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SLES Funding: NDIS School Leaver Employment Supports Explained

Who can get SLES, how long it lasts, what it pays for and how to get it into your plan

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About SLES

What is SLES in the NDIS?

Updated October 2026 · Written by the Good Company team · Part of our NDIS employment and funding guides

School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) is NDIS funding that helps young people with disability move from school into work. It gives you individual help to build job-ready skills and confidence, try real work, and plan your path into a job.

SLES is about growing toward work: you don’t need to be “job ready” to start. This guide explains the NDIS SLES guidelines in plain English.

Who is eligible for SLES?

You may be able to get SLES funding if you:

  • are an NDIS participant (or meet NDIS access requirements);
  • are in Year 12 or have recently left school;
  • have a goal to work, and some capacity to work with the right support.

The NDIS looks at whether SLES is reasonable and necessary for you, based on your goals and support needs.

How long does SLES last?

SLES is available for up to two years after you finish Year 12. Many people use it as a bridge: two years to try different work, learn skills and build confidence, then move into ongoing employment support.

Funding

What does SLES funding pay for?

SLES is tailored to your own employment goal. It can include:

  • Work experience in real workplaces, usually in open employment;
  • Job skills training, such as communication at work, following instructions, teamwork and customer service;
  • Travel training so you can get to and from work on your own (try our free Out & About travel training game);
  • Career planning to explore the kind of work that suits your strengths;
  • help to prepare a resume, practise interviews and connect with employers.

SLES usually doesn’t pay for course fees, wages, uniforms or equipment for a job.

Which part of my NDIS plan pays for SLES?

SLES is a Capacity Building support. In most plans it sits in the Capacity Building – Finding and Keeping a Job (employment) budget. Check how much is there, and whether it’s agency-managed, plan-managed or self-managed, because that changes which providers you can use.

Is SLES free?

If SLES is funded in your plan, the provider is paid from your NDIS funding, so you don’t pay out of your own pocket. Ask your provider for a clear service agreement that shows the hourly rate and how many hours your funding covers.

Getting SLES

How to get SLES in your NDIS plan

  1. Start in Year 12. Raise SLES at your plan reassessment or check-in in your final year of school, so the funding is ready when you finish.
  2. Write a work goal. For example: “I want to explore jobs in hospitality and get my first part-time job.”
  3. Bring evidence. School reports, career counsellor notes or therapist reports that show your interests, strengths and support needs.
  4. Ask for SLES by name. Ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator to include School Leaver Employment Supports.
  5. Choose a provider. Meet a few SLES providers and ask how they’ll help you reach your goal. See our SLES service.

What happens after SLES?

When SLES ends, you can move to ongoing NDIS employment supports (read our Finding and Keeping a Job guide), to Inclusive Employment Australia (which replaced Disability Employment Services on 1 November 2025), or into work with on-the-job support. Some young people start their own business: see microenterprise funding.

SLES with Good Company

We deliver SLES in Perth and Melbourne, with one-to-one support built around what you love doing. Practise for your first job with our free First Shift game, or make a referral to talk about SLES.

This guide is general information, not advice about your plan. NDIS rules and prices change; check ndis.gov.au or talk to your planner or Local Area Coordinator.

Questions

SLES funding FAQ

What does SLES stand for?

SLES stands for School Leaver Employment Supports, an NDIS-funded support for Year 12 students and school leavers with disability.

SLES is linked to leaving school rather than a fixed age. It is generally available for up to two years after Year 12.

Often, yes. SLES can work alongside part-time study or a traineeship, as long as it supports your employment goal. Talk to your planner about your situation.

Yes. You choose your provider and can change providers, following the notice period in your service agreement.

Further reading

All funding guides

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