Supported employment

Support to work in a setting designed for people with disability, such as an Australian Disability Enterprise.

What it means

Supported employment is work in a setting that is designed to employ people with disability and to give them extra help on the job. A common example is an Australian Disability Enterprise, sometimes called an ADE, which is an organisation that runs a workplace with built-in support. In this kind of setting, a person can work while getting more hands-on help than a typical open workplace would provide.

The NDIS can fund supports that help a person take part in supported employment, such as help to learn tasks, stay safe and work alongside others. Supported employment is one pathway to work. The other main pathway is open employment, which means a regular job in the general community. Neither pathway is better than the other; the right choice depends on the person, their goals and the level of support they want at work.

In practice

In a supported employment setting, a person might do tasks like packaging, assembly, gardening or catering, with support workers nearby to guide them and adjust the work to suit their needs. The pace, tasks and support can often be shaped around what each person can do and wants to build on.

When supported employment is included in an NDIS plan, the funding is for the disability-specific supports that help the person work, not for their wages, which come from the employer. It can be helpful to talk with your planner, support coordinator or the employer about your goals, such as building skills or one day moving toward open employment. That way the supports can be set up to match where you want to head.

A real example

For example, Daniel joined an Australian Disability Enterprise that packs and labels products for local businesses. Support workers helped him learn each step, set up his workstation to suit him, and check in through the day. Over time Daniel took on more tasks and set a goal of building the confidence to try open employment later on.

Supported employment — FAQs

What is an Australian Disability Enterprise?
An Australian Disability Enterprise, or ADE, is a workplace designed to employ people with disability and to provide extra support on the job. People do real work, such as packaging, assembly, gardening or catering, with support workers on hand to help. It is one form of supported employment and offers a more supportive setting than a typical open workplace.
Does the NDIS pay my wages in supported employment?
No. Your wages come from your employer, not the NDIS. What the NDIS can fund are the disability-specific supports that help you take part in the work, such as help to learn tasks, stay safe and work with others. Keeping this clear helps you understand what your plan covers and what the workplace is responsible for.
How is supported employment different from open employment?
Supported employment is work in a setting built to employ and support people with disability, like an ADE. Open employment is a regular job in the general community. Supported employment usually offers more hands-on help, while open employment is a mainstream workplace. Both are valid pathways to work, and the right one depends on your goals and support needs.
Can I move from supported to open employment later?
Yes, this can be a goal for many people. Supported employment can help you build skills and confidence that support a later move to open employment if that is what you want. It helps to share this goal with your planner, support coordinator or employer, so your supports can be set up to work toward it over time.
How do I get supported employment into my NDIS plan?
Talk with your planner or support coordinator about your work goals and why supported employment suits you. If it is included, the funding is for the disability-specific supports that help you take part in work. Explaining what help you need to learn and do the job supports the conversation about whether it fits your plan.

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