NDIS Funding · Western Sydney · Inner West

Your young person is finishing school.
What comes next doesn't have to be uncertain.

SLES - School Leaver Employment Supports - is NDIS funding specifically designed for this moment. Most families don't know it exists, or don't know how to use it properly. This page exists to change that.

Talk to us about SLES Make a referral
SLES at a glance
~$22k
Per year in fundingAvailable for up to two years after leaving school
2 yrs
Maximum program lengthThe clock starts when your young person leaves school
15-22
Eligible age rangeCan start in Year 11 or 12 - most families don't know this
Cat 10
NDIS Capacity BuildingFinding and Keeping a Job - separate from daily living funding
SLESSpecialist provider
7,580Participants supported nationally in 2024
2 yrsOf dedicated funding
Western & Inner WestWe come to you
What is SLES

Explained simply - without the NDIS jargon.

SLES stands for School Leaver Employment Supports. It's NDIS funding that exists specifically for young people who are finishing school and want to move toward employment - but aren't quite ready to walk straight into a job.

The honest version: most young people with disability leaving school need time, structure, support and real-world experience before employment becomes possible. SLES is the funding that makes that time productive rather than lost.

It sits inside your young person's NDIS plan under Capacity Building - Category 10: Finding and Keeping a Job. It's completely separate from their daily living or community participation funding. It doesn't touch any other support budget.

And crucially - it can start while your young person is still in Year 11 or 12. Most families don't know this. Starting early means hitting the ground running the moment school finishes.

The funding
~$22,000/year
Available for up to two years. Not price-controlled by the NDIS - instead, you and your provider agree on a service plan that outlines exactly what the funding covers and how activities will be delivered across the year.
What SLES actually covers
Building the skills, confidence and experience that make employment real.
  • Work experience across different industries - retail, hospitality, admin, community
  • Job coaching - individual sessions to explore interests, build skills and understand what work looks like
  • Workplace communication, behaviour and social skills
  • Resume building, interview preparation and employer engagement
  • Travel training - learning to get to and from a workplace independently
  • Life skills and daily structure that support workplace readiness
  • Community participation to build confidence in real-world environments

SLES vs DES - what's the difference?
SLES
Building the foundation - skills, confidence, work readiness. For young people who aren't yet ready for open employment.
DES
The next step - finding and keeping a job. For people who are ready to work at least 8 hours per week.
SLES
NDIS funded. Up to 2 years. Ages 15-22. School leavers only.
DES
Government funded. No age limit. Open to anyone with a disability, not just NDIS participants.

SLES is designed to prepare young people for DES - not compete with it. The goal is to complete SLES ready to transition into DES and from there into open employment.

Why we exist

SLES funding exists. The problem is how it's usually delivered.

Most SLES providers activate the funding. Few truly use it. The gap between those two things is where most young people's two years get quietly wasted.

  • ✕
    Generic group programs that don't fit the individual
    SLES is meant to be individualised. Too often it's delivered as a one-size program that moves at the group's pace, not the person's.
  • ✕
    Employment focus without the foundation
    Jumping straight to resumes and interviews when the young person hasn't yet built the routine, confidence or community to sustain employment.
  • ✕
    No integration with daily living support
    Employment readiness and daily living are treated as separate. But they're not. A young person who doesn't have a stable routine cannot reliably show up to work.
  • ✕
    Disappearing after placement
    Getting someone into a job is one thing. Most providers aren't around when the first real challenges show up three weeks in.
The Shift Support difference
  • ✓
    Fully individualised from day one
    We build a program around your young person - their interests, strengths, communication style and goals. Not a template.
  • ✓
    Foundation first, employment second
    We don't skip stages. We use the Capacity to Employment Model to build the foundation that makes employment sustainable - not just possible.
  • ✓
    Support work and job coaching integrated
    Daily living support and job coaching under one roof - aligned, communicating and working toward the same outcome. No gap between the two.
  • ✓
    Career counselling principles in every session
    I run job coaching personally. Every session draws on career development theory to understand who someone is before deciding where they're headed.
  • ✓
    We stay in it after placement
    We don't disappear. We follow through and stay involved to make sure employment sticks - not just starts.
How we deliver SLES

Three phases. Two years. One clear outcome.

Our SLES program follows the Capacity to Employment Model - a structured approach that builds employment readiness from the ground up, rather than rushing to the destination before the foundation is ready.

Year 1 · Months 1-6 · Foundation
Building the base
Before anything else, we establish the daily structure and personal foundation that makes everything else achievable. Slow here means faster later.
  • Morning routines and daily structure
  • Travel training and community navigation
  • Communication and social confidence
  • Self-awareness - strengths, interests, work style
  • Community participation in real environments
Year 1 · Months 6-12 · Exploration
Finding the fit
With the foundation in place, we start exploring the world of work. Real environments, real experiences, real feedback on what works and what doesn't.
  • Work experience across different industries
  • Workplace behaviour and professional skills
  • Employer visits and industry exploration
  • Resume building and job application skills
  • Interview preparation and practice
Year 2 · Destination
Moving into employment
With clarity on direction and a solid foundation underneath them, we move your young person toward real, open employment - with support every step of the way.
  • Targeted employer engagement and job matching
  • Supported job trials and placement
  • Workplace integration and on-the-job support
  • Transition to DES if appropriate
  • Ongoing follow through after placement
A typical week

What it actually looks like day to day.

This is an example from the exploration and capacity-building phase. Every participant's program is individualised based on their goals, readiness, and pace, so no two weeks are the same. This example is designed to give a sense of the structure, consistency, and intent behind each session.

Monday
Morning
1-on-1 job coaching sessionGoal setting, confidence building, identifying strengths
Afternoon
Resume & application supportDeveloping practical job-seeking skills
Tuesday
Morning & Afternoon
Work experience placementReal-world exposure, building routine and workplace tolerance
Wednesday
Morning
Community participation & social engagementConfidence, communication and independence in real environments
Afternoon
Travel training - independent commute practiceBuilding independence and reducing reliance on supports
Thursday
Morning
Work experience placement
Afternoon
Workplace skills developmentCommunication, behaviour, expectations, problem-solving
Friday
Morning
Weekly review & goal check-inTracking progress, reinforcing learning, adjusting supports
Afternoon
Rest, consolidation & personal timeSupporting sustainability and avoiding burnout
"The best SLES programs combine practical workplace experience with structured skill building. Not one or the other - both, working together, at the right pace for the individual."
Sessions are delivered flexibly and may be adjusted based on participant needs, energy levels, and emerging opportunities. Every participant's week looks different - this is a guide, not a rigid schedule.
The two year journey

What the full SLES program builds toward.

Two years is enough time to do this properly - if the program is designed well from the start. Here's how we think about the full journey.

1
Before school finishes - Year 11 or 12
Start the conversation early
Most families wait until school finishes to think about SLES. The families who get the best outcomes start the conversation in Year 11 - choosing a provider, getting SLES added to the plan, and hitting the ground running on day one after school ends.
Provider selectionPlan reviewGoal setting
2
Year 1 - Months 1 to 6
Foundation and daily structure
Establishing routines, building confidence, developing the communication and social skills that underpin everything else. Community participation woven throughout. This phase is unglamorous and essential.
RoutineConfidenceCommunitySelf-awareness
3
Year 1 - Months 6 to 12
Work exploration and skill building
Real work experience across different industries. Resume, interview prep, travel training, workplace behaviour. Finding out what fits - not just what's available. Building the practical skills employers actually value.
Work experienceWorkplace skillsIndustry exploration
4
Year 2
Employment pathways
With a clear direction and a solid foundation, we move toward open employment. Targeted employer engagement, supported placement, on-the-job support and the follow-through that makes employment stick rather than start and stop.
Job placementEmployer engagementWorkplace support
5
After SLES
Transition to DES and open employment
At the end of SLES, participants who are ready transition into Disability Employment Services (DES) - the next step on the journey. We facilitate a structured handover - sharing insights, progress and support strategies with the DES provider. We continue to support the participant through their existing NDIS supports during the early stages of transition, ensuring continuity and the best possible chance of long-term success.
DES transitionOpen employmentOngoing support
"SLES isn't the destination. It's the bridge that makes the destination possible. Done well, it changes what the next twenty years of someone's working life can look like."
That's what we're building toward - every session, every week, every year.
Who it's for

SLES is for young people at the transition point. Here's what that looks like in practice.

Profile 1
Finishing Year 12 with a goal but no plan
Your young person knows they want to work. They have interests, they have potential. But school is ending and nobody has sat down with the family to build a real pathway toward employment.
  • NDIS plan with employment goal
  • School finishing soon or recently finished
  • Motivated but needs structure and support
  • Family wanting a clear plan, not vague promises
Profile 2
Ready to try work but not quite ready to work
They can do it - everyone who knows them can see that. But they need the routine, the confidence, the real-world experience and the right support around them before employment becomes sustainable.
  • Work capacity but needs foundational support first
  • Daily structure still being established
  • Community confidence still developing
  • Would benefit from gradual, structured exposure to work
Profile 3
Funding in the plan but nothing happening
The plan says "employment goal." The funding is there. But nothing has been activated, nobody has explained SLES properly, and the two years are quietly ticking away without progress.
  • SLES funding allocated but underutilised
  • Previous provider not delivering outcomes
  • Family frustrated with the lack of direction
  • Still within the eligible age and timeframe
Eligibility

Is your young person eligible for SLES?

You likely qualify if:
  • ✓Your young person has an NDIS plan
  • ✓They are aged between 15 and 22
  • ✓They are in their final year of school or have recently left
  • ✓They want to move toward employment but aren't yet ready to work 8+ hours per week independently
  • ✓Their plan includes a Finding and Keeping a Job budget - or it could be added at a plan review
Important - start before school finishes
SLES can be added to a plan and started while your young person is still in Year 11 or 12. You don't have to wait. The earlier you start the conversation, the better the outcomes.
SLES may not be right if:
  • ✕Your young person is already working 8+ hours per week independently - DES may be more appropriate
  • ✕They are over 22 years old - the upper age limit has passed
  • ✕More than two years have passed since leaving school
Not sure if SLES is in the plan?

Look for "Finding and Keeping a Job" in the Capacity Building section of the NDIS plan. If you don't see it - or you're not sure - talk to your support coordinator or contact us directly. We can help you understand what's available and how to get it into the next plan review.

Ask us about eligibility
Questions families ask us

Real questions. Straight answers.

My young person's plan doesn't mention SLES. Can we still get it?
Yes - SLES can be requested at a plan review. You'll need to clearly link it to an employment goal. If your current plan doesn't include it, talk to your support coordinator about requesting it at the next review. Don't wait until school finishes to have this conversation.
Can SLES and daily living support happen at the same time?
Yes - and this is exactly how it should work. SLES funding (Capacity Building) and daily living support (Core) are separate budgets. Using both together is how our model works - support workers build the daily foundation while job coaching builds the employment pathway.
What if my young person doesn't know what kind of work they want to do?
That's completely normal and exactly what SLES is designed for. We start with exploration - trying different environments, industries and tasks to understand what fits. You don't need a career goal on day one. You need someone to help you find one. That's our job.
How is Shift Support different from other SLES providers?
We integrate support work and job coaching under one roof. I run all job coaching personally using career counselling principles - not a generic template. And we use the Capacity to Employment Model which builds the foundation first, rather than rushing to placement before your young person is ready.
What happens after SLES finishes?
At the end of SLES, participants who are ready are supported to transition into Disability Employment Services (DES), which focuses on job placement and ongoing employment support. We facilitate a structured handover by sharing insights, progress, and support strategies with the DES provider, and continue to support the participant during the early stages of transition through their existing NDIS supports. This ensures continuity, stability, and the best possible chance of long-term success in employment.
Can SLES start before my young person finishes school?
Yes - and we strongly recommend it. SLES can begin in Year 11 or 12. Starting early means building the foundation before school ends, so your young person hits the ground running rather than spending the first months figuring out what comes next.
My young person has tried employment support before and it didn't work. Why would this be different?
Because most employment support skips the foundation. If someone doesn't have daily structure, community confidence and a clear sense of what they're working toward - no amount of resume help will create sustainable employment. We start where most providers don't.
How do I get started?
Get in touch by phone or email. We'll have a conversation first - no forms, no assessments, no pressure. Just an honest discussion about where your young person is, what they want, and whether Shift Support is the right fit. If we're not, we'll tell you.
For support coordinators

Referring a school leaver into Shift Support.

We specialise in SLES. School leavers and young adults moving toward employment are our primary focus - not an add-on service.

  • ✓We respond within 1 business day
  • ✓We build an individual employment plan from the start
  • ✓Structured session notes and regular progress reports
  • ✓Goal timeline built and tracked for each participant
  • ✓You won't be chasing us - we keep you informed
  • ✓We flag concerns early - not after things go wrong
Best fit referrals
School leavers aged 15-22 with SLES funding in their plan, or participants due for a plan review where SLES can be added. Young people who have employment as a goal and would benefit from an integrated support work and job coaching approach.
Registration status
NDIS registration is a two stage process. We've completed Stage 1 and are actively working through Stage 2. While that progresses, we work with self-managed and plan-managed participants - and we're happy to talk through what that means for you.
Service areas
Western Sydney and Inner West. Contact us to confirm coverage for your participant's specific suburb.

Make a referral

We're here when you're ready.

Whether you're a family trying to figure out what SLES means for your young person, or a support coordinator looking to refer - start with a conversation.

Talk to us about SLES Make a referral