This guide explains how to interpret the employment supports section of an NDIS plan. We clarify key terminology – including Finding and Keeping a Job, School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) and employment assistance – and show where to locate these line items in an NDIS plan. You’ll find a practical step-by-step approach to reading your plan’s budgets, interpreting funding categories and understanding plan notes. We also answer common questions such as “What if my plan doesn’t mention SLES?”, “Can I use Finding and Keeping a Job funding for any job support?”, and “How do funding periods affect services?”. You’ll get sample budget breakdowns, a pricing guide for employment support, and actionable tips for talking to your plan manager or support coordinator.

NextGen Youth Employment is here to help. We know families and support coordinators often feel confused by NDIS terminology. This guide will walk you through each part of your plan’s employment funding, using official NDIS guidance and real examples. Contact NextGen Youth Employment for personalised plan review and support if you need help turning your NDIS plan into effective employment outcomes.

Understanding NDIS Employment Support Categories

The NDIS funds different kinds of employment-related supports. Each support type has a specific purpose in the job-preparation or job-maintenance journey. Key terms you’ll see are:

• Finding and Keeping a Job (including School Leaver Employment Supports – SLES): This is the main category of NDIS funding for employment. It covers pre-employment and transitional supports, particularly for school-leavers. For example, NDIS describes School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) as “a reasonable and necessary support for Year 12 school leavers to assist them to transition from school and into employment”, including things like work experience, job-site training, travel training and other activities that lead to an employment outcome. SLES funding typically appears in the NDIS plan under Core Supports – Finding and Keeping a Job – School Leaver Employment Supports. This funding is time-limited (often 12–24 months) and is not a one-off lump sum but a continuous budget to use each week or month.
• Employment Assistance: This term refers to supports that build work skills and readiness. Under Finding and Keeping a Job funding, employment assistance might include help to “try different work activities through work experience”, “build essential skills for work… use public transport, communicate with others, understand employer expectations”, “identify and manage barriers to finding and keeping a job”, “connect with an employer and find the right job, including customising a job role” or “develop a career plan”. In other words, it’s all the preparatory activities (coaching, training, transport training, etc.) that help someone move toward employment. If you see Funding labelled as “Finding and Keeping a Job – Employment Assistance” (or just “Finding and Keeping a Job”), it means funds for those kinds of preparatory activities.
• Employment-related Assessment, Counselling and Advice: This is usually a separate line item in some plans. It refers to specialist assessments or counselling that help a participant engage with work. NDIS describes this service as helping participants to “understand their strengths, explore barriers to employment, develop a work goal and plan, make adjustments to work processes or the workplace… and get counselling when their disability prevents return to their previous position”. Examples include vocational assessments by allied health professionals, or advice from an employment specialist.
• Supports in Employment (Support at Work): Once a participant has a paid job or is in supported employment, NDIS can fund ongoing “supports in employment.” This is for on-the-job help beyond what an employer might provide. According to NDIS, supports in employment may include “on-the-job coaching and mentoring, job customisation, setting up the workspace or equipment, and support to manage complex needs at work.”. This might appear in a plan as “Finding and Keeping a Job – Supports in Employment” or similar.

These categories can be summarised as follows:

Table: Comparing NDIS employment support categories. This shows the main types of employment-related funding you might find in a plan. Each serves a different purpose. (Note: NDIS categories can vary slightly; always read your plan’s headings carefully.)

Also note: Transitional SLES to June 2027. Current NDIS pricing arrangements specify that SLES funding can continue under “transitional arrangements” up to 30 June 2027 for eligible participants. In practice, this means if your plan already includes Finding and Keeping a Job – School Leaver Employment Supports, you will likely keep that budget (or similar) until mid-2027 even if terminology changes. (Typically, “transitional SLES” is an intensive program lasting 12–18 months.)

Finding Employment Budgets in Your NDIS Plan

When you open an NDIS plan document, the employment supports usually live under Core Supports (for SLES and some employment assistance) and sometimes under Capacity Building (for supports in employment or assessments). Each plan is a bit different, but common sections include:

• Core Supports – Assistance with Daily Life: You might see “Finding and Keeping a Job – School Leaver Employment Supports” here if it’s SLES funding.
• Core Supports – Improved Relationships (Finding and Keeping a Job): Some plans list “Finding & Keeping a Job” items here (especially older plans).
• Capacity Building – Employment: This covers most employment supports in newer plans, including Finding and Keeping a Job (for employment assistance), Employment Assessment/Counselling, and Supports in Employment.

Look for headings like “Finding and Keeping a Job – …” or simply “Finding and Keeping a Job”. Under that, you may see sub-items such as “Employment Assistance”, “Assessment/Counselling”, and “Supports in Employment”. The plan budget lines might list services and dollar amounts for each item.

Sample Budget Breakdown

To illustrate, here’s a made-up example of how employment supports might appear in a plan budget table:

Table: Sample plan budget (illustrative) for employment supports. Each line shows how many hours and rate might form the total budget. Actual plans will differ – some lines might be weekly hours, others an annual amount. 

Mermaid Chart: Deciding Next Steps

Flowchart: How to interpret employment funding in your plan and next steps. First confirm if the plan includes any “Finding & Keeping a Job” or employment support line (B). Then identify which type: SLES vs general employment assistance vs assessment vs support at work. Use that clue to know how to use the funds (E-H). Finally, get appropriate support to achieve employment goals (I). Always involve your support coordinator or plan manager.

How to Read Your NDIS Plan: Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps to decode the employment section of your plan:

• Locate the Employment Budget Lines: Scan the plan for “Finding and Keeping a Job” or “School Leaver Employment Supports”. NDIS often groups this under Core Supports or Capacity Building. You might see headings like “Core Supports – Finding and Keeping a Job (SLES)” or “Capacity Building – Employment”. If in doubt, check the Table of Contents or search the PDF for “job” or “employment”.

• Identify the Support Types: Under the Finding & Keeping a Job heading, identify any sub-lines. Common items are:

• School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES): Usually in Core Supports for Year 12 leavers.
• Employment Assistance / Capacity Building – F&K a Job: General work-readiness support.
• Employment-related Assessment/Counselling: Diagnostic or planning services.
• Supports in Employment: On-the-job coaching/maintenance.

• Check Funding Periods: Note the duration of each funding line. Sometimes a plan will show an end date or say “up to June 2027” for SLES under transitional arrangements. Others may be annual budgets. If the plan spans multiple years, confirm which year each amount applies to. For example, a plan might be for 2 years and list Year 1 and Year 2 budgets separately.

• Understand the Budget Amounts: NDIS plans typically list a dollar amount per year or per year span for each item. Work out the hourly or weekly breakdown if possible. For example, $6,000/year for SLES might equate to 2 hours/week at $60/hr. This helps you plan actual sessions. (See the sample budget table above.)

• Look for Plan Notes: NDIS plans often include notes or context. For example, under SLES it might state “2 hrs/week SLES for vocational skills development”. Under Supports in Employment, it might say “Up to 3 days/week of job coaching once employed”. These notes tell you what the NDIA expected. Read them carefully.

• Clarify with Your Plan Manager or Coordinator: If any line is confusing, ask your support coordinator or plan manager. They can explain if “Finding and Keeping a Job” funding is in Core or Capacity, and how it must be used.

• Translate Budget into Services: Once you know the hours or total dollars, think about how to allocate them. For example, if you have 100 hours of SLES ($6,000), you could schedule 2 hours/week coaching for 50 weeks. If you have $1,200 for Assessment, that might cover one vocational assessment. Planning this early helps ensure nothing goes unused.

Key Questions Answered

Below are common questions participants and families have when reviewing an NDIS plan’s employment section, with suggested ways to address them.

• Q: “My plan doesn’t say SLES anywhere – it only mentions ‘Finding and Keeping a Job’ funding.”
  A: This is actually normal. School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) is often listed simply under the Finding & Keeping a Job category. If your young person just left school, check for a line like “Finding and Keeping a Job – School Leaver Employment Supports”. If there’s no separate SLES line, it may be included in general employment assistance. In many cases after 1 July 2024, the term SLES may be replaced with more generic “Finding and Keeping a Job” wording, but the funding and purpose remain the same. In short: not seeing “SLES” explicitly doesn’t mean you lost it; it could just be lumped under Finding & Keeping a Job in the plan. If unsure, ask your support coordinator to confirm whether that budget is for the school-leaver pathway.

• Q: “Can I use my Finding & Keeping a Job funding for any employment service I want?”
  A: No. Finding & Keeping a Job funding has specific guidelines. It should be used for supports that directly help achieve the employment goals in the plan. This means job readiness training, workplace simulations, career counselling, transport training, etc. It does NOT cover unrelated things like general therapy or non-employment daily living supports. Also, the provider’s services must align with the funded category. For example, you cannot use “Supports in Employment” funds (which are meant for someone already employed) to pay for job interview preparation. Always match the service to the support line. If a provider offers many programs, clarify with them which program uses which funding. (Tip: Good providers will label their service agreements clearly and will explain how they fit the plan line.)

• Q: “How do funding periods affect what I can do?”
  A: NDIS budgets usually run for the whole plan year. However, some funding lines may have start or end dates. For example, a plan might say SLES is funded until June 2025, and a different budget picks up after that. It’s important to check if any employment funding expires sooner than the plan end date. If a budget runs out, you cannot add support beyond what was approved unless you get a plan review. If your support happens over multiple years (for example, schooling then post-school), make sure the funding covers each stage. Always check “Start” and “End” dates next to each line.

• Q: “Where exactly do I find the available budget to spend?”
  A: The dollar amount listed beside each line (e.g. “$6,000”) is the total budget for that period. Your job is to ensure that your bookings with providers do not exceed that budget. The service agreement (contract) will use an hourly rate to convert services into that budget. For example, if a provider charges $60/hr, and you have $6,000, you can buy 100 hours of service. Your plan manager can also help track spend. A useful trick is to ask your plan manager for a “budget utilisation report” or use online plan management tools if available.

• Q: “What should I ask my plan manager, support coordinator or provider?”
  A: Here are some good questions to get clarity:

  • “Can you show me where the Finding & Keeping a Job funding is in the plan?” (Verify which section and line.)
  • “Is this budget labelled SLES or just F&K a Job?” (Helps identify transitional arrangements.)
  • “Which category does this funding fall under in the Price Guide (Core or Capacity)?
  • “How do the funded hours or budget translate to services (e.g. hours per week)?”
  • “What activities are we expecting to use this funding for?” (E.g. work experience, job training, interview prep.)
  • “If we don’t use all of it, will it roll over or do we lose it at end of plan?”

  Checklist Tip: Create a personal checklist of these questions and any others specific to your situation. Bring it to meetings with your support coordinator or plan review to ensure nothing is overlooked.

• Q: “How does a service agreement translate budget into support?”
  A: A service agreement is the contract between you (or your nominee) and the provider. It will list the funded support (e.g. “F&K – SLES”) and the rate (e.g. $60/hour). The provider uses this to plan how many sessions you get. For example, if you have $6,000 and the provider rate is $60/hr, the agreement might say “100 sessions of 1 hour each”. Always cross-check that the service agreement aligns with the line item. If there’s a mismatch (wrong category or rate), raise it before signing. Good providers will map their services to your plan line so that you won’t accidentally overspend or use the wrong funding. Keep a copy of the service agreement and update it if the provider’s staffing or rates change.

Pricing Guide: What Does Employment Support Cost?

Understanding typical prices helps ensure your budget is used wisely. NDIS sets price limits, but providers may charge different rates (up to the maximum). Key points:

• Hourly Rates: One-on-one job coaching or work skills training often ranges $60–$85 per hour in Australia (individualised 1:1 support). Group training (2+ participants) might be $30–$50 per person per hour. Allied health or specialist assessment sessions can range $100–$200 per session (depending on type and length). These figures are indicative; always ask your provider for their current rates and check they do not exceed NDIS price limits.

• Travel Costs: Many providers charge a per-kilometre travel fee for staff travelling to your community or workplace. Typical rates are around $0.80–$1.00 per kilometre. This usually covers petrol. If your participant can attend provider premises, travel may not apply. Always clarify travel costs up-front in the service agreement.

• Admin Fees: Some providers add an administration or coordination fee (often around 5–10% of the service cost). This should be transparent in the service agreement. If a quote looks high, ask if it includes admin overheads or is purely for support hours.

• What Price Covers: Check what’s included. For example, if a provider says “$60/hr”, does that cover both the support worker’s time and any travel? Or is travel extra? Does group training charge a flat rate per person? Clarity here avoids surprise.

• NDIS Price Guide: NDIS publishes an official price guide with maximum rates. For example, as of 2024, the NDIS maximum price for “SLES – Core” was around $59.68/hr. (These updates annually.) Providers cannot exceed these maximums. You can request your plan manager to confirm that rates are within the current NDIS Price Guide.

Sample Price Table

Table: Typical NDIS employment support prices (indicative range). Remember these are ballpark ranges. Always get a quote and confirm what is included. For exact NDIS price limits, see the official NDIS Price Guide.

Price Variability and Transparency

Pricing can vary by provider, region, and service intensity. For example, a job coach in a rural area may charge more due to longer travel. Some providers include travel in their hourly rate, others list it separately. To keep things clear:

• Ask for detailed quotes: Request the hourly rate, expected session length and frequency, plus any travel or admin fees.
• Compare providers: Use our provider comparison to see different service models. (Insert NextGen internal link to a provider-comparison page here.)
• Ensure value: Cheaper isn’t always better; consider experience and outcomes. But always weigh against your budget.

NextGen Youth Employment can help you interpret these costs. We provide clear service agreements and will work within your specific F&K a Job or SLES budget. Let us know your funding and goals, and we’ll outline exactly how many sessions and what supports that enables.

NextGen Youth Employment Can Help

Understanding and using Finding and Keeping a Job funding in your NDIS plan is crucial for success. At NextGen Youth Employment, we specialise in turning NDIS plans into real-world employment outcomes for young people. We encourage you to:

• Review Your Plan with Us: If you’re unsure about the employment supports in your plan, get in touch. We can help you interpret each line, ensure you’re maximising your budget, and set a clear path forward.
• Plan Your Supports: We will align our program (whether one-to-one, group skills training, or workplace transitions) with the exact funding in your plan. For example, if you have 50 hours of SLES funding, we’ll schedule 50 hours of personalised work readiness training.
• Monitor and Adapt: As your goals and abilities grow, NextGen can help adjust support levels. We’ll help liaise with your plan manager or NDIA to reallocate or review funding if needed.

Don’t navigate this alone. If any part of your NDIS employment funding feels confusing, or if you want to check whether you’re using your plan effectively, contact NextGen Youth Employment. We offer no-obligation conversations to explain how your plan’s budget can translate into concrete support hours and outcomes. Let’s work together to turn your Finding and Keeping a Job funding into real employment success.