The NDIS and employment: a participant guide
How the NDIS supports your work goals: DES, SLES, supported and open employment, and building skills — a plain-English participant guide.
Work means different things to different people — a first job, more hours, or moving from a supported setting into the open market. Whatever it means to you, your NDIS plan can help you take the next step. This guide maps how the pieces fit together, points you to the more detailed guides in this series, and clears up a few common mix-ups along the way.
Work can be part of your plan
What the NDIS actually funds toward work
The NDIS and DES are two different things
Supported, open and the paths between
If study is part of the plan
Where to start
Frequently asked questions
Does the NDIS find me a job?
No. The NDIS funds support to help you prepare for, find and keep work, but it isn't an employment agency and doesn't place you in a job. A Disability Employment Services (DES) provider does that job-matching work, and the two can run side by side.
Will working reduce my NDIS funding?
Earning an income doesn't automatically change your plan, because NDIS funding is based on your disability support needs, not your earnings. Your supports may shift over time as your skills grow, but that's about need, not punishment. See Keeping Your Plan When You Start Work.
Which budget pays for employment supports?
Employment-related supports usually sit in Capacity Building, often described as help to find and keep a job. Read your plan or ask your planner to confirm what yours includes.
How old do I need to be to get work supports?
Work goals can start well before you leave school through transition planning, and SLES is designed for people finishing Year 12. There's no single age — it's about readiness and what's in your plan.
Can I get NDIS help if I already have a job?
Yes. On-the-job support to help you keep and thrive in a role is a recognised NDIS support. If you're struggling to hold a job because of your disability, raise it at your next planning conversation.