Would you love to go to work each day and build a long-term, fulfilling career?
As someone living with an intellectual disability, you can use your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding to help you start your professional journey.
At your NDIS planning meeting, your coordinator will ask you about your personal goals, which may include finding employment and developing your career path.
Your NDIS plan will include your employment goals, enabling you to access supported employment services and secure a position that you could use as a steppingstone into the open job market.
So, what exactly is supported employment, and how does it work?
What is supported employment?
Under the NDIS, people living with an intellectual disability can be employed in positions where extra support can be provided.
In a supported employment role, you will receive assistance to complete tasks and meet your responsibilities, allowing you to develop new skills and build your confidence in a supportive and comfortable environment.
You’ll have the opportunity to gain hands on experience, earn an income and make friends along the way.
While supported employment positions are designed for people living with an intellectual disability, your end goal may be to transition to open employment over time.
By entering open employment, you would be joining the workforce in a position outside of the NDIS, with the ability to independently perform your job duties.
How do supported employment services work?
There are NDIS service providers throughout Perth and regional WA that can assist you to find a supported employment position that works for you.
Depending on your situation and personal goals, you may end up with a full-time or a part-time job role.
The idea is for you to be matched with a suitable position that complements your skills, abilities and interests.
You could end up with a role in timber manufacturing, product packaging, industrial services, property care or administration, among other areas.
As part of your disability employment support, you can also access career coaching and training programs to help guide you in your journey toward open employment.
Career coaching
You may already know your strengths and interests, but if you would like to dig deeper into your potential aptitude, career coaching may be a good option for you.
There are one-on-one and group coaching sessions you can participate in to help you explore your options, build networks and further develop your skills.
These sessions can happen as often as you like, and can be held at your current workplace, your home or at another location in your community.
Training programs
On the job experience can be invaluable, but sometimes you will need further training and assistance to make the transition to open employment.
There are NDIS service providers that offer nationally recognised qualifications and programs that are designed to help you reach your career goals.
You could end up participating in a full program run by a registered training organisation (RTO), or you may only need to complete certain units, depending on what you’re looking to achieve.
ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network) is a not-for-profit education organisation that also provides additional training programs that may be suitable for you.
Arranging disability employment support
Once your NDIS plan is set up and you have funding in place to achieve your employment goals, the next step is to contact an NDIS service provider.
As one of the largest NDIS providers in WA, Activ provides supported employment services to more than 1,000 people living with intellectual disabilities.
If you’re looking to start your career and further your independence journey, get in contact with the friendly team at Activ today.