NDIS supports for your loved one to pursue employment

Would your loved one like to join the workforce? Is it one of their goals? There are a variety of NDIS supports that may help your loved one achieve this.  

School Leaver Employment Supports

School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) help participants transition from school to work and are available in the final years of school and directly after leaving school. These supports would suit someone who may need a supportive bridge to job readiness.  

SLES involves skill building to ensure your loved one is ready for the workplace. There is a criterion for SLES and this can be discussed during the planning meeting. 

 Some of the SLES skill building areas may include: 

• workplace etiquette 
• money handling skills 
• time management skills 
• communication skills 
• discovery activities
• work experience 
• job ready skills 
• travel skills 
• personal development skills 
• interview skills 
• CV building 

These can be done one on one or within a group, whichever works best for your loved one. Further information and resources can be found here, and you can also contact your NDIA Planner or Partner in The Community to discuss the options for your loved one. 

www.ndis.gov.au/providers/working-provider/school-leaver-employment-supports

Other NDIS Employment Support Options

As part of a national employment strategy for people with disability, the NDIS has included supports for participants who have an employment goal that sits outside of reasonable adjustment in a mainstream employment or what DES (Disability Employment Service) can provide.  

Your loved one can use some of the supports available in any workplace they choose, including government and non-government organisations, an ADE (Australia Disability Enterprise), social enterprises, micro-businesses, or in self-employment or a family run business.  

The Employment Conversation

It is important your loved one speaks with an NDIA Planner or Partner in The Community about what options will work best for them and their goals. It would be a great idea to have some information about their goals and needs handy during the conversation.  

Some information to put together before speaking with your planner would be: 

• Has their employer made reasonable adjustments to working arrangements for their disability as per their legal obligation?
• How many hours a week is your loved one working or wants to work, and how many of these hours do yo think they will need support?
• Is your loved one currently working in an ADE?
• Does your loved one have a new employment goal they would like to explore or pursue?

Supports to assist your loved one to live more independently

The NDIS has supports available to assist people to live more independently. Check out the NDIS website for more information on what options may suit your loved one.  

Before looking into the options, the most important part of this process is beginning a conversation with your loved one about the future and lifestyle they want. You can speak with their NDIA Planner or Partner in The Community about what each option entails. 

The NDIA Planner or Partner in The Community can link you with providers to assist you, or if they are a housing solution focused provider, they may have options that suit your loved one.  

In instances where you are looking at options for more independent living, a Support Coordinator should be requested for assistance.  

Quality, Safeguards and Engaging with Providers

The NDIS has a Quality and Safeguards Commission that ensures participants are safeguarded from potential harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation. 

Safeguards are important to protect your right to be safe and receive quality services from NDIS providers and workers. 

When engaging a provider’s service, it is important to know your loved one’s rights to choose and control and this should come first when the provider is delivering the service. If you do not feel this is being upheld by your provider, your loved one has a right to disengage the service and find a more suitable one.  

You can have a conversation about this with your planner or LAC/EC Partner in The Community if there are concerns around funding charges or service delivery.