NDIS Employment Supports
NDIS participants with work-related goals can now get more support in the workplace. The new 'Working and Learning' supports sit within the Capacity Building budget.
These include support to stay focused, communicate and manage behaviour. They are now available to everyone not just those in ADEs.
The pricing changes also give people greater choice and control over who provides their supports in employment settings.
School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES)
School leaver employment supports are designed to help participants build their capacity, develop skills and gain confidence to transition from school into work. The support can be provided during the final year of school and directly after, usually for up to two years.
School leaver employment services are offered by a range of organisations, so it’s important to take time to ask questions and compare providers. OC Connections can assist you with this, including developing a provider comparison tool.
Our Towards Employment pathway is designed for NDIS participants in their final year of school and those who have a school leaving age and employment related goals, with the relevant funding included in their plan. The pathway provides a step-by-step approach to getting ready for work with additional applied skill learning, supported work experience and placement, relationship building and more. This is delivered at the Wellington Reserve Community Centre, out in the community and through our work experience partners.
Supported Employment
If getting a job is one of your goals, you may be able to get funding through the NDIS for support to find and maintain employment. Talk to your NDIS planner about this and what sort of work you are interested in.
These supports are geared towards helping participants build their work skills and develop the confidence and social networks that come with it. They can include assistance with finding a job, learning specific work duties and performance standards, acquiring site appropriate work related behaviours, learning about workplace policies and procedures, and building relationships with co-workers.
Maintenance supported employment also includes follow along supports which are individualized and can be provided offsite from the workplace, as well as onsite. These support services can help to increase the person’s independence at work and assist them with coping in stressful situations, for example if they experience difficulty
staying focused or communicating. These supports are based on the individual’s needs and will be assessed on an ongoing basis.
Disability Employment Services (DES)
The Disability NDIS Employment supports Services (DES) program provides assistance to help jobseekers with disabilities find and keep work. It can include job training, job placement and workplace accommodation services. DES promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace and helps individuals achieve meaningful long term employment.
DES providers are independent organisations contracted by the Australian Government to find long term sustainable jobs for program participants. They are paid for the job placement outcomes they achieve. DES providers like Maxima are committed to providing a person-centred approach, which means that the support they provide is shaped around the individual, their goals and needs.
The DES program was reformed in 2018, and the reforms aim to improve employment outcomes by increasing choice for jobseekers, expanding educational pathways and outcome payments, and encouraging providers to use digital platforms and technology to deliver services. These reforms are designed to create more personalised, specialised and flexible support that better matches the needs of people with disability.
On-the-Job Support
Finding a job is an important goal for many NDIS participants, and it’s often the first step on the path to independence. If you’re interested in working, talk to your Local Area Coordinator, NDIS Planner or Support Coordinator about adding an employment goal to your plan.
Getting employed can help you build skills, build your confidence and self-esteem. It can also give you a sense of belonging to a community and help you make friends.
NDIS participants can access regular, ongoing on-the-job employment supports to assist with their work goals. They can use these supports in any workplace, including government and non-government organisations, an ADE, social enterprises, microbusinesses or in self-employment.
On-the-job employment support is available as part of Capacity Building and Core budget categories. From 1 July 2020, these supports have been moved from Capacity Building into Core, and participants can choose to continue receiving them in the same way or change their provider.
