Employment
Support & SLES
NDIS employment supports and School Leaver Employment Supports across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Western Sydney and Parramatta — building the skills, confidence and experience to work.
What is SLES?
Work is a goal.
We help you get ready.
School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) is NDIS funding that helps young people build the skills and confidence to move towards work in the two years after they finish school. It sits in the Capacity Building part of your plan, under "Finding and Keeping a Job".
We also support people who have already left school — workplace assistance and on-the-job support for anyone who wants to find work, start a new role, or hold onto a job they already have.
Up to 2 years
Of SLES support
1:1
Support alongside you
SLES prepares you for work — it doesn't place you in a job
This trips a lot of people up, so it's worth saying plainly. SLES builds the skills, confidence and experience you need to be ready for employment. Finding and placing you in a paid job is the role of a Disability Employment Services (DES) provider — a separate program funded federally, not through the NDIS.
The two work together. We get you ready; a DES provider helps you land the job. We're happy to help you connect with one when the time is right.
What we work on
Every plan is different. These are the areas we most often work through with people.
Work Experience
Supported placements in real workplaces, so you learn what a job actually feels like before you commit to one.
- check_circlePlacements matched to your interests
- check_circleA support worker alongside you
- check_circleBuilding stamina and routine
Getting Job-Ready
The practical things that stand between you and an interview — most of which nobody formally teaches you.
- check_circleResume and cover letters
- check_circleInterview practice
- check_circleFilling out applications
Travel Training
Learning to get yourself to work independently. For a lot of people this is the single biggest barrier to holding a job.
- check_circlePlanning a route
- check_circlePractising the trip with support
- check_circleBuilding to travelling on your own
Workplace Skills
How to be at work — the social and practical side that decides whether a job lasts.
- check_circleCommunicating with a manager
- check_circleWorking in a team
- check_circleTime management and presentation
Working Out What You Want
You don't need to arrive knowing what job you want. Figuring that out is part of the work.
- check_circleExploring different industries
- check_circleIdentifying strengths
- check_circleLooking at further study or training
On-the-Job Support
Already working, or about to start? We can support you in the workplace so the job sticks.
- check_circleSettling into a new role
- check_circleLearning the tasks the job needs
- check_circleWorking through what makes it hard
Who employment support is for
Students in their final year of school
Planning what happens after school, and building towards it before you finish.
Recent school leavers
SLES runs for up to two years after you leave school.
Anyone with employment as an NDIS goal
You don't have to be a school leaver. If working is a goal in your plan, we can support it.
People already in a job
On-the-job support to help you settle in, learn the role, or keep a job that has become hard.
Common Questions
Employment support questions
What is SLES?
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School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) is NDIS funding that helps young people build the skills and confidence to move towards employment after school. It runs for up to two years after you finish school, and it sits in the Capacity Building part of your plan under "Finding and Keeping a Job".
Will you find me a job?
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No, and it is worth being clear about that. SLES prepares you for work — building skills, confidence and real workplace experience. Actually placing you in a paid job is the role of a Disability Employment Services (DES) provider, which is a separate program funded by the federal government rather than the NDIS. We work alongside DES providers, and we can help you connect with one when you are ready.
Who is SLES for?
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Young people in their final year of school, or within about two years of leaving, who have employment as a goal in their NDIS plan. You do not need to know what job you want. A lot of the value is in working that out.
What does the funding cover?
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SLES is funded from your Capacity Building budget under "Finding and Keeping a Job". It typically covers a couple of years of support. Your plan will show the amount available, and your support coordinator or Local Area Coordinator can confirm what has been allocated.
What if I have already left school?
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Employment supports are not only for school leavers. If you are already working, or looking for work, we can provide workplace assistance and on-the-job support — help settling into a new role, building the skills the job needs, or working through something that is making the job hard to keep.
How do I get started?
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Call us on 0469 053 050 or make a referral through the website. If employment is not yet a goal in your NDIS plan, your support coordinator or LAC can help you raise it at your next plan review.
Thinking about work?
Talk to us about what you'd like to do. Participants, families, support coordinators and school transition teams are all welcome to get in touch — we respond within 24 hours.