Individual Living Options (ILOs) put personal goals, routines, and preferences at the centre of home-and-living design, giving more control over where to live, who to live with, and how supports are delivered for day-to-day life. ILOs are designed and implemented in stages, focusing on exploration, a customised support mix, and ongoing monitoring rather than a fixed roster or property type to maintain safety, dignity, and independence over time. The Star Care Services partners through this journey, helping map preferences, build evidence-ready proposals, and set up the right combination of primary and supplementary supports that can adapt as needs evolve.
What are ILOs?
ILOs are flexible, person-centred living arrangements tailored around goals—covering options like living alone, living with a partner or friends, co-resident or host setups, and other bespoke models shaped by what a good day and week look like for the participant. Unlike rostered models, ILOs fund the exploration, design, and delivery of supports rather than the dwelling itself, aligning day-to-day routines with a sustainable support network for long-term independence and inclusion. The outcome is a living solution that fits life, not the other way around, with safeguards built in from the start.
How ILOs differ from other supports
- SIL vs ILO: Supported Independent Living (SIL) typically funds rostered, paid supports (often in shared environments), while ILOs prioritise a bespoke mix of primary and supplementary supports centred on personal routines and preferences.
- SDA vs ILO: Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funds the physical dwelling for specific design needs, whereas ILOs fund the support model and ongoing monitoring, not rent or housing costs.
- STA/MTA vs ILO: Short-Term and Medium-Term Accommodation are time-limited, while ILOs are ongoing arrangements designed for everyday home life with regular review and adjustment.
Two stages of ILO
- Stage 1: Exploration and Design : A structured process to clarify where to live, who to live with, and what support mix will keep life safe and sustainable, culminating in a detailed service proposal to the NDIA for approval, with evidence for reasonable and necessary supports.
- Stage 2: Supports (Implementation and Monitoring) : After approval, the chosen model is implemented—organising primary supports (e.g., housemate or host) and supplementary supports (e.g., scheduled workers, on-call, or overnight), with ongoing reviews to keep the arrangement aligned to goals and risk plans.
What ILOs can include
- Daily living assistance: personal care routines, morning/evening support, grooming and hygiene, mealtime assistance, and household tasks like cooking and cleaning for comfort and safety in the home environment.
- Health and safety routines: medication support, appointment planning, escalation pathways, and proactive risk strategies embedded into ordinary routines to sustain wellbeing.
- Social connection and skill-building: help to stay engaged with friends, education, hobbies, work, and life skills such as travel training, budgeting, and decision-making that build confidence and independence.
- Primary and supplementary supports: a host, co-resident, or housemate may provide agreed supports (primary), complemented by scheduled or on-call provider supports, including sleepover or active overnight where required for safety.
Benefits of ILOs
- More choice and control: choose location, living companions, and the daily support mix so life reflects personal priorities and culture, not provider rosters.
- Independence and confidence: build skills in self-advocacy, household management, and community participation with tailored help where and when it’s needed.
- Inclusion and stability: live close to community, family, and opportunities, with a sustainable blend of informal and paid supports kept safe through ongoing monitoring.
- Personalised safeguarding: risk planning, communication protocols, and clear roles for everyone involved reduce stress and improve outcomes over time.
Is ILO right for this situation?
ILOs are ideal when goals include living more independently in a chosen home with a bespoke support blend, and when informal networks can safely complement paid supports to improve sustainability and connection. If continuous rostered care is essential, SIL may be more suitable, and if the main barrier is housing design, SDA—not ILO—should be considered first, with ILO potentially wrapping around as the support model after housing is resolved.
The Star Care Services approach
- Co-design from day one: collaborate on goals, routines, cultural context, and preferred living companions, translating lived experience into a practical, person-led design.
- Evidence-ready proposals: produce clear exploration and design outputs that justify supports and map risks, contingencies, and sustainability for NDIA approval.
- Safe implementation: set up primary and supplementary supports with defined roles, communication pathways, and review cycles to protect safety and choice and control.
- Continuous improvement: monitor outcomes and adjust supports, linking with related pathways like SIL, STA/MTA, or SDA when life changes or needs shift.
Example ILO scenarios
- Living solo with scheduled and on-call support: morning/evening routines, medication, community access, and periodic safety check-ins to balance privacy and assurance.
- Co-resident/housemate arrangement: a live-in housemate provides agreed supports, complemented by provider visits and overnight coverage as required by risk assessment.
- Host arrangement: living with a host for day-to-day assistance and companionship, supplemented by personal care and community supports for a rounded routine.
- Living with friends or a partner: flexible supplementary supports wrap around shared schedules, work/study, and social life while maintaining clear safeguarding.
FAQs
What do ILOs fund?
ILOs fund exploration/design and the tailored support model to live the chosen way; they do not fund rent or the physical dwelling, which are managed separately.
Can ILOs include overnight support?
Yes. Arrangements can include sleepover or active overnight where needed for safety and routine consistency, as part of the supplementary supports.
How are primary and supplementary supports different?
Primary supports come from a host, co‑resident, or housemate; supplementary supports are scheduled or on‑call provider services that fill gaps and provide backup.
How long does Stage 1 take?
Exploration and design can take several months to map preferences, risks, and sustainability, concluding with an evidence-ready service proposal to the NDIA.
Do I need ILO or SIL?
Choose ILO when a flexible, bespoke support mix is preferred; SIL is more suitable when continuous rostered supports are essential for daily life and safety.
Conclusion
ILOs unlock genuine choice and independence by shaping home and living around personal goals, rhythms, and relationships—supported by a safe, sustainable model that evolves as life does. Partner with The Star Care Services to explore options, co-design an evidence-ready proposal, and implement a personalised arrangement that delivers more control, more confidence, and more connection every day. Ready to begin? Book an ILO exploration session to design a living arrangement that fits life—not the other way around.
