Guide to employment

On this page:

How we can help with work

There are many benefits of having a job. 

This includes:

  • building financial independence
  • better health and wellbeing
  • stronger connections in your community
  • opportunities to develop new skills.

Build your skills for work

We can fund the following NDIS supports to help you get ready for work.

Discovering what you’re good at

Find out what you are good at and what work suits you.

Learning how to work

Help for you to:

  • learn how to get to and from work
  • learn how to work in a team
  • learn how to solve problems and get tasks done
  • understand the behaviours and communication skills employers expect
  • build your confidence in real work settings.

Finding or changing jobs

Help for:

  • you to find the right job and make sure it fits your skills
  • your employer to learn how best to support you at work
  • you to change jobs and progress your career.

Getting support at work

Help for:

  • your employer to support you in the best way at work
  • you at work to do your tasks until you can do them yourself.

Or to provide you with:

  • personal care at work, like help with having a meal
  • on-the-job coaching, training and mentoring.

Support can be provided in any workplace and can be one-to-one or in a group setting depending on where you work and the type of support you need.

Employment-related assessment and counselling and advice

Employment-related assessment, counselling and advice are supports delivered by allied health professionals who can:  

  • complete a vocational or functional assessment
  • help you identify your strengths and barriers to work
  • help you set a work goal that’s right for you
  • help with adjustments to your workplace
  • provide counselling if your disability has prevented you from returning to work
  • provide education to you and your employer.

Your NDIA planner will need the following information when including funding in your plan: 

  • where and when you work
  • what tasks you do and any extra help you need beyond what your employer gives
  • if you get support one-on-one or in a group
  • any tasks that need adjusting, learning tools or help needed to set up your workspace.

Become independent

Other NDIS supports, like community participation supports, can help build your skills and take steps to employment.

A community participation provider can help you to:

  • learn to use public transport
  • meet people
  • find new interests
  • work in a team
  • manage your money.

Setting goals for work

It’s important to think about what employment goals you want to work towards. Your goals will depend on your situation and what life stage you’re at. Your my NDIS contact or support coordinator can help you think about your goals.

You can share your goals at your plan meeting. Your NDIA planner will include your goals in your NDIS plan. They’ll also explain how your NDIS funding can help you work towards your goals.

Learn more about how to set employment goals.

Finding employment support providers

Your next step after you have employment support funding in your plan is to connect to a provider. They can help you build skills for work, find and keep a job. Use our provider finder to find employment support providers near you.

Your my NDIS contact or support coordinator can also help you to connect with providers in your area.

Review your provider reports

We work closely with employment providers to get information about what’s working to help participants with employment.  

This information is shared in the provider quarterly report. This report can help you to choose an employment provider by understanding how they’ve helped others.  

You can also use our employment support provider comparison worksheet when choosing a provider. The worksheet is a useful tool with questions you can ask a provider to help understand how they can help you.  

Download the employment support provider comparison worksheet:

Continuing to work towards your goals

Talk to us about your progress

Check how you are progressing towards your goals in the plan reassessment at the end of your plan.

Your my NDIS contact will talk to you about your progress and if you need additional funding to work towards your goals.

Ask your employment support provider to prepare a report

Your employment support provider will give you information to help you in your plan reassessment. Their report should include the:

  • work goal you are aiming for
  • NDIS supports delivered and your progress to date
  • skills you need to build
  • plan to get you there, including how long it’s likely to take.

If you have a concern about NDIS supports or services

Talk to your provider first

It’s important you talk to your provider first if you have a concern about your current NDIS supports or services.

Talk to your my NDIS contact or support coordinator

Ask your my NDIS contact or support coordinator for help if you can’t resolve this directly or don’t feel safe to have the conversation. 

You can also contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission .

Information about employment supports outside the NDIS

Your my NDIS contact can also help you connect with other employment supports in your community when you’re ready. This might include: 

  • Disability Employment Services (DES) – helps jobseekers with disability to find and maintain employment where the jobseeker has existing work skills and limited ongoing support needs
  • Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) – provides financial help for eligible people with disability and employers to buy work-related modifications, equipment, Auslan services, workplace assistance and support services
  • community programs
  • volunteering opportunities. 

Learn more about Inclusive Employment Australia, the EAF or other supports available on the Job Access website .

Let's talk about work booklet

Download the let’s talk about work booklet:

Easy Read

Download let’s talk about work in Easy Read:

Our Guideline

Download the work and study guideline:

Related information

This page current as of
28 July 2026
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