School leaver employment support: choosing mentoring
The Benefits of SLES One-On-One Mentoring
By CHESS Connect · Originally published 25 September 2019
Choose support that helps you try the work you want
Tell the service what interests you, what you have already tried and what help you want with the next step. Ask whether mentoring includes real workplace experiences, how your choices shape the program and what happens if your interests change. A group or individual format can suit different parts of your goal.
Ask for the costs and the practical plan before deciding. NDIA information for young participants includes support during school as well as moving into work or training. Check which supports are disability-specific and which responsibilities belong to school, an employer or a training provider.
Original article and dated context
CHESS Connect is a for-purpose organisation and registered NDIS provider, delivering the very best in professional and personalised disability services. They utilise over 20 years of experience in Disability Employment to deliver one-on-one School Leaver Employment Supports for young people eligible for the NDIS. These include a mentor and trained rehabilitation councillor to provide tailored assessment, support and training to strengthen pathways to employment for their customers.
NDIS School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) help Year 12 school leavers who are NDIS eligible gain the skills needed to transition into employment.
Most commonly, these supports delivered in a group format, but there are SLES services that provide one-on-one mentorship. This article explores the benefits of one-on-one mentoring and how it benefits young people who need support entering the workforce after leaving school.
SLES services that focus on one-on-one mentorship build a framework of supports around the individual needs of the participant. This ensures that the young school leaver receives focused attention to reach their employment and training goals after leaving school.
This differs greatly from group programs that structure their services more broadly with less flexibility in content and outcomes.
5 Benefits of SLES One-On-One Mentoring
Flexible structure: with one-on-one service you aren’t locked into the fixed structure of a group program. You have the ability to be flexible in how you choose to receive supports and align them with your specific goals and aspirations.
Concentrated attention: When you work with a skilled mentor, you get the focussed, one-on-one attention that you don’t receive as fully in a group setting. This will help you in clearly identifying your key skills and develop your capacity to become job ready.
Value: In NDIS funding terms, you get better value out of one-on-one supports than group programs
Real life experience: Group programs are often delivered in the same room, week after week. With one-on-one mentoring you get greater opportunity to build your communication and job readiness skills in supportive, real-life environments.
Adapting to change: The flexible structure of one on one mentoring can build your resilience to adapt to change, a skill that is highly regarded in the workplace.
[Clickability update, October 2026: One-to-one mentoring is not automatically better value than a group. Ask what each option delivers, its cost and how progress towards the person’s goals will be reviewed. Current NDIA information explains support before and after leaving school.]
Through a one-on-one SLES framework the journey to employment is fully aligned with the participants goals and aspirations and supported by their mentor and if available, a vocational councillor.
The SLES Journey
Commencement: Organisations who have the capability can conduct a functional capacity assessment that includes Cognition (understanding and communicating) and Mobility (moving and getting around) to better inform the participants key worker. Further assessment at regular interviews will monitor progress and allow for continuous improvement throughout the SLES journey.
__Identifying key skills and goals: __support to develop key skills, discover interests and learning opportunities and building confidence in the participant
__Building capacity and life skills for independence: __These can include development in communication skills, personal presentation, organisation skills, budgeting, transport and community engagement.
__Job readiness skills: __Development of a work profile, including job customisation considerations, resume and cover letter writing, job skills and training.
__Vocational assessment: __Some organisations will have accredited Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellors who can provide vocational assessments and develop a vocational capacity building program for participants
__Work experience and placement: __Real life work experience so participants can get a taste for difference industries, develop new work place skills and practice relationship building and communication skills.
School Leaver Employment Support is a forward thinking and motivating NDIS service that can empower young school leavers to be included, respected and contributing members of society through fulfilling employment. When choosing a SLES provider remember to be mindful of the service delivery framework and research the providers capacity and experience in the assessment and provision of support and employment services.
Clickability editorial update: October 2026
Support the young person’s decision rather than choosing the outcome
Help compare the options in a format the young person can use. Ask what they want to explore and what would make a first workplace experience manageable. Check travel, communication and who will be available if an arrangement changes.
Ask the provider how progress will be discussed with the participant and what permission is needed to involve you. Evidence of useful skill development matters more than a claim that one delivery format is always superior. Review whether the service is moving towards the person’s goals, not simply filling scheduled hours.
Questions readers ask
Is current employment support only for Year 12 school leavers?
No. NDIA guidance includes young participants before and after leaving school. Official guidance
Is one-to-one mentoring always better value?
No. Compare individual fit, cost and what the support achieves.
Find support for the next step towards work
Tell Clickability what employment preparation assistance you need. Compare reviewed and rated providers and ask about mentoring, workplace experience and the young person’s choices.
