Plain-English guides to supported living.

Supported Residential Services (SRS) in Queensland are privately operated homes that provide accommodation, meals and personal support to adults who are unable to live entirely independently. They are regulated by the Queensland Government under the Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002.

There are three accreditation levels — Level 1, 2 and 3 — based on the type and intensity of support provided. Level 3 is the most comprehensive.

What makes a Level 3 SRS different?

A Level 3 service is accredited to provide personal care services in addition to food and accommodation. In practice, this means the home can support residents with things like medication assistance, hygiene, mobility and daily living tasks - supports that a Level 1 or 2 service cannot offer.

Who are SRS homes for?

Residents of supported residential services are often adults living with mental health conditions, an intellectual or physical disability, an acquired brain injury, or older adults who do not need clinical aged care but cannot manage independently. Many residents come through hospital discharges, community mental health teams, NDIS coordinators or family referrals.

What is included?

• A private or shared bedroom in a residential home setting
• Three nutritious meals a day, plus snacks
• Help with medication - at Level 3, this includes administration and handling
• Personal care support as needed
• 24/7 trained staff on-site for safety and emergencies
• Access to communal lounge, dining and outdoor areas

How is it different from aged care or a hospital?

An SRS is a home, not a clinical facility. Residents are free to come and go, see their own GP and live their own routines. At Rise we also have a doctor visit the home each week, so residents have regular medical oversight without needing to leave. The focus is on stability, dignity and the everyday support needed to live well - not on hospital-level treatment.

Funding and fees

Most residents pay an all-inclusive fortnightly fee that covers accommodation, meals and on-site support. Many use part of their Disability Support Pension or Age Pension to cover the cost. NDIS participants can receive additional supports on top, delivered by registered NDIS providers — this is funded separately through their NDIS plan.

One of the most common questions families ask is: 'If my loved one is on the NDIS, why would they need a Supported Residential Service - and vice versa?' The short answer is that they do different things, and for many residents they work best together.

What an SRS provides

A Level 3 SRS provides the home and the day-to-day life around it: a bedroom, meals, medication assistance, on-site staff, a weekly visiting doctor and a regulated, accredited environment. It is paid for through a fortnightly accommodation fee - not through the NDIS.

What the NDIS provides

The NDIS funds disability-specific supports - things like personal care hours, capacity-building therapies, community access, transport and behaviour support. NDIS funding belongs to the participant and follows them wherever they live, including into an SRS.

How they combine at Rise

At Rise we work closely with a registered NDIS provider, so residents who have an NDIS plan can receive their funded supports on-site, delivered by people who already know the home. The accommodation fee covers daily living; the NDIS plan funds the additional disability supports - without duplication.

What if someone isn't on the NDIS?

That's fine too. Many SRS residents are not NDIS participants and rely solely on the supports included in their fortnightly fee, plus their GP, the weekly visiting doctor and community services. An SRS does not require an NDIS plan to be eligible.

Finding a supported home for a loved one is one of the hardest things a family can do. The system is complex, the waitlists are long and the language - SIL, SDA, SRS, NDIS, ACAT - is unfamiliar to most people until they urgently need it.

1. The acronym wall

The first hurdle is vocabulary. Supported Independent Living (SIL), Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), Supported Residential Services (SRS) and aged care all sound similar but mean very different things, with different funding, eligibility and care models. Most families learn this on the fly, often during a hospital discharge.

2. Limited stock, long waitlists

There are simply not enough supported residential homes in Queensland for the demand. Good services fill quickly, and waiting lists for the right type of accommodation can stretch for months.

3. The 'in-between' problem

A common scenario: a person doesn't need a hospital, isn't elderly enough for aged care, and doesn't qualify for SDA - but cannot live alone. SRS often fills this gap, but only if families know it exists.

4. Cost and pension navigation

Most residents fund their accommodation through their pension. Working out what fits the budget - and what's truly all-inclusive vs what has hidden add-ons - takes time and the right questions.

5. Trust

Above everything, families want to know their loved one will be safe, treated with dignity and known by name. The best way to test this is to visit, speak to staff and ask plenty of questions.

How we try to help

We're always happy to talk a family through whether Rise is the right fit - even if the answer turns out to be no. If you're navigating this for the first time, give us a call on 07 3190 7902 and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.

Choosing a supported residential service is a big decision. A 30-minute visit can tell you almost everything you need to know - if you know what to look for. Here's a checklist we'd want our own families to use.

Accessibility

• Are bathrooms accessible for residents using wheelchairs or walkers?
• Are common areas step-free?
• Are doorways and hallways wide enough for mobility aids?

Staffing and support

• How many staff are on-site, and is it 24/7?
• Who handles medication, and how is it stored and recorded?
• What training does the support team have?
• Is there regular medical oversight - for example, a visiting doctor?

Daily life

• What do meals look like - chef-prepared, dietary needs catered for?
• What activities are offered, and are residents involved in choosing them?
• How often are rooms cleaned and laundry done?

The feel of the home

Trust your instincts. Are residents relaxed? Do staff know everyone by name? Is the home calm, clean and well-kept? A supported residential service is a home above all - and you should be able to feel that the moment you walk through the door.