The transition from school to work or further study is a major milestone for any young person, and for those with disability, it's often a crucial moment where planning and good support can open or close doors for years to come. Many young people with disability leave school with limited options, uncertain about what's possible, or uncertain how to access it.
This article looks at transition planning, what NDIS support can fund, and practical pathways for young people heading toward work, study, or day activities.
Tenax Supports' Support Coordination service can help young people and families navigate transition planning and connect with the right providers.
Why Transition Planning Matters
School provides structure, social connection, and services (allied health, special education). When school ends, all of that changes, and unless there's a plan in place, young people can find themselves with nothing—no day activity, no employment, limited connection to peers, and limited access to the support they had at school.
Good transition planning starts a couple of years before the young person leaves school. It involves identifying what the young person is good at and wants to do, exploring realistic options (work, study, day activities), building skills needed for those options, and putting funding and supports in place before school finishes.
NDIS Planning for School Leavers
Plans are usually reviewed as a young person approaches school-leaving age, and the focus can shift toward employment, study, and life skills. Work experience, job coaching, supported employment, and transport to work or study are all things that can be funded through an NDIS plan. For young people in their final years of school, School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) can fund structured preparation for work.
Planning should involve the young person themselves (asking what they want), their family, their school (understanding what they've been able to do, what they need), and services involved. A good plan sets goals around employment, study, or day activities, and funds the support needed to pursue those goals.
Supported Employment and Job Coaching
Supported employment means working with a job coach who helps the young person find suitable work, trains them in the role, and supports them to stay in the job. This can range from a few weeks of intensive coaching to ongoing periodic check-ins, depending on what's needed.
The goal is genuine work—not just day activities, but actual employment where the young person contributes and is paid. For some young people, this might be mainstream employment with significant coaching; for others, it might be disability employment services or open employment with in-work support.
Planning for Further Study
Some young people pursue further education—TAFE, university, or vocational training. NDIS support can include transport to study, help with assignments, managing sensory or mobility needs at the campus, and coordinate with the education provider around reasonable adjustments.
Talk to the education provider early about what support is available (most have disability services), and make sure your NDIS plan includes funding for support you'll need—note-taking, mobility assistance, coordination support, or help managing the demands of study.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should transition planning start?
Usually 2-3 years before the young person leaves school. This gives time to build skills, do work experience, and update the NDIS plan before school finishes.
What if the young person doesn't want to work?
Work isn't the only option. Day activities, volunteer work, further study, and community participation are all valid pathways. The focus should be on what the young person wants and what their NDIS plan can fund.
How much employment support can NDIS fund?
It depends on the plan, but job coaching, supported employment, and transport to work are all fundable through NDIS when they're documented as reasonable and necessary.
The transition from school to work or study is where young people's paths diverge significantly. Good planning, timely support, and exploration of real options make the difference between limited possibilities and genuine choice. Tenax's employment support and psychology teams work with young people and families to plan and navigate transitions that align with the young person's strengths and aspirations.