Supported employment is an approach that helps people with disability or learning difficulties find and keep a job that matches their interests, skills and personal employment goals. The aim is to give you all the support you need to succeed.

With supported employment, you’re not alone on your job journey. A friendly and skilled mentor is there for you every step of the way. A mentor is like a job coach who offers guidance, training and support to help you feel confident and comfortable in your workplace

Supported employment is a great way to contribute to your community, feel a sense of accomplishment, make friends and earn money along the way.

What’s the difference between supported employment and open employment?

In open employment, anyone – with or without a disability or learning difficulty – can apply for jobs, attend interviews and if successful, start working. If you get the job, you will probably have some on-the-job training to help you get started, but it will not involve the same level of personalised, ongoing support as in supported employment.

Supported employment, on the other hand, is a more guided and supportive approach to work. In this scenario, a mentor is there to assist you. They can help with things like learning new tasks, adapting to the workplace or building a positive relationship with colleagues.

Your mentor will also work with supervisors to make any adjustments to the job or your work environment.

You can work with a mentor to get additional support on the job

Is supported employment funded by the NDIS?

Yes, supported employment is one of the supports that can be funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). You can use the funding in any workplace you like, such as government or non-government organisations, social enterprises or even a family-run business.

Here’s how to have supported employment added to your plan:

• Discuss your employment goals during planning. When you meet with your NDIA planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC), talk about your interest in finding work and your job goals. This will help ensure that employment supports are included in your NDIS plan.
• Wait for approval. After creating your plan, your NDIA planner or LAC will let you know the next steps. They will also tell you how long you have to wait for approval.
• Choose a supported employment provider. Look for supported employment providers that meet your needs. Mambourin, for example, offers personalised support to meet your employment goals.
• Use your NDIS plan. Once you and the provider have made a service agreement, you can now use your plan to access supported employment.

Daniel and Louise at their work station

How do I know if supported employment is already in my plan?

If you have easy access to your NDIS plan, you can find supported employment in the section called “Capacity Building Supports”.

If you need help, feel free to reach out to Mambourin. We are a registered NDIS provider and our team can help you review the details of your plan.

If supported employment isn’t currently in your plan, it doesn’t mean it can’t be included in the future. You can discuss this at your next NDIS plan review meeting.

Warehouse employees unload a container

Is supported employment available through Mambourin?

Yes. We have different supported employment opportunities for you in areas such as

• Warehouse services, where you will be trained in logistics, packaging and assembly. You might be asked to put together, label, or pack different products.
• Garden maintenance, where you assist with maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces.
• Administration, where you will be taught about filing, data entry or answering phones.

Our gardening team maintaining the Werribee Sensory Gardens

Do supported employees at Mambourin get paid?

Yes! As a supported employee at Mambourin, not only do you get to do work that matches your interests and skills, but you also get paid for your hard work and dedication.

Andrew loves coming to work in the MBS warehouse!

Benefits of supported employment with Mambourin

We believe in setting you up for success from day one. With Mambourin, you’ll receive personalised on-the-job training tailored to your role. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Build confidence and self-esteem
• Develop new work skills and explore your interests
• Earn a fair wage and gain financial independence
• Connect with your community and make new friends
• Access leadership opportunities and career growth

As a supported employee at Mambourin, you can have ongoing training and professional development opportunities. These are designed to meet your needs and goals, helping you build your skills and thrive in your role.

Don’t just take our word for it. Meet some of our amazing supported employees who have found success with Mambourin:

• Camille: “I applied for Mambourin. I go to the [warehouse] job. It’s awesome. I save up money to get a car and…heaps of holidays.” Watch Camille’s story
• Tim: “While still at school, [I] undertook a traineeship as part of my VCAL program…I think I benefited from this in many ways, initially it gave me a basic skillset which can be used in any workplace and then allowed me to learn about the logistics industry. Eventually I was able to get my forklift licence which I am positive helped me gain full-time employment in the logistics area.” Read Tim’s story
• Dee-Jay: “I have been working at Mambourin for [over] 10 years now…At the start I was very shy and nervous but over time I opened up more and started making friends…I am now a full-time supervisor, which I do five days a week.” Read Dee-Jay’s story

Dee-Jay progressed from supported employment into an open employment role

Call Mambourin about supported employment today

If you’re interested in exploring Supported Employment opportunities at Mambourin, get in touch with us. You can call, email, or arrange a tour of one of our locations. We’re always happy to chat and answer any questions you might have.