SLES Program vs “Finding and Keeping a Job” in the NDIS

Transitioning from school into the workforce can be confusing for families. The NDIS offers various employment supports with similar-sounding names – School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES), Finding and Keeping a Job, employment assistance or Capacity Building – Employment. In plain English, SLES is a dedicated program for young people leaving school, while “Finding and Keeping a Job” is the broader NDIS category covering all employment-related supports (including SLES). Understanding the difference helps families and support coordinators ask the right questions. In an NDIS plan, SLES is actually funded under the Capacity Building – Finding and Keeping a Job category. This guide explains each term, how they fit together, and when to move from SLES into other job supports.

A small group of adults seated in a classroom with a trainer pointing at a whiteboard.

What is the SLES Program?

SLES (School Leaver Employment Supports) is a bespoke NDIS program to prepare young people for work. It’s an early-intervention, capacity-building support for participants in their final year of school or shortly after leaving school. SLES helps build work skills and confidence (communication, time management, money handling, travel training, etc.) through one-on-one coaching and real work experiences. Unlike a traditional classroom, SLES is highly individualised and flexible – it’s tailored to each young person’s goals and needs.

Key points about SLES:

  • Who it’s for: NDIS participants in their final year of school or up to ~22 years old. It’s aimed at school leavers who want to work but need more time, training or support before getting a job.
  • What it does: Focuses on pre-employment preparation – building foundational skills (e.g. communication, punctuality, independent travel, job-seeking skills) and gaining hands-on work experience. SLES does not guarantee a job, but makes participants “employment ready.”
  • How long it runs: Up to two years after school, or roughly 16–22 years of age. Once a participant finishes their school and completes (or runs out of time in) the SLES program, they typically move into more general employment supports or Disability Employment Services (DES).
  • Funding model: SLES funding is not a fixed hourly rate. Instead, it’s provided as an annual block of funding (around ~$22,000 per year, based on current guidelines). This “lump sum” arrangement gives providers and families flexibility to tailor the mix of activities each week without worrying about individual item limits.

NDIS guidance emphasises that SLES should be person-centred and hands-on. Providers design it as a strategic, planned transition (not a one-size-fits-all program). For example, NDIS materials note SLES “focus on capacity building, developing skills, independence and confidence to work” during the final years of school. As one NDIS resource explains, SLES activities “help school-leaving aged participants explore and understand their work potential” and are regularly reviewed against each person’s goals.

What is “Finding and Keeping a Job” in the NDIS?

“Finding and Keeping a Job” is the NDIS plan category (under Capacity Building) that covers all employment and career development supports. In other words, it’s not a separate program but a budget header in an NDIS plan. Funding under “Finding and Keeping a Job” can be used for a wide range of services to help a person look for work or stay in a job. This includes career counselling, resume writing, interview practice, on-the-job coaching, workplace modifications, travel training and more.

Key features of the Finding and Keeping a Job category:

  • Scope: It’s intended for any eligible NDIS participant with employment goals – of any age or stage, not just school-leavers. For example, a participant in their 30s could use “Finding and Keeping a Job” funds for skills training or a job coach.
  • Reasonable and Necessary: As with all NDIS supports, these funds are included only if employment support is a documented goal and is deemed reasonable and necessary for the person’s situation.
  • Budget Area: It falls under the Capacity Building – Employment section of the plan. (In practice, the plan will list “Finding and Keeping a Job” or similar line items, and SLES itself is one of those line items.)
  • Uses: Funds here could be used for either pre-employment training (like SLES) or post-employment supports. For example, ongoing job coaching and workplace assistance for someone in a paid job would be funded under Finding & Keeping a Job.

In simple terms, think of “Finding and Keeping a Job” as the NDIS bucket for job-related help. The NDIS provides this as extra support beyond what you’d get from job agencies. As one guide explains, this category exists “to develop long-term employment skills and independence” rather than just place people in jobs. It funds things not usually covered by Disability Employment Services (DES) or other mainstream schemes.

Some providers sum it up by saying: Finding and Keeping a Job funds pre-employment preparation, on-the-job coaching, workplace adjustments, etc., to help people with disability gain and maintain work. Eligibility simply requires an approved NDIS plan with adequate capacity-building funds, and a clear employment goal. Families should mention any employment interests at their planning meeting so the planner can allocate budget in this category. If Finding & Keeping a Job isn’t already in the plan, it can often be added by requesting a plan review and providing evidence of the participant’s work goals (like school or clinician reports).

How SLES Fits into “Finding and Keeping a Job”

Importantly, SLES is funded through the Finding and Keeping a Job category in the NDIS plan. In fact, NDIS lists SLES under a specific line item code (10_021_0102_5_3) within that category. This can be confusing, because SLES feels like its own program, but behind the scenes it’s simply one type of expense paid from the Finding & Keeping a Job budget.

What this means: if a young person has a plan and the planner agrees SLES is appropriate, the plan will have money in Finding & Keeping a Job for School Leaver Employment Supports. The provider will use that budget to run the SLES program (typically up to 2 years). Families often misunderstand and think SLES is a stand-alone program outside the plan, but it’s not – it’s inside that employment section.

Likewise, if someone finishes SLES or ages out, they can still have funding in Finding and Keeping a Job for other employment supports. For example, a school-leaver might do 2 years of SLES to get ready, then transition seamlessly into other Finding & Keeping a Job supports (like job coaching or transition to DES) without having to change the budget category.

According to MyCareSpace (June 2026), SLES funding “falls under the Finding and Keeping a Job category” in the NDIS plan. It also notes SLES funding is “annualised” – you get a set amount each year, not an hourly rate. In short, think of SLES as a particular program paid for by your Finding & Keeping a Job budget.

Key Differences: SLES vs Other Employment Supports

Here’s how to tell SLES apart from the general Finding & Keeping a Job supports (and similar services):

  • Target Group:

    • SLES: Specifically for young people in or just leaving school (roughly Year 12 to age ~22). It’s for those who need more preparation before they can enter the workforce.
    • Finding & Keeping a Job (other supports): Available to any eligible participant, any age (school leavers or not).

  • Focus:

    • SLES: Focuses on pre-employment skills and work experience in a safe learning setting. Typical SLES content includes personal development (confidence, independence), job exploration, internships/work trials, travel training, and work-readiness skills. It’s like “boot camp” for getting job-ready straight out of school.
    • Other F&KJ supports: Can include pre-employment help too, but often emphasise job search and on-the-job support. For example, writing resumes, interview practice, supported employment placements or workplace modifications are core Finding & Keeping a Job activities.

  • Duration & Funding:

    • SLES: Time-limited (generally up to 2 years of post-school support). Funded as a lump-sum (annualised) block for that period. Because it’s block-funded, SLES providers can flexibly provide hours as needed.
    • Other F&KJ: Typically funded by the hour or per service, with rates set by the NDIS Price Guide (if the provider is registered). Supports like job coaches or workplace training are claimed by the hour.

  • Eligibility and Evidence:

    • SLES: The main criteria is school-leaver status and need for intensive support. Planners will look for school reports, transition plans or therapist recommendations to justify SLES funding.
    • Other F&KJ: The participant must simply demonstrate an interest/goal in employment. The NDIA wants evidence of employment-related objectives (letters from teachers, support coordinators or previous job trials can help).

  • Similarities to DES: SLES and “Finding and Keeping a Job” supports are both different from Disability Employment Services (DES). SLES/F&KJ are NDIA-funded and highly individualised; DES is government-run and focuses on actual job placement and retention. (Often, a participant will do SLES first and then move to a DES provider for job hunting.)

A handy summary from Breakthru’s FAQ highlights the contrast: “SLES is for those who have recently graduated school” with a “strong focus on pre-employment skills” (like money handling and travel). In contrast, Finding and Keeping a Job is open to participants of any age and has a “slightly stronger focus on work experience and on-the-job supports”. And typically a person who finishes SLES will then use Finding & Keeping a Job or DES to secure a paid job.

When and How to Move On from SLES

Because SLES is time-limited, families should plan what happens after it ends. Generally:

  • Within SLES (final school years): Encourage planning conversations early. The NDIS suggests discussing employment goals with the planner or support coordinator during the last year or two of school. Gather evidence now (school career plan, teacher recommendations, etc.) so SLES and other employment supports will be included in the next NDIS plan.

  • At SLES completion (1–2 years post-school): The SLES program should include a transition plan to next steps. For example, a quality SLES provider will start introducing participants to job placement agencies or DES before the block ends. In practice, as soon as a school-leaver is job-ready or has aged out of SLES, they can use their Finding & Keeping a Job funding for normal employment support (or apply for DES).

  • If no SLES initially: Not all young people get SLES funding (it depends on need and planner decisions). If a school-leaver didn’t get SLES but still has employment goals, they can still access other Finding & Keeping supports directly (just like older participants).

  • Translating to the plan: After school, any continued employment support just comes out of the same Finding and Keeping a Job category – you don’t need a new category name. If SLES funding runs out, the participant may simply keep looking for a job with whatever remaining Finding & Keeping budget is in the plan, or request more support through plan review.

In short, think of SLES as the first chapter of a longer employment journey. It covers the transition period. Once that chapter ends, the next chapter (Finding and Keeping a Job supports or DES) takes over.

Choosing Employment Support Providers

A support worker and a participant looking at a folder of papers at a table.

Whether you’re looking for SLES or general employment supports, the way to find providers is similar. You’ll want registered NDIS providers experienced in helping participants into work. Here are some tips:

  • Search NDIS Provider Finder: The official NDIS website (or LAC) lets you search by service type. Try keywords like “SLES” or “Finding and keeping a job”. You can also search Google for “SLES providers near me” or “NDIS finding and keeping a job providers” and local results should appear. Many providers list their services online.

  • What to ask providers: Look for experience with school-leavers and real employment. Good SLES or job-ready programs offer hands-on work placements and individual coaching, not just classes. Ask providers about how they deliver “Finding & Keeping” supports: for example, do they help with resume writing, interview practice, workplace modifications, etc.? For SLES, ask about age range, types of work experience and how they coordinate with schools/teachers.

  • Plans and agreements: Providers will ask for an NDIS Service Agreement that outlines the supports they will deliver and costs. (Keep in mind, SLES isn’t billed hourly like many NDIS services – it’s one annual package.) Read your agreement to understand how many hours or services are included. Always clarify what outcomes will be measured (e.g. progress reports, work trial results) so you know how they’ll track your child’s gains.

  • Next Gen Youth Employment: As an example, Next Gen is a national SLES specialist. They focus solely on School Leaver Employment Supports and youth employment. Their coaches provide one-on-one tailored support and connections to local employers. (Naturally, they’d say “We’re here to help!” – which is why we mention them.) But beyond Next Gen, many disability employment providers offer Finding & Keeping a Job services. Choose one that feels right for your young person.

Ultimately, the “right” provider will listen to your goals, have real-world employer contacts, and keep families in the loop with regular updates. You want a partner who helps both find suitable jobs and supports keeping them (e.g. by adjusting duties as needed).

Commonly Asked Questions

  • Do I need “Finding & Keeping a Job” in the plan to get SLES? Yes. SLES is funded as part of that category. If your child is eligible for SLES but their plan has no Finding & Keeping budget, discuss this at your next planning meeting. The planner can usually allocate funds once you explain the goal of employment readiness.

  • At what age does SLES stop? Generally at 22, or two years after finishing school. After that, any support must come from other employment funding (like ongoing capacity-building or DES).

  • Is SLES the same in every state? The NDIS is national, but note the legal school-leaving age can vary by state. SLES is intended for anyone who has “left school” (as per local rules) and needs support.

  • How much does SLES cost (price)? Because SLES is block-funded, there isn’t a per-hour rate listed in the price guide. Instead, providers plan the budget (~$22k/year, as noted above). The important thing is what outcomes you get (skills, experience, reports) rather than a price per se.

  • What about service agreements and claiming? Once you pick a provider, they should give you a written service agreement (as per NDIS rules) specifying supports, reporting and how the funding is used. Make sure you understand how they’ll claim the NDIS funds. Because SLES is block-funded, the provider’s billing might not look like hourly claims. If in doubt, ask your support coordinator or plan manager to help review the agreement.

  • How do I find SLES providers near me or NDIS SLES providers? Besides the NDIS website, you can ask your Local Area Coordinator or Support Coordinator for recommendations. Keywords like “SLES providers” or “Finding and keeping a job providers” in your area can also turn up local options online.

Contact Next Gen Youth Employment for Help

Navigating NDIS jargon is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. Next Gen Youth Employment specialises in SLES and youth work-readiness. Our coaches work with school leavers on real work placements, building skills that last. We help families understand what to ask for in their NDIS plan, how to use Finding and Keeping a Job funding, and how to set up strong service agreements.

If you’re planning ahead for your child’s NDIS review or just want more clarity on SLES vs general employment supports, reach out. Our team can answer your questions about eligibility, funding and providers. Contact Next Gen Youth Employment to learn how we can assist your family – we’re here to help you get work-ready and achieve those employment goals!