When a young person with disability finishes school, the structured routine that’s shaped their week for over a decade simply ends, and the path forward can feel genuinely uncertain for the whole family. LPS runs a SLES and Youth Transition Program locally, giving young people in the Fraser Coast and Bundaberg region real, practical support to build the skills and confidence for what comes next.
This isn’t about replacing school with more waiting. It’s about using the time after school purposefully, with a clear direction toward work, further study, or greater independence.
What Is SLES (School Leaver Employment Supports)?
SLES is an NDIS-funded support that helps young participants in their final years of school, and shortly after leaving, build the skills, confidence, and experience needed to move toward employment, further education, or greater independence. It focuses on practical, hands-on preparation rather than simply placing someone in a job.
Who Is Eligible for SLES in Queensland
Here’s what generally needs to be true for a young person to access SLES:
☑ Age. Participants are generally aged in their mid-teens through early twenties, typically starting in the final years of school and continuing for up to two years afterward.
☑ School leaver status. SLES is designed for those in their last year or two of secondary school, or who have recently left school.
☑ An active NDIS plan. SLES needs to be included as funding in the young person’s NDIS plan, generally under supports for building employment-related skills.
☑ Support needs around the transition to work. SLES is intended for young people who have work capacity but need structured support first, not for those who are already job-ready and simply looking for placement.
If you’re unsure whether your young person meets these criteria, that’s exactly the kind of thing worth discussing with us directly rather than trying to work out alone. The official NDIS page on building skills and getting a job also covers school leaver employment supports in more detail.
What LPS’s Youth Transition Program Involves
Our program is built around four connected areas, delivered locally across Hervey Bay and Bundaberg.
Employment Skills
Practical, workplace-relevant skills: understanding what an employer expects, communication in a work setting, and real work experience where possible, not just theory.
Independence Building
Everyday skills that support a working life: using public transport, managing time, and handling money, all practiced in real local settings rather than a classroom simulation.
Confidence Development
Structured opportunities to try new things in a supported environment, so confidence builds gradually through genuine experience rather than being expected to appear overnight.
Local Pathways
Connections to what’s actually available in the Hervey Bay and Bundaberg job market and community, not a generic curriculum built for a capital city with a completely different employment landscape.
Why Local SLES Matters in a Regional Community
A youth transition program only works if it connects to real opportunities, and what’s realistic in Hervey Bay or Bundaberg looks different to what’s realistic in Brisbane or Sydney.
Our program is built around the local Queensland regional economy: the kinds of employers who actually hire locally, the transport realities of getting to and from work in a regional area, and a community where relationships and reputation matter as much as a resume. A generic, metro-focused program doesn’t translate well here, and young people deserve a pathway that’s actually built for where they live.
How to Access SLES Through Your NDIS Plan
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Raise it early | Talk to your NDIS planner or Local Area Coordinator about SLES well before your young person finishes school, ideally in their second-last year, so funding can be in place in time. If a formal change to the plan is needed, this is the process to request it. |
| 2. Confirm it’s included in the plan | SLES needs to appear as funding in the NDIS plan itself. If it’s not automatically offered, ask for it directly and explain the transition support your young person needs. |
| 3. Choose a provider | Once funding is confirmed, you choose which SLES provider delivers the program, including LPS locally in Hervey Bay or Bundaberg. |
| 4. Enrol with LPS | Get in touch with us to enrol, and we’ll work with you and your young person to build a plan around their specific goals. |
| 5. Begin the program | Sessions start, blending employment skills, independence building, and local, practical experience from day one. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much SLES funding is typically available?
SLES funding varies by individual plan and is generally delivered as an annual allocation, funded for up to two years. The exact amount depends on your young person’s individual assessed needs, so it’s worth discussing specifics directly with your planner or with us.
How long does the SLES program run?
SLES is generally funded for up to two years after a young person leaves school, sometimes longer depending on progress and circumstances. It’s designed as a defined transition period, not an open-ended program.
What happens after SLES finishes?
The goal is a genuine transition, whether that’s open employment, supported employment, further training, or another form of ongoing support if that’s what’s needed. We work with families throughout the program so the transition out of SLES isn’t a sudden cliff edge.
Can SLES work alongside school?
Yes. SLES can begin while a young person is still in their final year or two of school, running alongside their studies rather than only starting after they’ve left. Starting early gives more time to build skills before the structure of school ends.
