NDIS Capacity Building: Finding & Keeping a Job

Share this article

About Finding & Keeping a Job

This category, Finding and Keeping a Job, is in the Capacity Building budget of your NDIS plan, and it supports your employment and career-building goals. The NDIS provides supplemental study and work supports not found through other mainstream programs or services available to all Australians. If you need extra help as you prepare to enter the workforce due to your disability, the NDIS can help.

NDIS: Extra Help With Your Employment Needs

The NDIS is committed to increasing your employment readiness and providing greater job opportunities for Australians with disabilities. Consider your special needs in the workplace, determine your long-term and short-term employment goals, and plan your path to success in finding and keeping a job. Here are some ways the NDIS can help:

Building basic life and work skills
On-the-job training and support for work duties
Assistance transitioning from school to advanced study, vocational training, or work
Training for your teachers, employers, and coworkers about your disability needs
Use of public transportation, alternative commuting, and transportation assistance
Occupational therapist assessment of the work environment related to your disability
Personal care during work
Behaviour management or complex needs while at work
Assistive devices and equipment modifications related to your disability
Aptitude, skills, and employment placement assessments
Employment supports not available through Australia’s Job Access or Disability Employment Services (DES)

You should also consider these questions and what they mean for your unique situation:

What does finding a job mean for you?

Having a job
Going to work
Completing your tasks
Getting paid
Being part of a team
Making new friends

Why is keeping a job important to you?

Increase your financial independence
Improve your health and sense of well-being
Boost your self-esteem and confidence
Expand your social network
Develop new work and life skills

Thinking About Work

You may have special challenges in preparing for a job or finding employment. The NDIS is committed to helping Australians with intellectual disabilities, psychosocial disabilities, significant physical handicaps due to illness or injury, and individuals on the autism spectrum find and keep a job. It is important to plan your employment pathway into the future, and NDIS funding can help you along the way.

Some questions to consider:

What type of work or career is right for you?

What do you like to do?
What type of job do you want?
What skills do you already have?
Do you want to work part-time or full-time?
What type of activities fit your lifestyle?

What support will you need to reach your employment goals?

What other skills or education will you need?
How will you get to work?
What kinds of assistance will you need in the workplace?
Do you need adaptive equipment?
Do you need personal care when you are away from home?
Do you need help with medications?

How do you find the perfect job?

Talk to family, friends, teachers, and community leaders you trust
Contact your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIS Planner
Career counselling professionals
Employment service providers

School Leavers Employment Supports (SLES)

Regarding leaving school and pursuing work, this is NDIS Capacity Building funding that provides special training for students in the last year of secondary school and continues for two years after leaving school. It assists in building the skills necessary for job readiness and to succeed in more independent living.

These supports are specific to each individual’s needs and are planned to help in achieving your career goals. A focus on workplace experience has proven to build an individual’s potential by developing valuable skills, personal independence, and confidence. School leavers employment supports and skill-building supports include:

Interpersonal communication
Time management
Planning and organisations
Money handling and personal budget skills
Appropriate behaviour in the workplace
Personal hygiene and attire in the workplace
Conflict resolution, negotiation, and compromise
Teamwork
Working independently and reliability
Travel and commuting skills
Job skills training
Workplace experience in the community
Volunteer opportunities
Job interviewing techniques
Discovering personal aptitudes and career guidance
Setting goals
Assistance in completing and submitting applications
Basic computer skills

NDIS Services in Finding and Keeping a Job

The NDIS partners with other mainstream employment systems and community programs to provide a comprehensive career-building solution for NDIS participants in need of both employment services and disability services. Many Australians with significant assistance needs due to disability would like to work, but need the right amount of support to succeed. The Capacity Building category for Finding and Keeping a Job (found in your NDIS plan) may provide the additional help you need.

Talk to your NDIS planner or Local Area Coordinator about:

Job readiness assessment
Career guidance
Education and skill-building
Employment counselling
Workplace assistance
School leaver employment services to help students transition into the workforce
Information about other government services and employment funding available to you

Australia’s Training and Employment Services

Australian Government Job Placement Job Access
Disability Employment Services
Apprenticeships and traineeships for both skill building and paid work at home
Work placement programs that provide employment while you study

Vocational courses offering skilled labour training, career guidance, on-the-job experience, and assistance with employment placement

You may find work in a variety of places:

Private businesses: Single owner, partnership, or company in the same establishment that works for profit
Government employers: Agencies or programs managed by the Australian Government, state, or territorial governments
Micro-businesses: Small business with a single owner-operator and usually employs 1-4 people; this includes family-run businesses
Social enterprises: Businesses run by individuals or non-profit organizations to create training and job opportunities for people with significant handicaps to the regular workforce
Self-employment: You work for yourself and earn money directly for the goods or services you provide. This could be offering lawn services to your neighbors or printing services to local business owners.
Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs): Nonprofit organizations can provide work opportunities in a variety of industries including manufacturing, packaging, agriculture, and more.

When You Need Extra Help to Keep Your Job

Talk to your Local Area Coordinator, NDIS planner, or Support Coordinator about your work goals and how your NDIS plan can help you to achieve them. Speak to your employer or supervisor about the challenges you face and possible solutions. Consider other community organisations and services that may be available to assist you in keeping your job and improving your work experience. Have a conversation with family, friends, caregivers, or trusted community leaders who know you and can offer knowledgeable workplace advice. Supports in Finding and Keeping a Job are specific to the individual’s needs and may require a combination of assistance solutions.

Supports in keeping a job or improving your work experience:

Emotional support and guidance in social interaction and networking
Travel or commuting skills (using public transportation, learning to drive, scheduled transportation)
Relationship and personal communication skills
Job-related skills or tasks
Options of part-time and full-time employment and the demands
Personal care supports (taking medications, meals, bathroom needs)
Adaptive devices for job-specific equipment use and equipment modification
Interpreting in the workplace
Flexible work hours
Working from home
Access to a support worker or mentor on the job
Modes of communication to improve understanding and performance
Direct supervision during work
Written and visual instruction needs for learning

Share this article