Planning for an ordinary life at home
An Individualised Living Option (ILO) is one way people with disability can be supported to live in the community, in a home that suits them, with supports shaped around their life rather than a service model.
ILO suits people who want to make genuine choices about:
- where they live
- who they live with
- what support looks like at different times
- how relationships are built and maintained
An ILO is a flexible mix of paid and unpaid supports, designed with a person and the people who know them well, to support the life they want to live.
Under the NDIS, ILO sits within Home and Living supports. In practice, it’s less about services and more about how someone lives day to day, including:
What It Is:
- A living arrangement designed around one person
- A mix of paid and unpaid supports that work together
- Built around individual preferences and needs
- Designed with the person and their supporters
- Flexible and able to change as life changes
- Grounded in relationships, routines, and community
- An NDIS Home and Living support pathway
What It’s Not
- A standard approach that looks the same for everyone
- A single service delivering all support
- Defined primarily by rosters, shifts, or staffing patterns
- Designed by a provider and then fitted to the person
- Fixed or locked in once it’s set up
- Focused mainly on service delivery
- A house, property type, or program you move into
what does an ilo look like?
ILO arrangements are shaped around real lives. For some people, that might mean living with a housemate. For others, it could involve a host family, living alone with flexible supports, or living near family or friends.
Supports might include:
- Support from a housemate or host
- Paid support at particular times of day
- Ongoing facilitation to help things stay on track
The mix is different for each person, and it can change as life changes.
Check the video below to see Ben’s story of living in an ILO
Why people explore ILO
`Many people look into ILO when existing options don’t feel like the right fit.
Families and participants often tell us they are looking for:
- More say over everyday life
- A home that feels ordinary and personal
- Support that adapts over time
- A future that doesn’t depend entirely on family members continuing to provide care
ILO gives people a way to plan for the long term, while staying grounded in what’s realistic and safe.
ILO and the NDIS
Stage 1: Explore and Design
This stage provides time and funding to work through what a suitable living arrangement could look like. It involves:
- understanding what matters to the person
- looking at different ways support could be arranged
- thinking through risks and safeguards
- developing a proposal for the NDIA
This stage exists because good living arrangements take thought. It’s not about rushing to an answer.
Stage II: ILO Supports
If Stage 1 is approved, funding is provided to put the arrangement in place and support it over time. It involves
- Finding a home
- Finding good people to live with
- Developing the right support team
- monitoring and reviewing the arrangment
Stage 2 is the doing part of an ILO pathway, where things happen and people have the funding to make their arrangements real.
The role of an ILO Facilitator
Most ILO arrangements involve a Facilitator.
The Facilitator helps coordinate the arrangement and supports the person, their family, and others involved. Their role can include:
- helping turn ideas into practical arrangements
- keeping an eye on safety and wellbeing
- supporting problem-solving when things shift
- helping the arrangement remain sustainable over time
This role is often key to reducing pressure on families.
who might consider an ILO?
ILO can suit people who want to live in the community and don’t need 24/7 rostered support at home. ILO relies on a mix of paid and unpaid support to work, and its best suited to people who can spend some time on their own. People with complex behaviours of concern might be more suited to other support approaches.
Many people aren’t sure whether ILO is right for them at first. Exploring the option doesn’t lock anyone in. It’s a way to understand what’s possible.
How HOME supports ILO
HOME works alongside people and families to design and support Individualised Living Options that are practical, safe, and grounded in everyday life.
Our role may include:
- Dreaming with people in the Explore and Design phase.
- Digging into the "doing work" of your ILO Support Model phase.
- Monitoring and adjusting arrangements
- Providing ongoing guidance and mentoring as life changes
HOME are a registered provider of Individualised Living options under the NDIS.
If you think that ILO is something you would like to explore more, then reach out to us for a chat!
