What can we fund?
If you’re thinking about starting work, you may need support to build skills and confidence that will help you to work.
We can fund NDIS supports if you need extra help with this because of your disability.
These are available to all working age participants from 14 years of age.
This could help you:
- work out what you’d like to do
- develop your work skills through on-the-job work experience
- build your basic skills for work, like travelling independently, following directions and working in a team
- overcome barriers you might experience in finding and keeping a job
- get additional work experience separate to what’s available through the school curriculum
- get a part-time job while you’re at school
- build your skills to connect with and be supported by a Disability Employment Service , if eligible.
If the supports to build skills and confidence meet the NDIS funding criteria, we’ll fund these NDIS supports in your plan.
To help work out the amount of funding and type of NDIS supports you need, we’ll talk to you about:
- the type of tasks you’re good at and those you need the most help with
- the things you enjoy doing
- any work experience or volunteering you’ve done
- how confident you feel doing things on your own
- if you need help to follow instructions
- how you look after your own money
- if you need help to do things in your community
- if you can travel on your own, or need help with this
- the things that you feel stop you from getting work
- other activities you do to help build your skills, confidence and independence.
Example
Bilal is 15 years old and in year 10 at high school. He had a successful work experience placement as part of his school curriculum with the support of his learning support teacher.
He has a goal to get his first part-time job outside of school hours.
Bilal will need some additional work experience to build his skills for work and become more confident in a work setting. His planner funds NDIS supports to help Bilal work toward this goal.
Bilal connects with an NDIS employment provider who will help him to gain additional work experience on weekends. When he feels more confident, Bilal’s provider will help him to secure a role that suits his skills and abilities.
The provider will assist Bilal to learn his new role and educate the employer and work mates about how they can help Bilal to contribute to the productivity of his new workplace.
This experience can set Bilal up for successful transition into full-time employment when he completes his education.
Transitioning from school to work
Leaving school is a big step in life. It’s important to think about your work goals during your last few years of school and as you get close to the end of school.
If you have difficulties in the areas of learning, social interaction and self-management, you may need additional support to build skills and confidence before you’re ready to look for work.
We can fund NDIS supports to help you:
- build your skills for work
- work out the type of work that will suit you
- get on-the-job work experience to learn what’s expected in a workplace
- customise a job role that suits your skills and interests
- get a job. This includes providing education and support to your employer and others in the workplace
- learn your job and build connections in your new workplace through on-the-job coaching
- be productive at work and maintain your employment.
Further education or training is a common pathway to work, and necessary for many jobs.
You can find more information on the assistance available to help you achieve your study goals at What do we mean by support while studying?
Ready to start work
When you’re feeling confident to start looking for a job, we might be able to fund:
- extra support to help you find work
- on-the-job support to help you keep your job.
We’ll also think about who is best to provide the support you need and whether you’re ready to begin working with a Disability Employment Service provider.
A Disability Employment Service provider may be able to help you if you’re:
- independent in accessing the community
- are job-ready or close to being job-ready
- have a good understanding of your work skills, interests and capabilities
- able to be independent at work with reasonable adjustment from your employer and a lower level of ongoing support from your Disability Employment Service provider.
If you think you’ll need longer to get ready for work or need more help than a Disability Employment Service can provide, we can help.
Talk to your my NDIS contact, support coordinator or recovery coach to get more information.
What can’t we fund?
We don’t fund things that other organisations are responsible for, like:
- government funded employment programs including Disability Employment Services , JobAccess and Workforce Australia .
- employment programs, including both disability-targeted and open employment services. These provide advice and support to job seekers with disability who are largely independent once placed in employment to find and retain a job.
Example
Tatiana is 27 years old and has never worked. She wants to work but isn’t sure what sort of work might be right for her or how much she could work.
Tatiana and her local area coordinator decide that connecting with an NDIS employment provider will help her explore employment options. Getting on-the-job experience to learn more about her skills and interests would be a good start.
Tatiana sets a goal to find out more about her capacity to work. Her planner decides it’s reasonable and necessary to fund NDIS supports to help Tatiana work out what she can do and then find suitable work.
Tatiana works with her local area coordinator to connect with an NDIS employment provider.
They’ll help her find out more about jobs that she may be suited to and identify employers that can offer work experience. Tatiana will be able to develop her skills and confidence in a realistic work setting.
Tatiana also uses some of her NDIS funding to join a group of people who are guided by an employment coach in looking for work. This helps Tatiana build her social skills and boosts her confidence in meeting new people.
It also helps her to learn how to find suitable jobs, apply, and prepare for job interviews.
As Tatiana understands more about her work interests and capability, her provider will help her to connect with an employer who can offer work experience and a job if all works well.