Supporting Teens to Transition Beyond School: Futures Planning With the NDIS

Good post, helpful topic. Clean up formatting, add links including to the SLES page, and sharpen the ending.

Supporting teens to transition beyond school

Leaving school is a big deal. Exciting, overwhelming, and full of unknowns. For young people with disability, that transition often comes with extra challenges, particularly when it comes to navigating adult life, accessing the right supports, and building a picture of what comes next.

That is where futures planning comes in.

At Loving Life, we believe every young person deserves a clear path beyond school, one that is shaped by their own strengths, goals, and interests rather than a default pathway someone else mapped out for them.

What is futures planning?

Futures planning is about supporting participants and families to map out what life could look like after school. It is not just about getting a job, although that is often part of it. It is about building independence, growing confidence, and finding meaningful opportunities that fit the person.

A good futures plan might include:

• Building everyday life skills like catching the bus, managing money, or preparing meals

• Trying new experiences like short courses, volunteer work, or community programs

• Exploring career interests with the right supports in place

• Connecting with the community through hobbies, groups, or social activities

The plan looks different for every young person. That is the point.

Families play a huge role

For many participants, families are their biggest advocates and strongest support through this transition.

Futures planning works best when families start conversations early, ideally in Year 10 or 11 rather than waiting until the final term of school. Encouraging your teen's strengths and interests, helping explore different pathways beyond the expected ones, and working closely with support workers, coordinators, and therapists all make a significant difference to how smooth that transition feels.

How a support coordinator can help

If you are working with a support coordinator, they can guide you through understanding what supports are available and what is NDIS funded, setting short, medium, and long-term goals, finding the right programs and services, and coordinating the right mix of support around your teen as their needs evolve.

Futures planning is not a one-time conversation. It is a flexible roadmap that should change as your young person grows and their goals shift.

NDIS supports that may help with the transition

The NDIS can fund a range of supports for school leavers depending on their goals and plan.

School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) are designed for teens who need extra support to build workplace readiness and transition toward employment over time.

Capacity building under Improved Daily Living covers therapy supports like occupational therapy or psychology to increase functional independence.

Community participation supports help young people build social skills, explore hobbies, and try new activities in the community.

Employment Assistance is available for teens aged 15 to 25 who are ready to explore or move toward the workforce. Note that this support type is gradually replacing SLES from mid-2027.

Further education support can cover study assistance, personal care, or transport for teens moving into TAFE or further training.

Not every teen will need all of these. A good futures plan reflects what is actually relevant to your young person right now, with room to grow.

Where to start

A few practical steps families can take now:

• Start the conversation early. What kind of life does your teen want after school?

• Collect ideas from your teen, their teachers, and their therapy team

• Explore options without defaulting to the obvious pathways

• Ask your support coordinator to help set realistic steps and timelines

The transition out of school does not have to feel like falling off a cliff. With the right planning and the right supports, it can feel like a genuine launch.

Supporting school leavers on the Gold Coast

At Loving Life, we support young people through this transition through SLES, 1:1 support, and group programs designed to build real-world skills and confidence. We are here for every step of that journey.

If you would like to talk about what transition support might look like for your teen, we would love to have that conversation.

Get in touch with the Loving Life team here.