What Is a School Leaver?
A school leaver is someone who has finished (or is finishing) their final year of secondary school (usually Year 12) and is transitioning into further education, training, or work. In many NDIS contexts, “school leaver” can also include young people up to around 22 years of age who are preparing for life after school.
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. This might include open employment, supported employment, further training, or building the skills needed to work in the future.
SLES is about preparing for employment, not placing someone directly into a job.
What is SLES under the NDIS?
SLES is a Capacity Building support that focuses on helping school leavers build the skills, confidence, and experience they need to move towards employment.
It’s commonly 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
- build real-world skills
We often explain it to families like this: “SLES is the bridge between school and work.”
As of 30 June 2027 the NDIS will have transitioned SLES to a newer approach called Employment Assistance.
What is Employment Assistance?
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, and
- 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 Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA)
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
- Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA)
- 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.
Helpful steps include:
- including 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
- providing 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 with Plan Hero, 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 invoices are claimed from 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 can help you understand what your funding can be used for and whether something is likely to be claimable.
School leaver jobs and where to find support
Many school leavers don’t move straight into paid work — and that’s okay. Early employment pathways are often about building confidence, routines and experience.
Common starting points for school leavers
These can include:
entry-level roles in retail, hospitality or customer service
basic admin or office support roles
volunteering or structured work experience
training or pre-employment programs
supported employment environments
SLES can help explore and prepare for these options in a way that suits the individual.
Where to find school leavers employment support
Some helpful places to look include:
Local not-for-profit organisations and NDIS employment providers can also be a good source of practical, on-the-ground support.
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.
When it’s planned for properly, the transition from school to work is usually smoother and less stressful.
If you’re unsure whether SLES is in your plan, whether you’re eligible, or how the funding works, always ask before you spend.
Clear answers early make a big difference, and that’s what your Plan Hero Plan Manager is here to give you.
