SLES Is Now Employment Assistance: What Families Need to Know
Updated: Oct 13
If someone has told you about SLES (School Leaver Employment Supports), you may have noticed the NDIS doesn't use that name much anymore. School leaver employment help is moving to a support called Employment Assistance. This guide explains what's changed, what Employment Assistance covers, who it's for, and how to get it into a plan.
The short version
SLES is being phased out. The NDIS now funds this kind of help as Employment Assistance, and sector guidance says the move is expected to be complete by 2027.
If SLES is already in your plan, you can keep using it. Your provider will let you know if anything changes.
NDIS employment support is available to young participants aged 14 to 24 who have an employment goal.
It's funded from the Capacity Building – Finding and Keeping a Job part of your plan.
You don't need to be job-ready, and you don't need a job lined up.
What's changed from SLES to Employment Assistance
SLES was a support specifically for school leavers, usually funded for up to two years after leaving school. Employment Assistance covers the same kind of help, but it's broader. It isn't limited to school leavers, and it's focused on building skills that lead to work, then finding and keeping a job.
It's claimed under the support item 10_016_0102_5_3 Employment Assistance, with a price limit of $83.87 an hour (national), $117.42 remote and $125.81 very remote from 1 July 2026.
Providers of Employment Assistance must create a tailored support plan with the participant, set out in the service agreement, and report on the support given and the outcomes achieved. So you should expect a written plan and regular progress updates.
Who is Employment Assistance for?
The NDIS describes young participants as those aged 14 to 24. Support is available to help young people:
get extra work experience on top of what school provides
get a part-time job outside school hours
move from school to work
build skills for work when they have very little work experience
move from school into further education or training, or find a job once a qualification is finished
A young person doesn't need to have a job lined up, and they don't need to be aiming for open employment straight away.
What Employment Assistance can include
Trying different kinds of work through work experience
Building work skills, like catching the bus or train, working in a team, staying on task and understanding what employers expect
Life skills that support work, like managing money
Working out what gets in the way of finding and keeping a job, and how to manage it
Connecting with an employer and finding the right job, including shaping a role to suit the person's skills
Developing a career plan
What it doesn't cover
Anything your school, TAFE, university, traineeship provider or employer is responsible for providing.
Job search help for people who already have work skills and need only limited ongoing support. That's usually through Inclusive Employment Australia, the program that replaced Disability Employment Services.
How to get Employment Assistance in a plan
Have an employment goal. Talk to your NDIA planner, my NDIS contact or support coordinator about your work goals.
Think ahead about leaving school. Finishing school can count as a significant change in education arrangements, which is one of the reasons you can ask for a plan reassessment under the new rules.
Ask for progress reports. Your provider's reports on goals, progress and next steps help at your plan reassessment.
What this looks like at Loving Life Support Services
We believe employment readiness starts with real life skills and positive experiences. Our supports for school leavers and young people focus on:
practical, real-world learning
small group and individual support
consistent, trusted mentors
flexible pacing based on the person
confidence first, employment second
We support young people to explore their interests, build routine, and develop skills that carry over to any future pathway, whether that's open employment, supported work, volunteering or further training. There's no pressure to be "job ready" by a certain date. Progress is measured by growth, not speed.
If you already have SLES funding and work with us, nothing changes for you right now. We'll talk with you before anything does.
Final thoughts
Leaving school is a big transition, especially for young people with disability. The name may be changing, but the goal hasn't: making that transition safer, calmer and more empowering. If you're exploring employment support and want to know whether it's the right fit, having a conversation early can make all the difference.
📍 Based on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast
Sources
This is general information, current as at 21 September 2026. It isn't advice about your individual plan.
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