NDIS participant employment services and support

We're here to help you get work-ready and find a suitable job.

Employment support for NDIS participants

If you’re an NDIS participant, we can help you find and keep a job. Through Disability Employment Services (DES), we offer intensive and tailored support to build the skills you need for open employment.

We help people who access NDIS to find work and keep it. We do this by offering intensive and tailored support to people with disability through the Australian Government’s Disability Employment Services program (DES). 

Through DES we’ll help you find and keep a suitable job. Together, we’ll:

  • put together a tailored job plan that matches your interests and abilities
  • help build your confidence
  • find and apply for jobs
  • understand your local employment market
  • connect with potential employers and support services
  • understand the funding you’re eligible for
  • manage your working hours, report your income to Centrelink and keep your DSP.

DES is free and won’t impact the support you receive through your current NDIS plan

This free, wraparound support empowers people with disability to build the skills they need to achieve their employment goals, without impacting NDIS support in any way. 

About Disability Employment Services (DES)

If you’re looking for work and living with disability, mental health condition, treated illness or injury, we can help.

How we help you achieve your employment goals

Disability Employment Services (also known as DES) helps people living with disability, mental health conditions, treated illness or injury find work and stay employed. It’s a government program and we’re one of Australia’s leading DES providers.  

Am I eligible for Disability Employment Services?

Each of our programs has different eligibility criteria. You may be eligible for Disability Employment Services (DES) if you are:
  • living with a disability, mental health condition, treated illness or injury that makes it difficult to find and keep a job. This includes living with anxiety or depression, neurodivergence including ADHD and autism, a physical or intellectual disability, learning difficulties, visual or hearing impairment.
  • an Australian citizen or hold a permanent resident, or on a Temporary Protection, Special Category or Safe Haven Visa.
  • aged between 14 and 67.
  • able to work at least 8 hours per week and no more than 30. 
  • are receiving an income support payment.

Get started with CoAct

Step 1
Register
Complete our easy form or call 1800 226 228 and we’ll get back to you within 24 hrs.
Step 2
Meet
Meet with our team. We’ll unpack your goals, skills and health condition, and identify the support you need.
Step 3
Start
We’re with you every step of your journey to work, building your skills and confidence to find the right job for you.
Step 4
Support
Our team will provide ongoing support once you are in work.

Transition from supported employment

We help people with disability as they transition from supported employment to open employment.  

Supported employment refers to roles designed for people with disability that allow for more support than traditional workplace roles. 

Open employment refers to jobs that can be done by anyone in a workplace setting where people with and without disability work together with the same or similar support.  

CoAct employment specialists work with people with disability to plan pathways from supported to open employment. This includes personalised job plans to help identify roles of genuine interest that align with skills and qualifications. 

Our national team helps prepare people with disability to be job-ready by helping them to look for, apply for, and interview for open employment positions. We then continue to offer support for as long as needed after work has started.  

Learn more about moving from supported employment to open employment through DES by contacting our team on 1800 226 228 or by emailing [email protected].

School leavers with NDIS Plans

School leavers with NDIS plans may be eligible for personalised support through CoAct Disability Employment Services.  

Finding a job when you finish school can mean money and independence. Finding the right job when you finish school can mean the chance to build a career with opportunities, new skills, and meaningful work that you genuinely enjoy. 

Our friendly, experienced team has extensive experience of meeting with school leavers, listening to their goals, possible barriers, and needs, and helping them map out a future with achievable employment goals.  

CoAct helps school leavers with disability prepare for work through Disability Employment Services that include: 

  • Mentoring 
  • Personalised training 
  • Ongoing support after starting a new job 

We work with school leavers and their parents, carers, and NDIS coordinators to connect them with job opportunities that suit their individual needs, skills, and interests.   

Learn more about DES for school leavers with NDIS plans by contacting our team on 1800 226 228 or by emailing [email protected].

Transitioning from School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) to DES

If you have completed School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) you may be able to transition to Disability Employment Services (DES) with CoAct.

The transition from School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) to Disability Employment Services (DES) is a pivotal step in the employment journey of young people living with disability. SLES forms a crucial foundation for teens in their final years of school, focusing on skill development and fostering independence. Upon moving to Disability Employment Services, individuals experience a shift towards more targeted and personalised employment support.

Learn more about transitioning from SLES to DES by contacting our team on 1800 226 228 or by emailing [email protected].

Real stories

Everybody has a story. Read how we support our job seekers on their unique journey to employment.

Job seeker resources

Job seeker resources, hints and tips.

Find your local provider

Our local job experts are ready to help you find employment that suits your needs.

Register your interest

Need help to find and keep a job? Call us on 1800 226 228 or complete our form and we’ll get back to you within the next 24 hours.

Are you an Australian citizen, permanent resident or hold a Temporary Protection, Special Category or Safe Haven Visa?

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