Finding and Keeping a Job NDIS Funding Explained
Finding and keeping a job NDIS funding pays for practical supports that help you prepare for, start, and stay in work. The money pays for personal guidance, travel practice, and on-the-job coaching rather than wages. We see how direct, regular assistance helps participants across Victoria gain skills and work toward their goals.
Key Takeaways
Category 10 sits under Capacity Building Supports in your NDIS plan.
Funds cover resume writing, interview practice, travel training, and on-the-job coaching.
The NDIS does not pay participant wages, everyday work tools, or business start-up capital.
Inclusive Employment Australia handles job placements, while the NDIS supports your individual functional needs.
Support worker hours reduce over time as you learn your duties and build confidence.
What Is Support Category 10
Finding and keeping a job NDIS funding sits within the Capacity Building Supports budget in your plan. The National Disability Insurance Agency lists this funding as Support Category 10. Its purpose is to build your personal skills so you can look for work, move into a position, and stay employed.
Standard employment programs focus on placing you into an open role. Category 10 funds the individual help you need before and during work. That includes exploring what jobs match your interests, trying out basic tasks, and working with an assistant during shifts.
The NDIS does not pay your wage. Employers pay wages under industry award rates or lawful wage assessments. Your NDIS funding covers the support worker or coach who helps you build independence during your work week.
School Leaver Employment Supports
Students leaving Year 12 can access this pathway directly under Category 10.
Funding covers up to two years of support after leaving school.
Focuses on daily routines, basic workplace communication, and travel practice.
Prepares school leavers for open employment, apprenticeships, or supported roles.
What Support Category 10 Covers
Support Category 10 covers direct help based on your work goals. We work with participants to break job searches down into daily, manageable tasks.
Funding covers:
Preparing resumes, writing letters, and submitting online application forms.
Practising interview questions and talking about work adjustments.
Practising public transport routes, reading bus timetables, and walking routes safely.
Practising workplace communication, following instructions, and managing break times.
Working with an on-the-job coach to learn new tasks step by step.
Personal care during work shifts, such as assistance with meals or using the bathroom.
What Support Category 10 Does Not Cover
The NDIS only covers items that meet the reasonable and necessary rules under the NDIS Act. Standard workplace costs remain the responsibility of the employer or mainstream programs.
Excluded items:
Wages, salaries, and paid shift allowances.
Cash, equipment, or stock to start a new business.
Standard office desks, chairs, uniforms, and tools needed for your role.
Building changes like ramps, wide doorways, or office software, which sit under the Employment Assistance Fund through JobAccess.
Mainstream Services Compared with NDIS Supports
Inclusive Employment Australia replaced Disability Employment Services on 1 November 2025. Mainstream services and the NDIS work together, but each program handles distinct duties.
Inclusive Employment Australia
Managed by the Department of Social Services.
Connects job seekers directly to employers with open jobs.
Offers wage subsidies up to $10,000 to employers who offer ongoing positions.
Handles job matching, employer contact, and basic role sign-up.
Open to eligible job seekers without an NDIS plan.
NDIS Support Category 10
Managed by the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Funds personal skill building and functional daily help.
Does not offer wage subsidies or employer cash payments.
Pays for personal support workers for on-the-job training, shift check-ins, and personal care.
Requires an employment goal in your approved NDIS plan.
Work Settings You Can Choose
Your career goals shape how you use your funding. Finding and keeping a job NDIS funding applies to three main work settings in Victoria.
Open Employment
Open employment means working in a mainstream business, shop, office, or public sector team. You earn standard award wages set by the Fair Work Commission. NDIS funds pay for a support worker to attend shifts with you until you understand your routine.
Supported Employment
Supported employment takes place in Australian Disability Enterprises. These enterprises run workplaces in sectors like packaging, grounds maintenance, and light assembly. Pay rates are set using the Supported Wage System, which measures your productivity on specific duties.
Self-Employment and Micro-Enterprises
You can use Category 10 funding to set up a small business or micro-enterprise. Your funding pays for a mentor to help you research your idea, write a business plan, and set up an Australian Business Number.
How Support Changes Over Time
NDIS employment support uses a stepping stone plan. The goal is building your skills so you rely less on external help over time.
During your first weeks, a support worker might stay with you for whole shifts. The worker helps you read instructions, learn each duty, and get to know your team.
Your provider then introduces a fading support plan. As you master each task, your support worker reduces their hours or shifts to scheduled check-ins. This plan gives you time to build confidence and handle your shifts on your own.
How to Request Category 10 Funding
Getting finding and keeping a job NDIS funding requires preparation before your next planning or review meeting.
Tell your Local Area Coordinator or planner that you want to work, change jobs, or run a small business.
Gather practical evidence, such as a Functional Capacity Assessment from an Occupational Therapist, showing where you need personal assistance during work hours.
Choose an NDIS provider that delivers employment supports to start your service agreement.
Review our supported employment options to learn how we help participants build practical work skills.
Support Across Gippsland and Cardinia
Working with a local team makes travel and communication simpler. We support job seekers across Gippsland, Cardinia, and Pakenham.
Our staff know local employers, public bus routes, and training locations across Melbourne and regional towns. We help you link your employment plan with your daily travel and home routines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can students still at school access this support?
Yes. Students in their final school years can use School Leaver Employment Supports through Category 10. This pathway helps young adults learn travel routes, build work stamina, and prepare for work after school.
Does getting a job stop my NDIS funding?
No. Getting a job does not cancel your Category 10 budget. Your funding remains available to pay for support workers during shifts, task check-ins, and career progression.
What happens if I leave my job?
Your funding stays in your plan. You can use your remaining funds to review what happened, update your resume, practice for interviews, and look for a new role.
Does the NDIS pay for travel to work?
Category 10 pays for travel training so you can learn public transport routes. Ongoing transport funding or vehicle changes are handled under other parts of your NDIS plan.
Start Your Work Journey
Our team assists participants across Gippsland and Cardinia to put their NDIS employment supports into action.