Youth Employment Program (Previously SLES)
Practical support for young adults to explore jobs, build work skills and move towards meaningful employment.
Our NDIS youth employment program supports young people aged 15-22 to explore their strengths, build real-world skills, and gain meaningful work experience.
Previously known as School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES), the program helps you understand what work suits you, develop practical skills, and build the experience and confidence to move into open employment.
I Want to Get Job ReadyWho Can Benefit From the Youth Employment Program
Our youth employment program supports young people who are ready to build skills, gain experience, and move towards meaningful work, at different stages of their employment journey. This includes school-aged young people who want to start building skills while still at school, those transitioning from school into work, and young adults aged up to 22 with limited or no work experience.
It also supports individuals moving from school into further study or training, people who need support to find work after completing a qualification, adults over 22 who have never worked but now want to explore employment goals, and those who need to change their occupation due to disability.
The program is flexible and tailored to meet people where they are, supporting each person to build confidence, capability, and pathways into employment.
How Our Youth Employment Program Works
Our youth employment program typically runs for one or two years, giving you time to build skills, confidence, and independence.
You’ll begin with a vocational assessment to explore your strengths and interests, followed by ongoing weekly support (up to 7 hours per week) with a dedicated employment coach.
Available to NDIS participants in VIC, NSW, SA, QLD, ACT and TAS.
The Youth Employment Program
Our support is tailored to your individual goals, strengths, and aspirations. Together, we create a clear plan that guides your supports and is regularly reviewed every 12 weeks to make sure it continues to meet your needs. This includes a skills and needs assessment, 1-1 support from your employment coach, and small group support and activities.
Finding and starting work
- Understanding what kinds of work suits you
- Supporting you to link with, or attend future study, education or training
- Job searching for paid or unpaid opportunities
- Creating a resume, completing job applications and developing interview skills
- Attending and supporting you at interviews if appropriate
- Supporting to identify workplace adjustments and receiving on the job coaching
Building confidence at work
- Knowing what to expect in a workplace
- Travelling to and from work independently
- Managing your time and staying organised
- Communicating with employers, colleagues, and customers
- Handling money and everyday budgeting
Work experience
- Gain hands-on work experience (particularly for young people in Year 11 or 12 where appropriate)
- Explore different job roles and industries to find the right fit
- Receive ongoing support from an employment coach during shifts and workplace participation
One Team Around You
Our youth employment program can be taken on its own, alongside other employment supports, or together with therapy services.
If you choose to take therapy services, you’ll be supported by a youth team who works together on your work and life goals, guided by a youth lead practitioner.
With everyone on the same page, you’ll receive clear direction and consistent support to help you make the most of your NDIS funded supports.
Why Starting Early Matters
Many young people feel like work can wait until later. But starting early, with the right support, can make a big difference.
Building work skills sooner can lead to stronger long-term outcomes, greater confidence, and more experience employers value. And if you’re starting later, that’s okay too, it’s never too late to begin.
Getting Started
If you have Capacity Building – Finding and Keeping a Job Funding in your NDIS plan, you’re ready to submit an enquiry.
Need help adding an employment goal or funding to your NDIS plan? We can help you understand your options and support you to include them.
Our Youth Services
We offer a range of employment supports and therapy services to support young people on their journey towards adult independence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is youth employment support important for young people with disability?
Young people with disability are twice as likely to be unemployed as their peers*, and many NDIS participants who are eligible for employment support aren’t currently accessing it. We see this as a missed opportunity to break down barriers, build skills, and create real pathways into work, study, or volunteering.
We’re here to help change the story and ensure young people with disability have the same opportunity to succeed in work as everyone else.
*Source: Australia’s Disability Strategy
Who is an employment coach?
Our employment coaches are part of your team, helping you get ready for work and move towards open employment.
An employment coach will develop a program and provide services to help you achieve your employment goal. They will help you build employability skills, transport training to get to work, on the job support, training and more.
We have selected our employment coaches for their lived and learned experience, developed through working in employment, disability, or coaching environments.
What is work experience and how does it work?
If you’re in Year 11 or 12, work experience can be included in your program. We’ll organise the placement, match you with a suitable employer, and cover work cover insurance.
Your employment coach will support you at every shift so you can build skills and confidence in a real workplace.
Who is eligible for the Youth Employment Program?
NDIS participants aged 15-22 who have an employment or vocational goal in their NDIS plan are eligible for employment support funding. People 26 years and above who have the right funding can also access our Employment Program.
How is the youth employment program different at Everyday Independence?
Our youth employment program provides skill building, work experience opportunities, and hands-on support in real workplaces.
The program can be taken on its own, alongside other employment supports, or together with therapy services.
If you choose to take therapy services, you’ll be supported by a youth team who works together on your work and life goals, guided by a youth lead practitioner.
With everyone on the same page, you’ll receive clear direction and consistent support to help you make the most of your NDIS funded supports.
Do I need to know what job I want before starting?
No. You don’t need to have it all figured out. We’ll work with you to explore your interests, strengths, and options so you can discover the right pathway for you.
How long does the program run for?
The program typically runs for one to two years, giving you time to build skills, confidence, and independence at your own pace.
How many hours of support will I receive?
Support is flexible and based on your goals, often including up to seven hours per week with your employment coach.
What happens in my first initial appointment with an employment coach?
Your first appointment is about getting to know you. We’ll talk about your goals, strengths, interests, and what support you might need. From there, we’ll start building a plan that feels realistic and achievable for you.
What funding do i need to access the youth employment program?
To access to our youth employment program, you need NDIS Capacity Building – Finding and Keeping a Job – Employment Assistance funding. This was previously known as SLES (School Leaver Employment Support).
Don’t have employment goals or employment funding in your NDIS plan yet? That’s okay – we can help you understand your options and support you to include them in your plan.
What is the cancellation policy for employment coach sessions?
We understand that plans can change. To keep things fair and make sure appointments are available for others, we ask for at least 7 days’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your Employment Coach session.
Cancellations made within 7 days may be treated as a short notice cancellation.
What kind of jobs can I get support into?
We work with you to build the skills, confidence, and experience needed for open employment. The focus is on helping you develop the capabilities to move into work that suits your interests, strengths, and goals.
What areas do you support?
We support people living across VIC, NSW, QLD, SA, ACT, and TAS.
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