SIL Quoting Template and Example: What to Include in 2026

What Is a SIL Quote and Why Does It Need to Get This Right?

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is one of the most complex and scrutinised supports in the NDIS. Unlike most NDIS services, SIL funding is not self-managed or plan-managed — the NDIA determines the funding amount based on a formal quote submitted by the registered provider. If your quote is incomplete, inconsistent, or cannot be traced back to assessed participant need, it will be returned, delayed, or rejected entirely.

From 2026, strengthened NDIS Practice Standards place additional weight on evidence-based support decisions, person-centred planning, and transparent documentation of how support hours are derived. Auditors are increasingly checking that what appears in the SIL quote matches what appears in the participant's Individualised Support Plan and what is actually delivered. The stakes are high: a poorly constructed quote can delay a participant's housing transition by months.

What a SIL Quote Must Cover

The NDIA publishes specific guidance on the information required in a SIL quote. While the exact form has evolved, the core required components have remained consistent and are reinforced under the strengthened Practice Standards framework:

• Participant identification details — full name, NDIS number, date of birth
• Proposed SIL address and living arrangement — whether shared, individual, or small group; number of co-residents
• Assessed support needs summary — a brief functional summary drawing from assessments (OT, behaviour support, nursing) that justifies the level of support
• Proposed weekly roster of care — broken down by day, shift type (active, sleepover, overnight), and hours per shift
• Staffing ratios per shift — number of staff to participants at each time of day
• Support line items and unit costs — referencing current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (formerly the Price Guide)
• Annual cost total — broken into the NDIS-funded portion and any other funding contributions
• Transition plan summary (where applicable) — for participants moving from another living arrangement
• Provider details — registered provider name, ABN, and registration number

SIL Quote Template: Section-by-Section Structure

The following template reflects the structure used by providers operating under the NDIS Commission's Practice Standards for Specialist Disability Accommodation and SIL. Adapt field values to each participant's individual circumstances.

Section 1 — Participant and Provider Details

Section 2 — Assessed Support Needs Summary

Provide a brief narrative (150–250 words) linking the participant's functional profile to the support level requested. Reference any assessments used.

Jordan Lee requires 24-hour supported accommodation due to complex support needs arising from an acquired brain injury (ABI) sustained in 2017. An Occupational Therapy functional assessment (March 2026, Dr A. Patel) identifies significant deficits in personal care, meal preparation, medication management, and community access. Jordan requires active support during all waking hours and a responsive sleepover arrangement. A positive behaviour support plan (PBS) is in place, prepared by a NDIS-registered behaviour support practitioner, which requires all support workers to implement specific strategies around transitions and communication. This assessment supports a 1:2 staffing ratio during daytime shifts and a 1:3 ratio in the evening, with one sleepover staff member on site nightly.

Section 3 — Proposed Weekly Roster of Care

Section 4 — Cost Breakdown

Reference the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements. Line item codes must match the published support catalogue. The example below uses illustrative figures — always substitute the current rate from the NDIS website at time of quoting.

Note: Always obtain current rates from the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits document on ndis.gov.au before submitting. Rates change periodically and submitting a quote with outdated pricing is a common cause of rejection.

Section 5 — Provider Declaration

The quote should close with a signed declaration confirming that:

1. The support needs have been assessed individually and are not generic.
2. The proposed staffing and costs are accurate and reflect the participant's assessed needs.
3. The provider holds current NDIS registration for SIL (registration group 0115).
4. All staff will hold, or be working toward, the required qualifications under the NDIS Code of Conduct and Practice Standards.
5. The provider will maintain records sufficient to demonstrate service delivery as quoted.

Five Common Mistakes That Get SIL Quotes Returned

• Generic needs statements — copying standard phrases without linking them to the participant's actual assessments. Assessors and plan reviewers look for specificity.
• Roster hours that cannot be justified by need — claiming a 1:1 ratio without an OT or behaviour support assessment that supports it.
• Outdated pricing — submitting rates from a superseded NDIS Price Guide. Check the current Pricing Arrangements document every time.
• Missing transition planning — for participants moving from hospital, group home, or family care, the NDIA expects a transition plan section.
• No evidence of participant input — under the strengthened 2026 Practice Standards, person-centred planning is non-negotiable. The quote should note how the participant (and/or their nominees) were involved in determining the support model.

Preparing Your Documentation Ecosystem

A SIL quote does not stand alone. Auditors checking your compliance under the NDIS Practice Standards for SIL (specifically the Specialist Support — Supported Independent Living standard) will also expect to see the associated Individualised Support Plan, the behaviour support plan (where applicable), incident management records, and evidence of regular support plan reviews. These documents must be consistent with each other — a quote claiming a certain support intensity must be reflected in the delivered rosters and incident records.

Providers building out their full SIL compliance documentation — including SIL-specific policies, risk assessments, consent frameworks, and audit-ready templates — may find the 136-document compliance kit at ndiscompliant.com.au a practical starting point for meeting the strengthened 2026 requirements across all registration groups.

Key Takeaway

A strong SIL quote is a clinical and administrative document rolled into one. It must trace every support hour back to an assessed need, use current pricing, and be consistent with the participant's broader support planning. Build your quoting process around the participant's assessments — not the available roster — and your approval rates will improve significantly.