School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES)

NDIS Capacity Building support

Support for young people finishing school to build work skills and move towards employment, including work experience and job preparation.

The short answer

School Leaver Employment Supports help young people who are finishing school to build work skills, get work experience and prepare for a job.

About School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES)

Leaving school is a big step, and for young people with disability the path to work can be less clear. SLES supports the move from school to work. It typically includes exploring interests, building work-related skills, work experience, help finding a job and support to settle in once started.

Programs are usually delivered by an employment or disability provider, and can include one-to-one and group activities. They often work closely with the school, family and, where relevant, other employment services, so that the young person has a clear plan.

Start early. Talking about the future in the last years of school gives time to try different things, build confidence and make decisions. Ask providers how they involve the young person and family, what work experience they can arrange and how they support people after they start a job.

Who is this service for?

Young people who are finishing school and want help to build work skills and move towards employment.

What a typical session looks like

School leaver employment supports help young people move from school into work. A typical program might begin in the final years of school with work experience, trying different jobs and learning about workplace expectations. After school, the focus turns to finding a job that suits, with help for the young person to build skills, confidence and connections.

Support may include exploring interests, practising interviews, travelling to a workplace, learning on the job with a coach and talking with an employer about adjustments. Families are often closely involved, and the program works with the school, so that the move from school to work feels planned and not sudden.

Who delivers this support

SLES is delivered by employment providers and specialist services with experience helping young people. Look for staff who understand both education and employment, take the young person's ideas seriously and involve the family respectfully. Ask how they work with schools and local employers.

How to choose a provider

Questions to ask a provider

Common mistakes to avoid

Getting started

  1. Talk about work goals in the last years of school.
  2. Speak to the school and your planner about employment supports.
  3. Meet a few providers and ask about their programs.
  4. Agree a plan with goals, activities and review dates.

How it fits with the rest of your plan

This support works alongside school transition planning, job coaching, training and community participation. Because the goal is a real job or a route into work, it is worth asking about the employers and industries the provider works with and how they help people stay in work after they start.

Eligibility

You can use NDIS funding for School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

Funding

Capacity Building supports help you build skills and independence. If School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) is in your plan, it is normally paid from a Capacity Building budget. These budgets are usually set for particular types of support, so check which one your plan uses. Many NDIS supports have price limits, so ask providers for a quote and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.

What it costs

Supports such as School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) that are funded by the NDIS are paid at rates that follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which the NDIA reviews regularly. Many items have a maximum price, and some prices are higher in remote areas. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.

Employment & education support providers on the NDIS register

5,959 NDIS providers list employment & education support supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.

Providers listing employment & education support

See all 5,959 employment & education support providers

Listings by state and territory

Suburbs with the most listings

Listings covering the most areas

Checking credentials

Regulation and safeguards

NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Related services

Frequently asked questions

What is SLES?

School Leaver Employment Supports help young people finishing school to build work skills, get work experience and prepare for a job.

When should we start planning?

Planning in the final years of school gives time to explore interests, try work experience and set goals. Talk to the school and your planner early.

What should I ask a SLES provider?

Ask about the activities and work experience they offer, how they set goals with you and how they will support the move from school to work.

When should planning for work begin?

In the final years of school, so there is time to explore and prepare.

What if my child does not know what work they want?

That is common. Programs include exploring interests and trying things out.

Is SLES the same as a government employment program?

No. They are different systems, and some people use both. Ask your planner and providers how they fit together.

When should planning for life after school begin?

The earlier the better. Work experience and conversations about goals can begin in the final years of school, so that plans are ready when school ends.

Is this only for people who want full-time work?

No. The aim is a pathway that suits the young person, which might include part-time work, further training or a mix of activities.

How can families help?

Families can share what they know about the young person's strengths, help with travel and routines and stay in touch with the provider and school.

Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES)?

If School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

How do I find a School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) provider near me?

Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.

Sources and further reading

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