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Finding and Keeping a Job with NDIS: What You Need to Know

Key Points:

• NDIS Finding and Keeping a Job supports help eligible participants build work skills, prepare for employment, and maintain meaningful jobs through personalised employment assistance.
• Employment offers people with disability far more than financial independence, providing purpose, connection, and empowerment that enriches their lives.
• The NDIS Finding and Keeping a Job category funds a wide range of personalised supports, such as resume writing, interview coaching, and workplace modifications.
• Accessing these supports requires an active NDIS plan with approved Capacity Building funding, and participants can request a plan review if their current plan doesn’t include them.
• The Personnel Group is a registered NDIS provider offering tailored employment services to help participants confidently enter, navigate, and thrive in the workforce.

Summary:

Employment is transformative for people with disability, offering purpose, confidence, and independence beyond just financial security. The NDIS Finding and Keeping a Job support category, funded through the Capacity Building budget, provides tailored assistance at every stage of the employment journey. As a registered NDIS provider, The Personnel Group offers personalised, comprehensive employment services designed to help participants find and maintain meaningful work that aligns with their unique strengths and goals.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. What is NDIS Finding and Keeping a Job?
3. Are You Eligible for Support?
4. How are NDIS Finding and Keeping a Job Supports Funded?
5. What Supports Can You Receive Through Finding and Keeping a Job?
6. How to Access Finding and Keeping a Job Supports
7. How The Personnel Group Can Help You Find & Keep a Job
8. Start Achieving Your Employment Goals with Us

Employment can be a life-changing experience for individuals with disability. It offers more than just financial independence by providing a sense of purpose, connection, confidence, and empowerment.

Yet, many people with disability face unique challenges in finding meaningful work and staying employed. These challenges can range from limited access to inclusive opportunities, a lack of tailored support, or difficulties with transport, communication, or training.

That’s where the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) comes in. Through targeted support categories, the NDIS helps people overcome these barriers so they can pursue meaningful employment. One of these categories is Finding and Keeping a Job.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover everything you need to know about NDIS Finding and Keeping a Job supports. We’ll explore what this support category encompasses, how to access these services, the types of assistance available, and how The Personnel Group can partner with you on your employment journey.

What is NDIS Finding and Keeping a Job?

Finding and Keeping a Job is a dedicated support category within your Capacity Building budget that focuses on enhancing your employment prospects and career sustainability. This support aims to increase your skills and empower you to reach your professional goals by helping you find and maintain employment that’s right for your unique situation.

The finding and keeping a job NDIS support can fund things that aren’t available through mainstream programs or that aren’t accessible to everyone. It recognises that work looks different for everyone and aims to provide flexible, individualised support to meet your goals. This can improve not just your work skills, but also your self-esteem, confidence, and independence.

Are You Eligible for Support?

To access Finding and Keeping a Job supports, you must meet several key criteria that ensure the funding aligns with your individual circumstances and goals. The primary requirement is that you must be an active NDIS participant with approved funding in your budget that corresponds to your job-seeking or career development objectives.

All NDIS-funded supports, including employment services, must be deemed ‘reasonable and necessary’ in relation to your specific situation and needs. This means the support must be directly related to your disability, help you achieve your goals, and represent value for money.

If you’re looking to enter the workforce, transition into open employment, or have specific goals related to your career trajectory, you can determine whether you have this funding by examining your Capacity Building budget within your current NDIS plan. Your plan will clearly outline what supports are available to you and the funding allocated for each category.

How are NDIS Finding and Keeping a Job Supports Funded?

Finding and Keeping a Job supports are funded through the Capacity Building section of your NDIS budget. This section is specifically designed to help build your independence and skills across various life areas, including employment. The amount of funding allocated depends on your individual circumstances, goals, and assessed needs.

Your funding allocation is determined during your planning meeting with the NDIS, where you’ll discuss your employment goals and the supports you need to achieve them. The NDIA considers factors such as your current skills, the support you require to find and maintain employment, and how these supports align with your overall NDIS goals.

What Supports Can You Receive Through Finding and Keeping a Job?

The NDIS Finding and Keeping a Job category encompasses a comprehensive range of services designed to support you at every stage of your employment journey. These supports are tailored to meet you where you are and help you progress towards your career goals.

Pre-Employment Supports

Before entering the workforce, many participants benefit from foundational supports that prepare them for successful job searching and workplace integration:

• Career counselling – Helps you identify your strengths, interests, and career preferences while exploring realistic employment options that align with your skills and aspirations
• Resume building assistance – Ensures your application materials effectively showcase your abilities and experience to potential employers, with professional writers who understand how to highlight your strengths while addressing any employment gaps in a positive manner
• Cover letter development – Helps you communicate your enthusiasm and suitability for specific roles in compelling written applications
• Interview preparation – Builds your confidence and communication skills through practice interviews, feedback, and coaching to help you present yourself professionally and answer questions effectively
• Professional presentation guidance – Includes advice on appropriate workplace attire, body language, and how to discuss your disability positively when relevant

On-the-Job Supports

Once you’ve secured employment, various supports help ensure your success and job retention:

• Workplace modifications – These may include assistive technology, ergonomic equipment, or environmental adjustments that enable you to perform your role effectively and create an accessible, productive work environment
• Job coaching – Provides personalised, one-on-one support as you navigate your new workplace, helping you understand workplace culture, develop specific work skills, manage relationships with colleagues, and address any challenges that arise
• Mentoring programs – Connect you with experienced workers who can provide ongoing guidance, support, and encouragement, offering valuable insights into career development, workplace dynamics, and professional growth opportunities
• Ongoing skills development – Support to help you learn new skills required for your role or advance your career within your current workplace
• Workplace advocacy – Assistance in communicating your needs to employers and ensuring reasonable adjustments are implemented and maintained

Transition Supports

Life involves various transitions, and employment supports recognise the need for assistance during these pivotal moments:

• School-to-work transition – Helps young people with disabilities move from education into employment, addressing the unique challenges this transition presents through workplace exposure, career exploration, and gradual integration into work environments
• Job-to-job transition – Assists when you’re changing roles, whether by choice or necessity, including career counselling, skills assessment, job search assistance, and support to ensure a smooth transition between positions without gaps in employment
• Career advancement support – Helps you progress within your current workplace or transition to more senior roles, including skills development and professional development planning
• Industry change assistance – Supports you when moving between different industries or career fields, helping you transfer existing skills and develop new ones as needed

How to Access Finding and Keeping a Job Supports

If Finding and Keeping a Job supports aren’t currently included in your approved NDIS plan, you can access them through the following process:

• Request a plan review – Contact your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIS plan manager to request additional or different funding as your needs and goals evolve
• Understand the approval process – Keep in mind that making a request doesn’t guarantee approval. Any changes to your plan must be assessed and approved by the NDIA first.
• Gather supporting evidence – Before your planning meeting, collect documentation showing how these supports align with your employment goals.
• Prepare for your planning meeting – Be specific about the types of employment supports you need and provide concrete examples of how these supports will make a difference in your life and contribute to your long-term independence and well-being
• Articulate the benefits – Clearly outline how employment supports will help you achieve your goals and contribute to your independence and community participation

How The Personnel Group Can Help You Find & Keep a Job

As a registered NDIS provider, The Personnel Group specialises in delivering personalised NDIS Employment Services for participants who require tailored support in finding and maintaining employment. We understand that every individual’s journey is unique, and our approach reflects this understanding through comprehensive, individualised service delivery.

Our process begins with getting to know you, including your strengths, challenges, interests, and work aspirations. Based on this understanding, we create a tailored service agreement that clearly outlines how we’ll support you in gaining employment opportunities that are genuinely suited to your skills and interests.

Our Service Approach:

• Minimum of 3 hour blocks per week – You decide how often we meet, ensuring our support fits comfortably into your life and schedule
• Inclusive support – We warmly welcome your family members, carers, or support workers to join our meetings and be part of your employment journey
• Personalised planning – Every service agreement is tailored to your individual goals and circumstances

Our Comprehensive Support Services Include:

• Career advice – Matching your skills and interests to realistic career paths and achievable goals
• Work readiness preparation – Ensuring you’re fully prepared for the job market, including understanding workplace expectations and developing essential work skills
• Resume and cover letter development – Creating compelling job applications that effectively showcase your abilities to potential employers
• Job search assistance – Helping you navigate the employment market with confidence, using effective strategies and accessing hidden job opportunities
• Local employer connections – Showcasing your skills directly to potential employers, often leading to opportunities that might not be advertised publicly
• Referrals to appropriate supports – Ensuring you have access to all the resources you need for employment success
• Work experience opportunities – Providing practical skills development in real workplace environments, building your confidence and demonstrating your capabilities
• Interview coaching – Helping you polish your interview skills to present yourself professionally and confidently to potential employers
• Personal presentation guidance – Ensuring you know how to present your best professional self in workplace settings
• Travel training – Building your confidence in getting to work independently and on time
• Self-advocacy skills development – Teaching you how to empower yourself in the workplace and communicate your needs effectively
• On-the-job support – Providing ongoing assistance to help you thrive in your new role and maintain employment successfully

Start Achieving Your Employment Goals with Us

Employment represents a fundamental pathway to independence, financial security, and personal fulfilment for people with disabilities. The NDIS Finding and Keeping a Job support category provides comprehensive assistance to help you achieve your career goals, no matter what stage you are in your employment journey.

Taking the first step towards accessing employment supports might feel daunting, but you don’t have to do this on your own. Professional employment service providers, such as The Personnel Group, are here to guide, support, and advocate for you every step of the way.

If you’re ready to explore your employment options and discover how NDIS Finding and Keeping a Job supports can help you achieve your career goals, we invite you to get in touch with The Personnel Group today.

Our experienced team is ready to work with you to create a personalised employment plan that builds on your strengths and helps you achieve the career success you deserve. Contact us to begin your employment journey with confidence and professional support.