Many Australians view employment as something that extends beyond receiving a salary. Employment functions as a life purpose and enables people to make contributions to their community while creating strong pathways for independence and social connections. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) acknowledges employment aspirations by allocating special funding to assist participants in their career development. The NDIS area becomes complex for some people when they try to navigate it.
At Good Company, we dedicate our passion to helping all individuals build meaningful experiences, and for many people, this includes pursuing a career in the workforce. We assist participants in their employment path by providing individualised support to build workplace abilities and workplace confidence. This guide explains the ‘Finding and Keeping a Job’ support category under the NDIS, so you can use your NDIS plan to reach your professional goals.
What ‘Finding and Keeping a Job’ Means in the NDIS Context
The ‘Finding and Keeping a Job’ support category exists as a specific funding category under the ‘Capacity Building’ umbrella of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This is a crucial distinction. The allocated funding serves as a different purpose than simply connecting you with a recruitment agency since it enables you to develop long-term employment skills and independence.
The goal of this support is to assist individuals through their career development process instead of focusing solely on the end result. The program guides you through discovering your interests while teaching basic work competencies and professional environment navigation skills to develop success potential in meaningful roles. The main difference between NDIS employment supports and Disability Employment Services (DES) is that DES focuses mainly on job placement services. The NDIS employment support system delivers customised development-focused services which enable participants to gain work readiness and maintain success in their chosen careers.
Eligibility and Inclusion in Your NDIS Plan
The NDIS will only include employment supports in your plan if they are deemed necessary and reasonable for your career goals. Your plan requires specific documentation of employment-related objectives. You don’t need to specify your job aspirations precisely from the beginning, because starting with broad goals such as ‘I wish to discover work possibilities’, or ‘I aim to develop skills for future employment’, will suffice.
Your planning meeting will include discussion about your employment intentions. You will have the chance to explain your desired accomplishments along with your interests, and identify potential obstacles that might stand in your way. Your employment needs assessment helps the NDIA understand how employment support will help you achieve independence through your NDIS plan.
Types of Supports Available for Employment
The NDIS provides various activities through which participants can advance in their job search. Good Company operates as an unregistered provider, so participants with self-managed or plan-managed NDIS plans can access our customised services, subject to NDIS plan approval and eligibility requirements.
These supports can include:
- NDIS-Funded Mentoring: The NDIS offers individual mentoring sessions that help you discover career choices while improving your workplace communication abilities and self-assurance (subject to plan approval).
- School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES): This program provides specialised two-year assistance to students who are ending their school education. The SLES program delivers extensive support which helps students develop core abilities while obtaining work experience and establishing a direct path to employment (subject to plan approval).
- Employment Support: The Employment Support program offers individualised assistance. It covers resume writing, interview preparation, work commute training, and on-the-job assistance for new employment situations (subject to plan approval).
- Microenterprise Support: The NDIS provides funding for entrepreneurs who want to start their own business through microenterprise support, which includes business development assistance, business plan creation, and launch services (subject to plan approval).
- Skill Development: Support services help people learn work-specific abilities, such as managing money, organising time, and software operation (subject to plan approval).
The Role of a Support Coordinator in Employment Goals
Having a Support Coordinator by your side may be an essential factor for success in your employment journey. Their main role is to explain NDIS plan implementation procedures to you. Employment support services through this role enable individuals to determine their objectives before matching them with suitable service providers. A Support Coordinator can assist you in finding Good Company as your preferred service provider and also help you access mainstream services through DES at the appropriate time to create harmonious coordination between all your support needs.
Developing Your Employment Goals for Your NDIS Plan
The more specific your goals become, the more likely you will receive suitable funding in your plan. It’s a good idea to have goals that extend beyond the basic statement ‘I want a job’, since you need to specify what you aim to achieve.
Consider these questions:
- Which activities do you enjoy doing? Would any of these activities result in employment possibilities?
- What type of work environment do you desire? (e.g., outdoors, in an office, with animals, with people).
- How many hours do you plan to work for during the week?
What abilities do you possess currently, and which ones do you want to develop?
Your answers to these questions should lead to goal formation such as: ‘obtaining part-time customer service expectations to develop confidence and skills’, or ‘support to start my gardening microenterprise business’.
Navigating the Job Market with NDIS Support
When your plan has employment supports, they may facilitate a teamwork-based search for a job. Good Company employs a team-based system, which provides you with constant support throughout your entire journey. The first step of our process involves developing knowledge about you and your career ambitions. Our partnership will help you discover suitable career paths and find roles that match your values, while we develop functional abilities for job applications. Our team establishes connections with nearby businesses to establish work experience opportunities that help you gain practical experience and build self-assurance, along with capabilities in actual workplace settings. This approach focuses on establishing long-term growth by developing sustained opportunities.
Sustaining Employment: Ongoing Support
Once your employment contract is finalised, the assistance program will continue without interruption. The NDIS offers ongoing support funding for maintaining your employment status. Job mentoring at work enables you to learn new responsibilities, helps you manage workplace interactions, and schedule management. The system aims to create enduring support which enables your professional development while maintaining stability in your position.
Success Stories and Examples
Here’s what some of our clients have had to say about us:
“My Grandchild has been supported by Good Company Disability Services since April 13th, 2024. Their way of mentoring means their clients will often be provided with more than one mentor, assuring there is always backup and diversity. The mentors provided have been caring, professional, and enthusiastic. Good Company also communicates well and is open to constant collaboration with my Grandchild and I and any other support services. In a time of uncertainty and multiple stressors, Good Company have offered encouragement and a helping hand.” – Sonia Dixon.
“Good Company has helped me out a lot with rides and communicating with people to find ways to get in stuff done. I like the way everyone is friendly, and I want others to know that Good Company is a good company in general.” – Joziah Marshall.
*Individual experiences may vary. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances and NDIS plan approval.
Conclusion: Unlocking Employment Potential
Many NDIS participants can achieve significant employment opportunities. The combination of proper preparation with a detailed plan and committed support staff enables you to establish career stability and achieve employment brings purpose, independence, and stronger social connections. Reach out to us at Good Company if you want to examine career choices in Perth or Melbourne. We’re here to help you pursue your professional objectives, subject to NDIS plan eligibility and approval.
