School Leaver Employment Support (SLES)
Individualised courses for school leavers with Neurodiversity
School Leaver Employment Support (SLES)
Individualised courses for school leavers with Neurodiversity
Introduction to SLES
Employ for Ability’s SLES is an individualised NDIS-funded journey that combines small-group programs with 1:1 coaching and supported work experience to help eligible neurodivergent young adults build the skills, confidence and independence needed to not just find a job but to successfully and sustainably hold onto employment.
As with all Employ for Ability programs, SLES follows a strengths-based learning philosophy, providing practical skills and increasing our participants’ confidence in navigating the workforce and understanding their preferred ways of working.
Our team brings professional knowledge and lived experience of neurodivergence. We neuro-affirming approach tailored to each participant’s goals, learning preferences and support needs.
What does SLES entail?
Each participant begins with a review of their strengths, interests, learning preferences, support needs and employment goals.
Together we’ll develop a tailored program that meets typically including EFA’s NDIS modules together with 1:1 coaching support and supported work experience.
Depending on the participant’s goals, their program may cover:
- Understanding Autism and identifying your strengths
- Theory of mind, learning different perspectives, and managing intolerance of uncertainty
- Self-awareness and self-regulation
- Managing co-occurring conditions
- Effective Communication
- Time management
- Executive Functioning
- Finance skills
- Employment Pursuit, and
- Independent travel.
Additionally, supported work experience is offered with a variety of employers such as hospitality, fast food, warehouse, gardening/groundskeeping and cinema.
Work Experience
Employ for Ability partners with employers and organisations to provide participants with a variety of real-world work experience opportunities.
For further information, please see our NDIS Work Experience page.
Who is it for?
EFA’s SLES program is designed for NDIS participants who:
- are aged 18 to 25
- have finished school and are early in their career journey
- want to build practical skills through supported work experience
- have an employment goal and need additional support to prepare for employment, further education or training, and
- have appropriate self-managed or plan-managed NDIS funding.
If SLES is not the right fit, you may still be able to access other EFA NDIS programs; visit our NDIS Programs page.
How do I know if I have funding?
Check your NDIS plan for funding under Capacity Building – Finding and Keeping a Job. Your funding may also be described as Employment Assistance. Some older plans may refer specifically to School Leaver Employment Supports.
Your plan manager, support coordinator or NDIS contact can help confirm your funding. EFA can also review the relevant section of your plan before you commence. EFA works with participants with self-managed or plan-managed NDIS funding; at this stage we are unable to accept agency-managed funding.
If Employment Assistance is not included in your plan, speak with your NDIS contact about your employment goals and support needs. You can raise this at your next plan reassessment or ask whether a change to your current plan may be appropriate.
If SLES is not the right fit, you may still be able to access other EFA NDIS programs; visit our NDIS Programs page.
Next Steps
Your EFA journey begins with an initial assessment with one of our Developmental Educators. During this appointment, we will discuss your goals, strengths, support needs and available NDIS funding and determine whether SLES is right for you.
To book the appointment visit our NDIS Programs page.