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Who is this guide for?
The information is for:
people on the autism spectrum
people with an intellectual disability
people with a psychosocial disability
Other people may also find the information helpful.
Download this Guide in East Read format:
Why should you think about changing jobs?
Changing jobs is a big decision. People have different reasons for changing jobs. You might want to change your job because you want to:
earn more money
use or build on your skills and experiences to work more independently
do a different type of work or work in a different field
work in a more convenient location (eg work from home). This might mean being closer to home, family or public transport.
work at times that are better for you. This might mean working in the afternoon shift because it is hard to get up early in the morning, or taking longer breaks.
move out of an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) to other employment.
Who can you talk to about changing jobs?
You can talk to your parents, carers, friends, your employer/manager/supervisor, employment provider (if you have one), support coordinator (if you have one), LAC, planner and other people about the best way for you to change jobs, or to get a new job or a promotion.
Together you can:
Think about different jobs
Think about what jobs might be good for you
See what training you need to get the job you want
You can also:
Talk to the people you know in the community, like a coach, community leader or family friends. They might be able to help you to get a new job.
Talk to a career guidance or counselling professional about changing jobs. You can talk about your skills and interests and match these to the types of jobs available. Career guidance can help you see if you need to learn new skills to reach your work goals.
What support options are available for changing jobs?
Below is a list of options that can help you change jobs. You might try some different options before you find one that works for you. Your supports might combine two or more of the options listed below.
Getting ready to change jobs
You can:
Work out what new skills you might need to help you get a job
Look for Individualised Placement Supports: These are supports that can help you look for a job and stay in work. Individualised Placement Supports may have different names. They usually includes mental health support and support to build your skills so you can get a job. They are most often used for people with psychosocial disability
Find a provider that offers customised employment(if this is something you want or need)
Do some work experience or an internship or volunteer in an area you would like to work in
Look at working for a social enterprise (a business that addresses social problems, improves communities, provides people with work and training or helps the environment).
Think about the following:
Where you want to work
How you can get to work
Do you want to work full-time or part-time?
Do you need any supports at work to help you? This can be things like screen reading software, support for personal care or interpreting at work?
If you need supports at work, how can they be included in your work day? If you need help talking with your employer about supports at work, you could talk first with your family, friends, LAC, or support coordinator if you have one.
How these supports can help:
Individualised Placement Supports (IPS) can help you look for a job and stay in work. IPS may have different names. IPS usually includes mental health support and support to build your skills so you can get a job. IPS is most often used for people with psychosocial disability.
Building new skills can help you live more independently. You can also learn skills that can help you at work. New skills might be catching public transport or getting your driver’s licence. New skills could also be managing money, communicating with colleagues, keeping on time, teamwork and controlling emotions. Participants have told us building new skills helped them get a job, keep that job or move on to a new job. Research suggests the best way to develop new skills is with on the job training.
Customised employment includes working with a provider to understand your skills and interests. The provider can work with you and your employer to help change a job so it matches your skills and interests. They also provide ongoing support for you and your workplace. This is very helpful for people with an intellectual disability.
Work experience is a good way to learn more about a job you are interested in. Work experience can build your confidence, skills and contacts for future job searches.
Social enterprises are businesses that address social problems, improve communities, provide people with work and training or help the environment.
How can the NDIS support you to change jobs?
Talk to your NDIA planner, LAC or support coordinator about:
Developing and using your plan to pursue your work goals.
Accessing supports in the community.
Ask them questions like:
How do I develop a plan so that I can get support to find another job?
What supports and services are available for me to:
build new skills?
help me find a new job?
What activities have other people like me found useful?
How do I find a good provider to help me?
NDIS resources
Finding the right service provider
We have a list of providers you can search on the Provider Finder webpage .
Choose a provider who:
Identifies any adaptations or changes to work routines
Knows what additional tasks you may be able to learn
Explores how you can best learn new skills
Encourages and arranges opportunities to build your skills
Helps you develop strategies to address the concerns you have at work or to adapt to change
Gives you information about their success in helping other people change jobs
The ‘Let’s talk about work booklet’ suggests some questions to ask:
What supports would you recommend based on the employment skills I need to develop?
Do you provide one-on-one or group support?
What qualifications do your staff have?
What types of businesses or companies have you placed people in and what type of jobs are they doing?
Will you arrange work experience for me in a job I am interested in?
How many participants have you helped to get a job?
How long do most of your participants stay in a job?
Where else can you go for more information?
Disability Gateway has information and services for people with disability, including:
links to state-based services
employment training
finding and keeping a job
employment rights
JobAccess has information for people with disability, employers and service providers.
National Careers Institute has careers information and support all Australians about:
career ideas
learning and training
getting job ready
work support
Job Outlook has information on:
making decisions about study and training
your first job
the next step in your career
find and understand career information
Everyone Can Work has information for people with intellectual disability and their families about supports to help them find open employment.
You can talk to your LAC, Support Coordinator or Planner about access to these supports.
References
Kavanagh A, Brown D, Dickinson H, Mallett S, Marck C, Weld-Blundell I. (2021). Evidence review: Strategies to increase employment and economic participation for people with a cognitive disability. The University of Melbourne.
National Disability Insurance Agency 2021. Achieving a ‘sense of purpose’: pathways to employment for NDIS participants with intellectual disability, on the autism spectrum and with psychosocial disability. Australia. Prepared by L Smith, A Ames, M Bennett, R Morello.
Wilson, E. & Campain, R. (2020). Fostering employment for people with intellectual disability: the evidence to date , Hawthorn, Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University of Technology.
This guide can help you understand which supports you could use to help you pursue your work goals. It does not mean a support will be added to your plan. It does not mean a support will be funded by the NDIS. Some of these supports are provided outside the NDIS. All supports in your plan must meet our reasonable and necessary standards. This includes being value for money. If you read this guide, you should also read work and study supports .
