Meaningful work, lasting inclusion
NDIS supported employment gives people with disabilities meaningful, long-term work with the daily support they need to succeed. Known within the NDIS as Supports in Employment, this funding category provides structured job coaching and supervision so participants can build lasting careers rather than short-term placements. It is typically delivered by Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) or social enterprises that employ participants directly, pairing real wages with on-the-job support funded through the NDIS.
How NDIS Supported Employment Works
In this model, the provider wears two hats at once, acting as both employer and support provider.
Participants earn wages under the Supported Employment Services Award 2020, often using the Supported Wage System (SWS)—a formal productivity-based wage assessment that sets pay in line with actual output.
Example:
Ben works at a social enterprise café run by an NDIS provider. His productivity is assessed at 40% under the SWS. The provider pays him $10/hour as his wage and claims NDIS funding for job coaching and supervision under “Supports in Employment.”
How Payroll and Reporting Are Managed
This model relies on two separate layers of payment and reporting working side by side:
| Type | Covers | Paid By | Funding Source |
| Wages | Hours worked by participant | Provider (as employer) | Supported Employment Services Award (SWS%) |
Support Hours | Job coaching, supervision, mentoring | NDIS Plan | Core – Supports in Employment |
Reporting obligations include:
- SWS Assessments lodged with Fair Work
- NDIS support evidence (attendance, goals, outcomes)
- Single Touch Payroll for employee wages
- Internal wage and support utilisation reports
How VisiCase Simplifies Supported Employment
Managing this dual structure by hand is time-consuming. VisiCase makes it effortless for providers running these programs:
- Rosters both staff and participants as resources (1:1 or 1:many)
- Captures attendance and support delivery for NDIS claims
- Exports payroll data (wages, hours, award categories)
- Links each session to participant goals and funding lines
- Generates audit-ready reports for both NDIA and Fair Work compliance
Example Workflow:
- Participant Ben and job coach Mia are rostered for a four-hour café shift.
- An NDIS claim is generated for Ben’s supported employment hours at $67.50 per hour.
- Payroll export shows Ben paid $10 an hour under SWS, and Mia paid $36 an hour under the SCHADS Award.
- Ben’s employment goal updates automatically as his progress is logged.
VisiCase unites payroll, compliance, and person-centered outcomes—empowering providers to deliver inclusive, sustainable NDIS-supported employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NDIS Supported Employment?
Known officially as Supports in Employment, it is long-term, structured work for people who need daily support to participate in the workforce, delivered through job coaching and supervision funded under a participant’s NDIS Plan.
How is pay calculated in this model?
Wages are set under the Supported Employment Services Award 2020, using the Supported Wage System (SWS) to assess a participant’s productivity as a percentage, which directly determines their hourly pay rate.
Who provides this type of support?
It is commonly delivered by Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) or social enterprises, which act as both employer and NDIS support provider, paying wages while claiming funding for coaching and supervision.
What reporting is required for providers?
Providers must lodge SWS assessments with Fair Work, maintain NDIS support evidence, process Single Touch Payroll, and keep internal wage and support utilization reports for compliance.
How does VisiCase support NDIS Supported Employment providers?
VisiCase rosters staff and participants, captures attendance for NDIS claims, exports payroll data, links sessions to participant goals, and generates audit-ready reports for NDIA and Fair Work compliance.
