When your child is approaching the end of school, there’s a lot to think about.
This guide will walk you through how to prepare for life after school with the NDIS, including when to start planning, what supports to consider, and how to make sure your child’s plan is set up for what comes next.
When should you start planning for after school?
You should start at the beginning of Year 12.
At this stage, most public schools have transition teachers who help families prepare for post-school options, particularly for students with NDIS funding.
They will usually develop a ‘transition plan’ for your child.
This plan outlines:
- Your child’s current skills
- Where there are gaps
- What support is needed to build independence and prepare for employment
See this sample from Independent Schools NSW
What are you planning for?
For most young people, the focus after school is employment.
- Preparing for employment
- Finding employment
- Keeping employment
These are all supports the NDIS can fund under employment-related supports.
Step 1: Add an employment goal to your NDIS plan
This is the most important step.
Your child’s NDIS plan should include a clear employment goal.
You can make this specific, for example:
- Working in hospitality
- Retail roles
- Animal care
- Office-based work
Also think about:
- What skills your child already has
- What skills they need to build
Step 2: Prepare for your NDIS plan reassessment
If you have a plan reassessment coming up before the beginning of Year 12, this is your opportunity to secure the right supports.
Bring:
- Your child’s transition plan from school
- Reports or assessments
- Quotes from post-school providers that offer a program your child is interested in
- Any other supporting documentation
Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA)
A Functional Capacity Assessment looks at areas such as communication, mobility, daily living skills and travel skills.
These are essential for employment and independence. It helps show the NDIS where your child is now and what supports are needed.
The NDIS nay fund it in your plan or it would be an out of pocket cost. It can cost around $2,000, so its very pricey.
Step 3: Research providers before committing
What is your child interested in and look for services that may offer Before engaging any provider, take the time to visit them first.
We see this often — families commit to a program that doesn’t meet expectations.
- Visit the provider
- Observe how the program runs
- Check if it suits your child
Then ask for:
- A report
- A quote
- Recommendations
Step 4: What if your plan is not being reviewed?
If your plan has rolled over, is long-term, or won’t be reassessed before Year 12, you should not wait.
Instead, submit a Change of Circumstances application form.
This tells the NDIS your current plan is no longer fit for purpose and that your child now has a goal of employment.
Include:
- Transition plan from school
- Reports and assessments
- Provider quotes
- Supporting documentation
These requests can take several months, so it’s important to act early.
Step 5: If your child is leaving school earlier
If your child plans to leave in Year 10, the same process applies.
- Add an employment goal
- Request a Change of Circumstances
- Provide supporting evidence
From age 15, the NDIS expects participants to start working towards employment where appropriate.
Step 6: Include strong supporting evidence
The stronger your evidence, the clearer your case.
- Behaviour support plans
- Medical plans
- Therapy reports
- School reports
These help show your child’s abilities, barriers, and what supports are needed to achieve their goals.
NDIS transition timeline for after school
- Year 10–11: Start thinking about future goals
- Start of Year 12: Begin planning and confirm employment goals
- Early Year 12: Gather reports and quotes
- During Year 12: Submit reassessment or change of circumstances
- Post-school: Begin supports and adjust as needed
How Plan Hero supports families through this transition
This stage can feel like a lot.
You’re managing school, reports, providers, and NDIS timelines — all at once.
At Plan Hero, we focus on making the financial side of your plan simple and clear.
- Understand what you can and can’t claim
- Track your funding in real time
- Plan ahead so you don’t run out of funding
- Get clear answers when you’re unsure
We speak to parents, carers and families going through this transition every day. You’re often making important decisions quickly.
Our plan managers always reference your plan and history, so you don’t have to repeat yourself.
As your child moves from school into employment or further supports, having clarity around your funding makes a real difference.
If you’re starting Year 12 now, this is the right time to begin planning.
