Work and study are important parts of life for many people, with no exclusion for people with disabilities. The Australian Government is committed to helping people with disabilities who have the desire and capacity to obtain primary, secondary, and tertiary (higher) education, to improve their caliber, competency, skills, and experience in order to become a part of the growing economy.

Supports for higher education are intended to support participants in acquiring qualifications and developing new skills to find and retain employment. An NDIS plan may fund support attending higher education, covering the cost for a support worker to attend lectures or classes with the participant, or to help the participant study and complete various tasks, such as note-taking.

The NDIS only covers ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports that are directly related to one’s disability, and they will want to be satisfied that the support will be effective in helping the participants pursue their goals.

For example:

1. Is the course appropriate for the goal the participant has identified?
2. Is it reasonably likely that the participant will successfully complete the course, and is there an opportunity for paid employment or professional volunteering after completing the course?

The NDIS will generally not fund, or continue to fund, higher education when:

1. There is no clear or demonstrated benefit or outcome.
2. You fail to maintain satisfactory progress.
3. You withdraw or are expelled by the educational facility on the grounds of misconduct.

When it comes to university support, the NDIS will generally fund the following:

1. Self-care at university, which is related to the participant’s disability, like support with eating.
2. Specialized training of teachers and other staff about the specific personal support needs as a student with a disability.
3. Specialist transport required because of one’s disability.
4. Transportable equipment such as a wheelchair or personal communication devices.

Along with helping people with disabilities to get higher education, the NDIS may support participants to find and keep a job.

Disability employment service providers offer similar working conditions to other employers and an opportunity for people with disabilities to contribute and connect to their local community. They provide a wide range of employment opportunities including packaging, assembly, production, recycling, screen-printing, plant nursery, garden maintenance and landscaping, cleaning services, laundry services, and food services. Employment support also helps them develop critical skills necessary to thrive in the modern economy, for example, resume writing and interview skills, among others.

Support can also include career advice, employment preparation, and training. The participant can also get help with job searching and ongoing support at work (if required), including funding for necessary workplace modifications and wage subsidies to employers.

At Affection Disability Care, we can provide necessary training and learning opportunities to upskill the participants to meet their employment needs. We, along with our community partners, can create custom training plans for our valuable clients. It will help people with disabilities to meet the individual employment goals, find and keep jobs, get promoted to better jobs, upgrade or expand their workplace skills, plus more. Depending on the participant’s employment goals and their current skill level, the supports to develop complementary skills may include, but are not limited to:

1. Social and business communication.
2. Money management.
3. Travel training.
4. Personal hygiene and personal presentation.
5. Workplace norms, behaviors, and expectations.
6. Understanding rights and responsibilities in the workplace.
7. Teamwork.
8. Decision making and problem-solving.
9. Planning and organizing.
10. Working independently.
11. Time management and prioritizing.
12. Conflict resolution and negotiation.
13. Self-motivation and self-determination.
14. Computer literacy.
15. Life skills and personal administration.
16. How a participant can sell themselves and their unique service offering.
17. Resume preparation and job search strategies.
18. Submitting a job application.
19. Interview preparation.
20. Recruitment paperwork preparation.
21. Preparing for a participant’s first day and induction.

Participants can also discuss the different employment pathways and employment types. This will help participants better understand their work options.

We ensure that our participants receive the training and develop their skills to gain access to the workforce. We are partnered with other service providers to upgrade their competencies and gain necessary qualifications required by employers. Our contribution and support in accessing and maintaining employment will improve their ability to work and be rewarded appropriately. We also help enhance their social collaboration and inclusion in the professional and social mainstream. With the help of our assistance, our valuable clients can access assistance that includes:

1. Supports to help school leavers find employment, enabling a smooth transition from school to the job market.
2. Supporting further education and training.
3. Pre- and post-employment job support.
4. Support in a group job preparation.
5. Assistance to find the right employer.
6. Developing plans to keep up employment.
7. Upskilling communication and teamwork.
8. Transition into part-time/full-time work.
9. Opportunities of in-house and out-of-the-house training.
10. Flexible working hours.

We can also deliver support to the participants who are not able to work in open employment. Our specialized support program offers great opportunity to the participants to develop professional skills, practices, and routines to take up employment opportunities. We also help develop the critical skills that are needed to flourish in modern social and professional settings. These include but are not limited to:

1. Developing the expertise to manage various professional tasks independently.
2. Develop the skills to complete tasks on time and with professionalism.
3. Develop the sense of watchfulness and the skills to respond to emergencies.

If you or your loved ones are early school leavers and are thinking about learning, development, or employment, talk to your support coordinator, planner, or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) about School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) programs. If you are working in supported employment and are looking for a change, talk to your LAC or Support Coordinator about your new employment goals. They can refer you to us, or you can recommend us to them. Either way will work.