Planning NDIS support for life after school

Finishing school is a huge life change. For young people and families, it can bring excitement as well as worry about what comes next.

For young people with disability who are NDIS participants, it takes planning to set up NDIS funding for a safe, connected and meaningful life after school, whatever that looks like for your young person.

There are lots of options

Many young people try a few things before finding what works for them. Or you might help them try a mix of options.
These could include:

Supported group activities and day programs
Employment skills courses
Volunteering
TAFE courses designed for students with disability
Running a micro-enterprise
Supported or open employment

Start with your young person’s strengths and interests. What do they enjoy? What could they do with the help of a NDIS-funded Support Worker? How do they connect with others? What might help them to keep learning?

Find out what’s available near you

Here are some ways you can explore possibilities for life after school:

Work experience while still at school is a great way to try things out
Many specialist schools host expos, where services explain what they offer
Go on tours of day programs or services. If this is tricky for your young person, you can tour first, then take them to places they may like
Contact your local TAFE
Ask trusted people for ideas — such as school career advisers, therapists, support workers or others who know your young person well
Consider which trusted people could have conversations with your young person or help out with social stories or visual aids

Discuss what life will look like after school

Talk with your young person and write down:

Post-school options they are interested in
Support they will need for daily and weekly routines. Think about things like being out in the community, friendships, travel, communication, personal care and behaviour support
NDIS goals for this new stage, such as independence, community activities, wellbeing, work skills, communication, safe transport and trusted supports

Start planning with the NDIS

Different options require different funding. Sorting this out can take time, so it’s best to start early – at least six months before your young person finishes school.

Tell your My NDIS contact, Local Area Coordinator or Support Coordinator that your young person is finishing school and their NDIS plan may need to change. The NDIS describes this as “a change in circumstances”.

It may require a small change to your young person’s plan (a “variation”) or a full plan review. Ask to set up a meeting, and who to email your evidence to before the meeting.

Gather good evidence

It seems obvious that your young person’s support needs will change when they finish school. But you still need to provide clear evidence to the NDIS of the supports that they will need. Recent evidence is important – usually from the last 12 months.

This includes:

Quotes from any new services such as group or day programs. Costs will depend on your young person’s support needs, so discuss these with the provider in detail and get written quotes
Updated reports from therapists, behaviour practitioners, support services, school staff and other providers. These should explain your young person’s functional capacity, daily support needs, current supports, risks if they don’t get the support and recommendations
A schedule of what activities you think your young person will do each day once they finish school
A summary of what support you provide to your young person now and what might change after they finish school, and what NDIS funded support is needed for your young person to take part in the community in safe and meaningful ways

Before the meeting

If you can, email letters, reports and statements to the NDIS well before any meeting. If key reports are delayed, ask if the meeting can be moved. It’s important that the NDIS has the full picture.

Take copies of everything to the meeting, plus a written list of weekly supports. Include core supports, capacity building, therapy, behaviour support, assistive technology, transport, support coordination, personal care and support to try post-school options.

When the new plan arrives

Check the goals and funding match what you discussed. Will it support your young person’s plans for life after school? If anything is missing or unclear, contact your NDIS person quickly to discuss next steps.

This can feel like a lot. But here’s a useful question to focus on: What will help your young person to live a safe, connected and meaningful life each week? This can help you work out the supports they need for a good life after they leave school.