes, and achieve audit success under the evolving NDIS regulatory framework.

Break 

Across Queensland, more than 1,000 people remain in hospital, despite being medically ready for discharge.  
Without access to appropriate housing and supports, they are unable to safely transition back into the community - often spending extended periods in hospital environments that are not designed for long-term living or disability support.  

​

Although few of these people will be eligible for NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation, there may be opportunities for Specialist Disability Accommodation to support patients as they transition from hospital to home.
In this presentation, James Parker, Manager, Disability Health Policy in Queensland Health, will explore the systemic challenges contributing to delayed discharges - including administrative delays, housing and workforce availability and gaps in coordination between sectors - and the significant impact these delays have on the effectiveness of our public health system.

​

James will also outline Queensland Health’s policy response and the work underway to address this issue. 

​

This session is an important conversation for SDA & SIL Providers, Coordinators, Allied Health professionals, focused on enabling timely, appropriate transitions into the community - and ensuring people with disability can live where and how they choose, with the right supports in place.
 

This presentation from CSBS explores how a human-first, person-led approach to support can create life-changing outcomes — especially when combined with data-informed advocacy.

We’ll walk through the transition from hospital to home, showcasing how our integrated model supports people with complex needs through in-house clinical services, behavioural supports, and staff training.
 
Key to this is our use of data: how we capture it, how we build real-time dashboards, and how we use it to advocate for improved NDIS funding outcomes.

Through a series of powerful case studies, we’ll demonstrate how CSBS turns daily support data into evidence that drives decisions — and helps participants get the supports they need.
 
At the heart of it is the CSBS Human Club philosophy: seeing beyond labels, treating people as people, and building supports around the life they want to lead. 

This session will provide a step-by-step approach to ensuring smooth and successful transitions for individuals moving from hospital settings into Specialist Disability Accommodation  or Supported Independent Living . The focus will be on overcoming common challenges and avoiding pitfalls that can hinder the transition process.

​

Hospital discharges, particularly for individuals with complex needs, can be fraught with difficulties. Delays in NDIS plan approvals, accommodation shortages, and inadequate support services often contribute to extended stays in healthcare settings. This session will address how to streamline these transitions, ensuring that participants are supported in moving from hospital to suitable SDA or SIL accommodations, while maximizing their independence and quality of life.

​​​​

This session will equip healthcare professionals, SDA/SIL providers, and support coordinators with the tools and strategies necessary to facilitate a seamless transition from hospital to home, helping participants achieve successful, long-term outcomes.

Panel Q & A  and audience engagement 

Close and networking