Your pathway, your pace...
If you’re a student or family member, this page will help you plan for working life - even if you’re still at school. There are some fun activities on this page just for you.
If you need help with this page you can:
ask a teacher, your support worker or SSO, your parent to guide you through it
have it read out loud to you
watch a video to get you started.
If you see the word ‘pathways’, it means the steps you’ll need to take and help available along the way.
If you’re a disability support worker or a teacher in a school, this page is also for you. You’ll learn more about how you can support students with disabilities at your site. Also see information for educators on this website. (link to educators page)
On this page we’ll cover:
understanding your options after you leave school
transitions - moving from being at school to being a worker or student
when to start planning
what support looks like
training and skills
work and employment
help for parents and caregivers navigating your employment
stories from people like you.
Understanding options after you leave school
As someone with a disability, you have the same right to a job and a place in working life as anyone else.
Why work?
Work is healthy. It gives you a focus and a way to spend your time. It helps you meet new people or build relationships. It helps you achieve things you might not have dreamed possible. You’ll earn money or get the experience you need to find other work.
Work helps us feel capable and confident - if we have the right encouragement and help.
Career pathways for you are the same as others, except you might need a little extra support.
Some students know exactly what they want to do, others are still working it out. Start thinking about your options while you’re in high school.
Inclusive pathways and careers expo
Transitions – moving from being at school to being a worker or student
Planning for life after school is about thinking ahead and not feeling rushed. You can start planning for life after you leave school at any time in high school. Ask your teacher, SSO, or a parent to get you thinking about work.
Start with where you’re strong - what do you like doing and what are you good at?
Here are some ways to think about your strengths.
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Years 7-8
Start exploring
What do you enjoy and what are you good at? Try different subjects, get involved in activities, and start thinking about what kind of work or study might interest you one day. There's no pressure to decide anything now.
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Years 9-10
Start connecting
Your school should start working with you on a transition plan around this stage, ideally by age 14. Find out what like about different subjects, and what you’re good at. Match up your interests to real-world options. Talk to your teacher about work experience, VET taster courses, or workplace visits. Start building skills for work - like how to use public transport, understanding money and budgets. Connect with local networks and supports - like community centres, volunteering, clubs or sports. If you have a NDIS plan, have your parent or caregiver ask about how it might support your career goals.
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Years 11-12
Start building
This is when your plan gets more solid. If you’re doing the SACE or a modified SACE, choose subjects that align with your goals, think about future studies, volunteering, or working part-time. Your family and school should help make sure everything is in place for when you finish school. If you want to continue with study, start looking at options like university or TAFESA and what adjustments might be available.
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Year 13 & beyond
Start doing
If you've left school, look for a job or courses to help you be part of the adult world of work. You can arrange work experience, a work trial or register with an employment agency - or a disability employment agency. Ask for help from your parent or caregiver if you need it. There might be places you can go for help in your local area. This will help you meet people and find connections
What support looks like
Support doesn't mean someone doing things for you. It means making sure you have what you need to do things for yourself. That could be adjustments at work, help with job or course applications, or someone to talk through your options with.
Specialist support services
Beyond school and NDIS, services are there to support you into employment:
Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA): Offer free job coaching and placement support for people with disability.
Job Access: Wage subsidy and support for employers hiring people with disability.
Open employment vs. supported employment: Understand the difference and what suits your needs.
Open employment refers to a workplace where people with and without disabilities work together in the same or similar roles. This type of employment allows for greater choice and control over the work environment, as it typically pays at least the minimum wage – this is higher than the wages offered in supported employment.
Supported employment (under the NDIS) refers to jobs where people with disabilities receive extra support while working. This type of employment is designed for those who need substantial ongoing support to obtain or maintain paid employment. These services provide tailored assistance, including job coaching, skills training, and workplace accommodations, to help participants succeed at work. The NDIS funds these services to make sure people with disabilities have access to meaningful and inclusive employment opportunities.
Further education options: Register with the disability or access team early so everything is in place when you start.
At school
Your school can help you to:
plan for life after school
connect with further education like vocational education and training and university
prepare for work experience
make sure your SACE pathway supports your career goals.
If you have a One Plan your transition goals should be part of it.
Transition program
If you're in your final year of SACE in a public school, the Transition Program can help you with learning about your career options one day a week for up to 40 weeks. You will build work-readiness skills, connect with employers, get work experience and support to access NDIS employment assistance. This program runs from locations in Adelaide, Noarlunga, and Elizabeth. Ask your teacher or SSO about a referral.
Through your NDIS plan
If you have NDIS funding, your plan can include funding for supports that help you prepare for work or further study. Talk to your parent, caregiver or plan manager (if you have one) about what could be available. It might be:
capacity building - getting you ready for the world of work
employment-related supports - helping you find the right job for you
help developing daily living skills - things to build your independence.
Employment services
Employment services help people find jobs.
A disability employment agency will work directly with you to find and keep a job. They can help you with:
preparing a CV (resumé) or job application
getting ready for a job or course interview
getting an adjustment in your workplace to allow for your disability
ongoing support once you're in a job.
You can get help through a disability employment agency even if you don’t have NDIS funding.
Further education
Further education providers like TAFESA and universities have disability support services that can arrange reasonable adjustments for your studies. This might be:
extra time doing assessments or exams
note-taking support or assistive technology
modified learning materials.
Register with their disability or access team early so everything is in place when you start.
From your community
Local disability advocacy and support organisations, community organisations, and peer networks often provide mentoring, peer support, and practical guidance.
Getting help or encouragement from someone who has been through something similar could be great for you.
From your family
Your family or caregivers can help with your transition planning, but it's your plan. The best support from family might be:
being involved, asking good questions
helping you fill out forms, make calls or send emails to get things happening
backing the decisions you make about your future.
Training and skills
Building skills for the future doesn't look the same for everyone. There are plenty of options that can be adapted to your needs and goals.
VET while you're still at school
What is VET?
VET is available to all government school students from Year 10. You can study a qualification alongside your SACE, gaining industry-recognised skills and SACE credits at the same time. Flexible Industry Programs cover a wide range of sectors - from health and community services to construction, digital technology, hospitality, and more. If you need adjustments to participate, your school and training provider can work together to make sure you're supported.
Stackable VET can be a good choice if you're not sure about what you want to do. These types of courses build practical skills and confidence and sometimes get you started on a pathway. They might also contribute to your SACE credits.
Technical colleges
Technical colleges offer hands-on training for students in years 10, 11 and 12 across industries like:
advanced manufacturing
engineering
health
building and construction
early childhood and education
health and social support
automotive and energy
aeroskills
cookery and tourism
multi-trades
agri-tech
If you learn best by doing, a technical college might be a good fit. Talk to your parent or car giver or your school about what's available near you.
Training after you leave school
Possible options include TAFESA or another training provider, university and on-the-job learning through apprenticeships and traineeships.
All Registered education and training providers need to make reasonable adjustments for your disability. You have a right to accessible learning and help with making it fit your needs.
Disability employment services may also link you with short courses or workshops to build your independence or life skills.
Work and employment
Working isn’t just about earning money - it’s about independence, connection, purpose, and building a life. There are many pathways into employment, and support to help you get there.
Open employment
This means working in a regular job with or without workplace adjustments. Many employers want to hire people with disability. They’re ready to give the support you need to succeed in a job - whether it’s a part-time, full-time or casual position.
Apprenticeships and traineeships
Apprenticeships and traineeships are available across a wide range of industries - and they're open to everyone. You'll earn a wage while training towards a qualification.
If you need adjustments to your training or workplace, your employer and training provider are required to work with you to make that happen.
Supported employment
This option can offer you a work environment with extra support. It can be a good stepping stone or a long-term option, depending on what suits you. The focus is on meaningful work that matches your interests and abilities.
Self-employment and micro-enterprise
Some people create their own work and earn a living running a small business, freelancing or developing a micro-enterprise. If you've got a skill or passion you'd like to turn into work, you can find supports to help you, including through the NDIS.
Help for parents and caregivers navigating your employment
If you're a parent, caregiver or family member supporting a young person with disability, you're an important part of this journey. Career conversations with your child might look different though. Help them to explore opportunities and make decisions.
What you can do
Encourage them to talk about their interests and strengths – and how they might use these abilities in a job or career.
Listen to what they want to do and help them research options.
Help them to reach out and make connections - with work experience, courses, disability employment agencies or local workshops to help build their independence.
Talk to the year level coordinator or inclusion leader at the school
Research or activate specific funding available through the NDIS, if your child has a funded plan. Talk to your NDIS planner about career-related goals and supports.
Start the conversation early. From year 7 or 8, it's worth asking your child what kind of work or study interests them. These conversations set the tone and show them that you believe in their future.
What to do next
Explore anything you don’t understand on this page by clicking the links or asking your parent, caregiver, or teacher.
Talk to your school's VET coordinator or inclusion leader
Think about what you like and enjoy.
Think about whether you want to learn a trade, do a short course, go to university or start work straight away.
Log into the My Career portal to take a quiz, play a game to help unlock your ideas, or take a quiz on the MyFuture site