Sles NDIS

School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES)

PAVING YOUR PATHWAY FROM SCHOOL TO EMPLOYMENT

Are you finishing school?

Graduating high school and transitioning into the real world can be an extremely exciting yet daunting change. To help you navigate the new transition, breakthru are here to help you build your capacity and learn the skills needed to prepare for work and find a job that’s right for you. 

Our supports are designed to give you the skills, knowledge and experience to pursue your goals after school – be it long-term paid employment, volunteering or tertiary education.

NDIS Sles

What is SLES?

School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) is a plan specific funding item for school leavers that are current or eligible participants with the NDIS. SLES is designed to help young adults prepare for work and gain real-world experience

What does SLES involve? 

If SLES funding has been approved, school leavers will be eligible to receive support for up to 2 years. These supports are varied and diverse, so long as they are focused on improving employment opportunities and work-readiness. Examples of SLES activities may include: 

  • Assistance finding work experience opportunities
  • Training and education 
  • Key skills development:
    • Time Management
    • Travelling
    • Money Handling
    • Taking Instructions 
    • Understanding Workplace Expectations 

After 2 years, most participants will then either have gained a job and/or be ready to transition to Disability Employment Services to receive ongoing support.

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Sign up for a tour!

If you’re feeling unsure about what to do after high school, our SLES tours can be a great way to get started. All of our tours will cover topics like employment pathways, employability skills, program overviews and more.

So if you’re interested on starting your pathway to success after school, leave your details below and one of our friendly staff will be in touch with you soon.

Background

Why is SLES important?

The transition from school to work is a major life change for many young people. In most cases, the transition can feel even harder for people with disability. SLES funding is designed to facilitate a more proactive approach to this major transition. SLES aims to build capacity in new graduates so they have the knowledge, experience and confidence to go out and participate in the community soon after they graduate year 12. 

How do I get SLES in my NDIS plan?

To be eligible for SLES, participants must first be eligible to receive a NDIS plan. During the application process for a NDIS plan (or during the review period), you may choose to apply for SLES if your plan has the goal to gain employment.

For approval to take place, you will need to provide supporting documentation such as a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) from an Occupational Therapist, supporting evidence from your doctor or health care providers, and an individual Transition Plan (ITP) which your school can assist with.

What’s the difference between SLES and DES?

School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) works as an early intervention approach, designed to help school leavers navigate the often daunting transition from high school to employment. Supports are often more focused on building capacity and getting ready to work, as opposed to actually searching for work straight away.

Disability Employment Services (DES) offer more general support, aimed at assisting anyone aged 17 – 64 to find an appropriate job and maintain long term employment. To receive DES supports the young person must be able to work 8 hours fairly independently or have completed SLES Supports for a period of 2 years.

Where we work

We have a large number of locations available, scattered across the Eastern side of Australia.

All of our breakthru locations offer School Leaver Employment Supports, or SLES, with offices throughout Sydney & Regional NSW, Brisbane & Regional Queensland, and Melbourne.

Not sure where your local office is?
Browse our locations here or feel free to give us a call on 1800 767 212 for any assistance that you might need.

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How can breakthru help with SLES?

Our supports are tailored to your needs, goals and circumstances. Whether you’re looking to build confidence in the community or get a better handle on your life skills prior to searching for work, we can help. Some of our services include:

Time Management

We work closely with our SLES participants so they can learn how to plan ahead, prioritise tasks, work to time limits and take appropriate breaks to manage stress.

Travel Assistance

We’ll help you better understand the public transport system, how to identify bus or train routes and navigate independently so you can confidently access the community.

Understanding Expectations

A new job often comes with new expectations. That’s why we’re here to help you navigate your new workplace so you can effectively work to expectations.

Budgeting

To help you gain more independence, we’ll teach you the skills you need to effectively manage money and budget so you can live comfortably and save toward future goals.

Interview & Resume Preparation

When you’re ready, we can help you design a great resume and conduct mock interview to better prepare you for a real-world job seeking experience.

Work Experience

If you want to test the waters and find a job that’s right for you, we can help you secure work experience through our network of local partners and employers.