Finding a job with a disability
Practical steps to find work with a disability — who helps, how DES and NDIS supports fit together, disclosure choices and workplace adjustments.
Looking for work with a disability can feel daunting, but you don't have to do it alone. Between Disability Employment Services, NDIS supports and supported employers, there's real help available. This guide walks through practical steps — getting clear on what you want, who can help you look, whether to tell an employer, and the adjustments that make a job workable.
Start with what you're looking for
Who helps you find work
Deciding whether to tell an employer
Adjustments that make a job workable
Where to look for roles
Putting it together, step by step
Frequently asked questions
Is DES part of the NDIS?
No. Disability Employment Services is funded by the federal employment department, not the NDIS. It helps people with disability find and keep open-market work, and it can run alongside your NDIS supports.
Do I have to tell my employer I have a disability?
Usually not, if it doesn't affect your ability to do the job safely. Disclosure is your choice. Sharing can make it easier to arrange adjustments, but how much you say is up to you.
Can the NDIS help me keep a job, not just get one?
Yes. On-the-job support to help you settle in and hold a role is a recognised support, usually in Capacity Building. Raise it with your planner if keeping work is where you need help.
What if I've never worked before?
That's common and perfectly fine. Work experience, volunteering or supported employment can be gentle first steps. See Work Experience and the NDIS and Volunteering and the NDIS.
Who pays for workplace equipment?
It depends. Employers are expected to make reasonable adjustments, and some equipment may come through other government schemes. NDIS funding focuses on disability supports that are about you, not general workplace costs — check your plan.