Do you have an employment-related goal in your NDIS Plan? Are you at school and thinking about what’s next? Are you on the NDIS and working or doing volunteer work?
If your goal is to find a job, earn money, build skills or move into open employment, NDIS employment supports might be able to help. Read on to find out how.
How NDIS employment support works.
There are many steps on the journey to achieving your career goals. NDIS employment supports can assist with the entire process, from preparing for work, to starting a job, staying employed and making your next career move.
These supports may include:
- Identifying and developing a career pathway
- Transition to work, including developing skills
- Supports to get and keep a job
- Assessments and counselling
- Career planning
- On-the-job support to succeed in the job or company of your choice.
Who can access employment supports?
NDIS employment supports are available in a wide range of workplaces including:
- Private and government employers
- Social enterprises
- Micro-businesses
- Self-employment
- Volunteering
- Australian Disability Enterprises (ADE).
Like any NDIS-funded purchase, employment supports must meet the reasonable and necessary criteria, be funded in your plan and be considered an NDIS support for you.
Types of NDIS employment supports.
(1) Core – Supports in Employment.
Supports in Employment cover the type of assistance that a support worker is likely to provide related to participating in work or in the workplace.
These supports are for participants who are less independent in performing work tasks, or need coaching to stay on track, or communicate with others.
Supports may include:
- Personal care and support in the workplace, such as help to go to the toilet or eat and drink while at work
- Supports needed on a regular basis to help you find and keep a job. The NDIS may fund these supports if you’re able to work but are unlikely to find or keep a job, even with an employment service
- Supports to transition to work, when you need extra support compared to other Australians because of your disability. This includes training about workplace relationships, communication skills, wearing the right clothes, getting to work on time and travelling to and from work.
Supports in Employment are paid from the Core – Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation in your approved NDIS Plan where specified.
(2) Capacity Building – Finding and Keeping a Job.
Capacity Building supports can help build a job or career pathway and support your work or study goals. Generally, these supports are in addition to what may be reasonably provided by an employer or Disability Employment Services (DES).
Supports may include:
- Supplement work experience available through the school system
- Obtain part time work while finishing secondary education
- Transition from school into further education or training
- Exploring job interests
- Developing communication skills
- Building essential foundation skills for work
- Managing complex barriers to employment
- Job customisation
- Assisting a person to change jobs
- Career planning
- Transitioning from an ADE into open employment.
Note: NDIS School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) which help young people with disability transition from school to work are being phased out and replaced with Employment Assistance. This transition is expected to be complete by 2027.
Employment related assessment, counselling and advice.
This support is designed to provide employment related assessment, counselling and advice to assist participants to successfully engage in work. It may benefit people who have experienced a life-changing event or injury or a change in an existing disability. The supports may help with developing a new or modified work pathway.
These assessments can be useful for people with limited work experience to assist in identifying their unique barriers to employment and to inform a work goal and development plan. The support may also be used to assist with adjustments to work processes or workplaces that enable a participant to be productive and work safely.
Employment-related assessment and counselling can only be delivered by allied health professionals such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists or vocational rehabilitation counsellors.
Other related supports.
Support coordinator: A support coordinator who has an existing relationship with a participant can contribute to employment success by ensuring the participant is involved in choosing employment options, helping the person understand employment obligations and coordinating supporting services.
Psychosocial recovery coach: Participants with a psychosocial recovery coach can use the coach to advise an employer on the best way to manage workplace stressors. They can also ensure other supports and clinical services are responsive to life changes as a result of employment.
What’s not covered by NDIS employment supports?
The NDIS doesn’t duplicate or replace other mainstream, community or social services. If you’re getting supports from another organisation, the NDIS won’t fund the same supports.
The NDIS will not fund:
- Government funded employment programs including DES and Workforce Australia
- Reasonable adjustments such as assistive products and workplace modifications
- Employer responsibilities like inclusive hiring practices or work transport
- Job-specific aids and equipment, including modified hardware and software
- Incentives or wage subsidies
- Textbooks and computers for work or study
- Start-up costs or equipment for businesses
- Business related services such as registration, bookkeeping or accounting
- School work experience programs
- General employee training.
Employers are responsible for making reasonable adjustments so that people with disability have the same opportunities for employment and career growth. The Leap in! Inclusive Employment ebook is packed with information to support businesses to become more inclusive.
How to get employment supports in your NDIS Plan.
Your NDIS plan meeting or plan reassessment is an ideal opportunity to talk about your work goals and challenges.
Be sure to take the following:
- Employment plans from DES or ADE
- Relevant reports or assessments
- A functional capacity assessment from an occupational therapist (if you have one).
It’s helpful to know what you would like NDIS funding to cover. The free Leap in! app is a great place to record your goals. It even includes tips on actions you can take along the way!
Want to know more?
If you have an employment goal and want to learn more about what supports may be available, the Leap in! Crew can help. Call us on 1300 05 78 78, email us at [email protected] or chat with us online on our website.
Originally published 20 October 2020, updated 22 February 2023 and 15 July 2025.
