Frequently Asked Questions
Individualised Living Options is an NDIS home and living support that enables participants to design a living arrangement that is genuinely tailored to their individual circumstances, relationships, preferences, and goals. Unlike standard accommodation models, ILO does not prescribe how or where a participant lives. Instead, it funds an exploration and design process through which the participant, with support, creates a unique living arrangement that draws on both NDIS-funded supports and the natural supports available in their life. ILO arrangements can include living with a host, sharing with compatible co-residents, or living independently with a bespoke support package.
Both ILO and SIL are NDIS home and living supports, but they differ significantly in structure and philosophy. SIL is a funded support for participants requiring significant daily assistance in a shared or individual living arrangement, with the NDIS funding the cost of support workers. ILO is broader and more flexible, encompassing a wider range of living arrangements including host arrangements and hybrid informal and formal support models. ILO places greater emphasis on participant-designed, relationship-centred living, while SIL is more structured around a defined support roster. Grace Care can help you understand which option is most appropriate for your situation.
The ILO process begins with a funded exploration phase during which a Grace Care ILO specialist works with the participant to understand how they want to live, who they want to live with or near, what natural supports exist in their life, and what an ideal living arrangement would look like. This information is then used to design a specific living arrangement and support package that is presented to the NDIA for approval. The exploration phase is participant-led, creative, and takes as much time as needed to develop a genuinely right outcome.
Yes, and this is one of the distinguishing features of ILO. Family members, friends, community members, and other trusted people can play formal or informal roles within an ILO arrangement, including as hosts or co-residents. Grace Care’s ILO design process specifically explores existing relationships and natural supports to identify how they can be incorporated into the living arrangement in a way that benefits the participant and respects the nature of those relationships.
Yes. ILO is available across the support needs spectrum, not just for participants with lower support needs. The design of an ILO arrangement for a participant with complex needs will be more detailed and the funded support package more substantial, but the fundamental principle of individually designed, participant-led living applies regardless of support complexity. Grace Care has experience designing ILO arrangements for participants with a wide range of disabilities and support needs across Greater Sydney.
The timeline varies depending on the complexity of the arrangement, the participant’s decision-making process, and NDIA approval timeframes. The exploration phase alone can take several weeks to ensure the design is genuinely right for the participant. Grace Care manages the process efficiently and proactively, keeping participants and families informed at every stage and working to minimise unnecessary delays. We also assist with any follow-up information the NDIA requires during the approval process.
Call us on 1300 069 338 or email info@grace-care.com.au to arrange a free initial consultation. We’ll talk through what ILO is, whether it’s the right option for your situation, and how to access ILO exploration funding through your NDIS plan. There is no pressure and no obligation. ILO starts with a conversation about how you want to live, and that’s exactly what we’ll have.