Understanding NDIS Employment Support
Employment support is a core component of NDIS funding. If entering the workforce is one of your primary goals, the NDIS can provide the necessary resources to help you secure and maintain meaningful employment.
What is Supported Employment?
Supported employment is a type of NDIS-funded service that helps people with disability find and maintain paid work. Unlike standard job placement services, supported employment provides ongoing, substantial support tailored to your individual needs.
Supported employment services can include:
- Help to find a job that matches your skills and interests
- On-the-job training and coaching
- Workplace modifications to help you do your job
- Ongoing support to help you stay employed
- Skills development and training
Supported employment can take place in an Australian Disability Enterprise (like Access Industries) or in open employment with a mainstream employer.
NDIS Funding for Employment
Employment support falls under the NDIS support category called ‘Finding and Keeping a Job’. This funding can be used for:
- Supported Employment – Ongoing support to work in a supported environment
- School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) – For young people transitioning from school to work
- customised employment program – Tailored job development for open employment
- Work Experience – Trial work opportunities to explore different jobs
To receive NDIS funding for employment support, you need to have employment goals in your NDIS plan. If employment isn’t currently in your plan but you’d like to work, you can request a plan review to include it.
Looking for Supported Employment?
Access Industries is a registered NDIS provider offering supported employment opportunities in Sydney, Newcastle and Lithgow. We offer real work opportunities in timber manufacturing, industrial sewing, packing services and commercial laundry.
How to Get Employment Support in Your NDIS Plan
If you want to work and need support to do so, here’s how to make sure employment is included in your NDIS plan:
1. Set employment as a goal
When you meet with your NDIS planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC), tell them that finding or keeping a job is one of your goals. Be specific about what kind of work you’re interested in and what support you think you’ll need.
2. Explain the support you need
Think about what kind of help you’ll need to work successfully. This might include on-the-job training, workplace modifications, help with transport, or ongoing support from a job coach.
3. Ask for ‘Finding and Keeping a Job’ funding
Request that your plan includes funding under the ‘Finding and Keeping a Job’ category. This is the support category that covers employment services like supported employment.
4. Bring supporting information
If you have reports from an occupational therapist, employment service, or other professional that explain why you need employment support, bring these to your planning meeting.
5. Bring a support person
You can bring a family member, friend, support coordinator or advocate to your planning meeting to help you explain your goals and the support you need.
Already have an NDIS plan without employment support? You can request a plan review to add employment goals and funding. Contact the NDIA or speak with your Local Area Coordinator about how to request a review.
Frequently Asked Questions About NDIS Employment Support
Supported employment under the NDIS is a funded service that helps people with disability find and keep paid work. It provides ongoing, substantial support including job matching, on-the-job training, workplace modifications and regular assistance to help you succeed in your role. Supported employment can be provided by Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) like Access Industries, or through Disability Employment Services working with mainstream employers.
To access NDIS funding for employment, you need to be an NDIS participant with employment goals and funding in your plan. During your planning meeting, tell your planner that work is one of your goals and ask for funding under the ‘Finding and Keeping a Job’ support category. If your current plan doesn’t include employment funding, you can request a plan review to add it. Access Industries can help you understand your options and support you through this process.
NDIS employment support can help you:
- Earn your own income and build financial independence
- Learn new skills and gain qualifications
- Build confidence and self-esteem
- Make friends and social connections
- Develop a routine and have structure in your week
- Work towards your career goals
For many people, having a job also improves mental health and overall quality of life. The support provided means you can work in a way that suits your needs and abilities.
Supported employment typically takes place in an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) where the workplace is specifically designed to support people with disability, with trained staff and modified work environments.
Open employment refers to working for a mainstream employer in the general workforce.
The NDIS can fund support for both options. Some people start in supported employment and later transition to open employment through programs like customised employment program, while others prefer the ongoing support that an ADE provides.
Yes, in most cases you can work and still receive some or all of your Disability Support Pension (DSP). Centrelink allows you to earn a certain amount before your pension is affected. Many people in supported employment continue to receive their DSP while also earning wages. Contact Centrelink to find out how working might affect your payments based on your individual circumstances.
An Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) is a business that primarily employs people with disability and provides them with ongoing support. ADEs offer real work for real pay in a supportive environment, with staff trained to provide the assistance employees need.
Access Industries is an ADE with over 75 years of experience, offering supported employment in timber manufacturing, industrial sewing, packing services and commercial laundry across Sydney, Newcastle and Lithgow.
Access Industries is a registered NDIS provider for supported employment. We can help you:
- Understand the NDIS and how to include employment in your plan
- Find supported employment opportunities that match your skills and interests
- Develop an Individual Employment Plan tailored to your goals
- Access skills and vocational training through our registered RTO
- Transition to open employment via our customised employment program if that’s your goal
Contact us to find out more about how we can help.
At Access Industries, we offer a variety of supported employment roles across our three locations:
Western Sydney (Seven Hills): Packaging and assembly, light process work, labelling, warehouse work
Newcastle (Hamilton): Timber pallet making, crate manufacturing, industrial sewing, machine operation
Lithgow: Commercial laundry services, sorting, folding, delivery runs
We match jobs to your skills, interests and support needs to find the right fit for you. see our NDIS supported employment opportunities.
Both are NDIS-funded but serve different stages. Supported Employment is for adult participants who want paid work with ongoing support, and can be lifelong. School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) is a 2-year capacity-building stream for young people aged 17 to 22 transitioning from school, focused on pre-employment skills, work experience, and preparation for either open or supported employment. For school leavers, SLES is usually the right starting point, followed by supported employment with a provider like Access Industries.
Yes. Through capacity-building employment supports, funding can pay for nationally recognised qualifications. Access Industries operates its own RTO (Access Knowledge, RTO 45311) delivering Foundation Skills (FSK10119), Manufacturing (MSM30116), and Retail (SIR30216) qualifications. Speak to your plan manager about whether your plan covers this.
