Work can be harder to find and keep when the workplace, the tasks or the trip there are not set up for your disability. NDIS employment support and occupational therapy are two ways to work on those barriers. This guide covers what your plan can fund, what an occupational therapist (OT) does in a work setting, how NDIS supports sit alongside other employment programs, and how to choose an OT.
What NDIS employment support covers
“Finding and keeping a job” is one of the support categories in the capacity building budget of an NDIS plan. It is time-limited and is for participants of working age. The funding is stated, so it is set aside for the employment supports written into your plan.
Employment supports are listed under a few names you will see on Provider24 and in plans:
- Assist Access/Maintain Employment, for help to get into work and stay there.
- Specialised Supported Employment, the support type behind what people usually mean by NDIS supported employment.
- School Leaver Employment Support (SLES), which, as the name says, is for young people moving from school towards work.
Which of these fits you depends on your goals and what is in your plan. Your my NDIS contact or support coordinator can talk it through with you.
What an occupational therapist does for work
An OT looks at the job, the workplace and the person together, then works out what would make the work more manageable. In an employment setting, that usually means four things.
Workplace assessment and modifications
An OT can assess your workplace for barriers, such as desk height, access, layout or the way equipment is set out. They can then suggest changes, from small ergonomic adjustments to changes to the workspace itself.
Assistive technology advice
Adaptive keyboards, screen readers and specialised software can make job tasks easier. An OT can advise on what suits you and help you learn to use it. Assistive technology itself is a separate category in the capital supports budget of an NDIS plan.
Task analysis and skill building
Some tasks are easier once they are broken into smaller steps. An OT can map out the steps in a job task and help you practise the skills each one needs, at a pace that suits your abilities.
Fatigue and energy management
Many people with disability find that energy runs out before the working day does. An OT can help you plan your tasks, pace your day and build routines that make the workload easier to sustain.
Some things sit outside the NDIS. Clinical treatment, rehabilitation after a recent injury or surgery and clinical mental health care are generally health-system supports under the NDIS Supports Transitional Rules 2024, so an OT’s role under your plan is about function at work, not treatment.
How NDIS supports fit with other employment programs
The NDIS is not the only source of employment help. Inclusive Employment Australia, the Australian Government’s disability employment program, replaced Disability Employment Services on 1 November 2025.
The two are separate. Inclusive Employment Australia is an employment program, while NDIS employment supports are funded through your plan. If you are not sure which one to approach, or how they could work together for you, ask your my NDIS contact or support coordinator.
Choosing an occupational therapist
A few checks make the choice easier and make sure the therapy can be funded.
- AHPRA registration. Occupational therapy is a registered health profession. To deliver NDIS therapy supports, an OT must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- NDIS registration, if it applies to you. If your funding is NDIA-managed, you can only use registered providers. Self-managed and plan-managed participants can use registered or unregistered providers.
- Relevant experience. Ask whether the OT regularly does workplace assessments and assistive technology advice, and whether they have worked with people whose needs are like yours.
- The right people to ask. A support coordinator can help you find providers. A plan manager handles payments and records, and is not there to recommend therapists.
The NDIA’s Provider Finder lists registered providers only. Provider24 lists both registered and unregistered businesses, so check a provider’s status on the NDIS Commission register if registration matters for your plan.
On Provider24 you can compare an NDIS OT alongside providers listed under Assist Access/Maintain Employment and Specialised Supported Employment.
To compare occupational therapists and employment support providers, browse the Skills & Employment categories on Provider24.
Frequently asked questions
What employment supports does the NDIS fund?
The main one is “Finding and keeping a job”, a time-limited capacity building category for working-age participants. Support types such as Specialised Supported Employment and School Leaver Employment Support (SLES) can also be part of a plan. What you can use depends on what is written into your plan.
Is NDIS employment support the same as Inclusive Employment Australia?
No. Inclusive Employment Australia is the Australian Government’s disability employment program, which replaced Disability Employment Services on 1 November 2025. NDIS employment supports are funded through an NDIS plan. They are separate, and your my NDIS contact can explain how they apply to you.
Can an occupational therapist assess my workplace through the NDIS?
Yes, a workplace assessment is the kind of therapy support an OT can deliver if it relates to your disability and fits the supports in your plan. The OT must be AHPRA-registered.
What is supported employment under the NDIS?
Supported employment usually refers to Specialised Supported Employment, a support type for participants who need support to work. Provider24 lists providers under that category, so you can compare them and ask how they work.
Last updated October 2026.
General information, not advice. NDIS rules are changing on a published timeline, so check ndis.gov.au or speak with your my NDIS contact about your own plan.