If you’ve heard the term SLES and aren’t quite sure what it means, you’re not alone. We speak to participants and families every week who’ve been told “you might be eligible for SLES” without anyone properly explaining what that actually involves.
SLES is one of those NDIS supports that can make a big difference — especially for young people — but it’s often poorly explained and misunderstood.
Here’s what SLES is, who it’s for, what it can be used for, and how to get it included in your NDIS plan.
What does SLES stand for?
SLES stands for School Leaver Employment Supports.
It’s an NDIS support designed to help young people with disability transition from school into work. That might be open employment, supported employment, further training, or building the skills needed to work in the future.
SLES is about preparing for employment, not placing you directly into a job.
What is SLES under the NDIS?
SLES is a capacity building support that focuses on helping school leavers develop the skills, confidence and experience they need to move towards employment.
It’s usually delivered over up to 2 years and is funded separately from other employment supports in your plan.
SLES supports are practical and hands-on. They’re designed to help you explore what work could look like for you, understand your strengths and interests, and build real-world skills.
We often explain it to families like this:
SLES is the bridge between school and work.
Who is eligible for SLES?
SLES is specifically for NDIS participants who are school leavers or recent school leavers.
You may be eligible for SLES if you:
are an NDIS participant
are in your final years of school, or
have recently left school
want support to prepare for employment
There’s no requirement that you’re “job ready” yet. In fact, SLES is often funded because a participant isn’t ready for work without additional support.
We regularly see SLES funded for participants with intellectual disability, autism, psychosocial disability, and other disabilities where the transition from school to work needs to happen more gradually.
What can SLES funding be used for?
SLES funding can be used for a range of employment preparation activities. What’s funded should link clearly to your employment goals.
SLES can include support with:
building workplace skills and routines
understanding what employers expect
developing communication and social skills for work
learning how to travel to and from work
trying different types of work or work-like activities
developing confidence and independence
understanding strengths, interests and preferences
preparing resumes and learning interview skills
SLES is not about sitting in a classroom all day. It’s usually practical, community-based, and tailored to the individual.
What SLES cannot be used for
This is important, because it’s where confusion often comes in.
SLES funding:
is not ongoing employment support
does not pay wages
is not a guarantee of a job
is not the same as Disability Employment Services (DES)
SLES is about preparation and transition. Once a participant moves into work, other supports may be more appropriate.
How SLES fits with other employment supports
SLES sits alongside — not instead of — other employment-related supports.
After or alongside SLES, a participant might move into:
further capacity building employment supports
Disability Employment Services (DES)
supported employment
open employment with supports
Your plan goals and progress will help determine what comes next.
How to get SLES included in your NDIS plan
To have SLES funded in your NDIS plan, it needs to be clearly linked to your goals.
Some helpful steps include:
having an employment-related goal in your plan
showing that you’re a school leaver or recent school leaver
explaining why you need extra support to transition into work
including supporting evidence from school, therapists or other professionals
We often see SLES included at a plan review or transition meeting, especially in the final year of school.
If SLES isn’t included automatically, it can still be requested with the right evidence and explanation.
How plan management supports SLES
If your plan includes SLES and you’re plan managed, your Plan Manager helps with the financial side of things.
At Plan Hero, we help by:
paying SLES provider invoices correctly and on time
checking that invoices match the right support category
helping you understand how your SLES budget is tracking
answering questions before you commit to a provider
We don’t choose or coordinate SLES providers — that’s not our role — but we do help you understand what your funding can be used for and whether something is likely to be claimable.
With your consent, we can also contact providers or clinics to request reports or documentation needed for claims.
What to do next
If you’re a school leaver or supporting a young person who’s finishing school, SLES is worth asking about early.
We see families every week who wish they’d understood SLES sooner — because the earlier it’s planned for, the smoother the transition from school to work usually is.
If you’re unsure whether SLES is in your plan, whether you’re eligible, or how the funding works, you can always ask before you spend.
Clear answers early make a big difference.
