School Leaver Employment Supports.

School Leaver Employment Supports is funded by NDIS, and helps participants who have a disability or difficulties in the areas of learning, social interaction and self management to move from school to work.

It’s usually funded for two years, however further funding is available to those participants who may need extra support to improve the likelihood of an employment outcome. The supports are available in the final years of school and directly after leaving school.

Any young person with an NDIS plan can access SLES funding. Full NDIS eligibility criteria can be found on NDIS.gov.au.

Read our full guide to accessing an NDIS plan.

SLES is available to young people of school age who are looking for support to transition out of school and access skills, training and work experience so they can begin to move into employment.

Disability Employment Services (DES) is available to people who have either been through SLES and are now looking for a permanent role, or people between the ages of 9 and 67 (when people are eligible for the Age Pension) who are looking for support to access employment and who live with a disability, injury or illness, or who are neurodiverse.

Young people between the ages of 16 and 21 can access SLES. Sometimes people who are a year younger or older than this age bracket can access SLES. We’re happy to talk through each person’s circumstances with family members or health practitioners to reach the best outcome for the young person.

There are other programs that may be more suitable for the young person’s circumstances. Check the Workforce Australia website to see eligibility and providers of Transition to Work – a program for 15-24 year olds who have left school, or need support looking for a job, apprenticeships or training.

Some schools have dedicated career counsellors or transition programs that focus on helping students with disabilities plan their post–school pathways and connect with relevant support services. If you’re unsure, ask your school if this is available.

The first step is to reach out to NDIS to start your plan. Once your plan is in place, you can choose what supports you would like. Supports can include programs like SLES which help young people to start creating their action plans and access work experience. You may also wish to seek the support of family and friends networks to locate businesses that are willing to employ the young person and assist them to learn skills on the job.

Read our full guide to accessing an NDIS plan.

With more and more diverse and supportive workplaces employing people with different abilities, career goals for young people living with a disability are far less limited. Some school leavers living with a disability may feel they face barriers to their desired career path but this doesn’t have to be the case.

With support from organisations like Uniting, young people can explore their skills, strengths and goals, and work towards a career of their choice. Some young people start working in retail, hospitality, administration or customer service – which are all strong foundations for further career exploration.

Gaining skills in the workplace through work experience is one of the best ways to build confidence and skills for employability. Young people can also access training programs, like School Leaver Employment Supports, that support this experience.

Bias and stereotypes about disability can lead to discrimination in workplace environments. This can result in fewer job opportunities and less willingness from employers to provide reasonable accommodations for young people. Finding job opportunities that align with their skills and accommodate their needs can also be challenging. The job market may not always have positions that match their qualifications or allow for specific changes to the physical environment to suit the young person. Negative experiences or perceptions can affect self-esteem and the belief in the young person’s ability to succeed in the workforce.

By disclosing a disability, the young person and their family can discuss how specific needs can be met, ensuring that the job and workplace environment are suitable. This can lead to a better fit for the employee and the employer. Importantly, by disclosing a disability, you contribute to creating a more inclusive and diverse workplace – and world! When a range of different experiences and abilities are shared and celebrated it helps educate and raise awareness, and creates an environment that is more open and accepting.