Transitioning from school to work can be an anxious experience for young people. This is where SLES helps.
The NDIS School Leaver Employment Support (SLES) is a support to help NDIS participants make a smooth transition from school to employment. SLES is only accessible under an NDIS plan.
What is SLES School Leaver Employment Support and when can you get SLES?
School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) is an early intervention approach for NDIS participants in their last year of school and when they have already left school.
SLES is about giving young people the skills and confidence to help make the transition from school to work.
SLES is NDIS funded to 'support and assist people with a disability to prepare for, and take part in work'.
It helps a young person who has work capacity but needs some more support before receiving ongoing employment support through existing systems such as DES ( Disability Employment Service).
SLES helps make young people 'employment ready' - it does not provide young people with employment. Its purpose is to prepare young people for employment.
When young people leave school, SLES is just one of a number of options, or pathways, to employment. Other options include:
- Going straight to open employment through a DES service;
- Going to supported employment through an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE);
- Undertaking further education through a TAFE or university; or
- Volunteering
SLES provides small group work skills sessions, tailored one-on-one support, and work experience to help each student along their pathway to employment.
Each Participant has different needs. The nature and delivery of school leaver employment supports depends on what the participant and their provider agree on in their service agreement. This helps the participant reach their employment goals.
Benefits of the SLES Program
The benefits of employment for young people are far-reaching. Employment in general increases people’s independence improves health and well-being as well as provides opportunities to develop new skills and have a connection to the community.
The NDIS SLES program is designed to focus on capacity building for the young person, for example, capacity-building activities can include building job skills, and building confidence and independence.
The NDIS SLES program is individualised. This means each participant's SLES program is created around their needs and goals.
Individualised one-on-one mentoring gives the young person the time to better understand themselves, work interests and the supports they need to give them the best opportunity to gain soft and hard work skills.
Another important benefit of the program is that young people can complete work experience in many different businesses and industries in order to find the right job for them.
Capacity-building activities that may be included in a SLES program and assist with goals can include:
- money handling skills
- time management skills
- communication skills
- discovery activities
- work experience
- learning how to take instruction at work
- travel skills.
Who can get SLES funding under the NDIS?
You need to be on an NDIS plan to receive SLES funding. Young People with a disability who are leaving or have left school (up to 22 years old) and who require intensive support to transition from school to employment, are eligible to receive SLES funding in their NDIS plan.
It falls under the Finding and Keeping a Job category with line item 10_021_0102_5_3
The funding is an annualised funding model (so you get a set amount per year) rather than a set hour, this is to provide maximum flexibility. The funding is not subject to price limits and covers up to 2 years.
IMPORTANT: Talk to your Local Area Coordinator about adding the program to your NDIS Plan can start before you leave school. The may not suggest it automatically.
What is the difference between SLES and DES?
School Leaver Employment Support (SLES)
SLES is an early intervention approach for school leavers with significant disability to support the transition from school to employment.
SLES supports are designed to build capacity to meet access criteria and transition into Disability employment Services (DES).
Young people in their last year of school who are work-ready for open employment may be able to go straight to the DES ESL [Eligible School Leaver] program.
SLES assists with work experience and overcoming barriers and building confidence and prepares the young person to engage with a DES provider, who will further their journey of employment.
Disability Employment Services (DES)
DES solely supports a person with a Disability, Injury or Health Condition who is job ready, to find and keep a job and have a future work capacity of at least 8 hours per week. DES is for people who want to find a job in open employment.
You don’t need to have NDIS funding to receive DES support.
DES is about working with you at your pace to help you find the right job with the right employer. DES Employment Consultants (like atWork Australia) will support people from school leaving age right through to retirement age.
How does SLES & DES work together?
At some point in the SLES program, you will have completed work experience and feeling confident enough will become job-ready to gain paid employment. This is where (DES) comes into play.
Your SLES Provider will assist you in finding a DES provider and then work with you and the chosen DES provider for the first 6 months that you are in the DES program.
How to find a SLES Provider?
For information about finding SLES providers in your area:
ASK THE MYCARESPACE CONNECTIONS TEAM
NDIS THERAPY FINDER - FREE SERVICE
LET US FIND YOU A SKILLED SUPPORT WORKER
