Young people take part in post school programs - Community Participation or Transition to Work - to make the change from school life to life in a workplace and the community.

If you are Aboriginal and/or of a non-English speaking background you may wish to ask ADHC regional staff for information on which organisations are able to provide you with quality services.

Community Participation

This program is for young people with moderate to high support needs who may need a different option to paid employment or further education. 

You will take part in:

• activities of your choice in your community
• learning new skills or building on what you already know
• activities to increase your independence.

There are specialist Community Participation services for:

• Aboriginal people
• people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Read more about Community Participation

Transition to Work

This is a two year program for school leavers who need support to make the transition from school to work or further education. 

You may take part in:

• developing the skills needed for employment or further education
• practical experience in the workplace
• increasing your independence.

Read more about Transition to Work

2012 Community Participation and Transition to Work Program Funding

Read more about the funding levels for the Community Participation and Transition to Work Programs (PDF).

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for Community Participation or Transition to Work you need to:

• live in NSW
• have an intellectual, psychiatric, physical or sensory disability as defined under the Disability Services Act
• have completed year 12
• undertake an eligibility assessment

Eligibility assessments

Assessments are carried out each year for Year 12 school leavers with a disability who wish to attend a post school program. Assessments are conducted by your teachers (or consultants) in your final year of high school.

Before you can be assessed, you must complete a Post School Program consent form to be given to the assessors. 

You will know the outcome of the assessment in September of your final school year, along with information on how to appeal an assessment outcome.

• Overview of eligibility assessments for school leavers
• Post School Programs Eligibility Assessment - Information for Young People and their Families
  

Appealing an assessment outcome

You can appeal to us if you feel that:

• the program you have been offered is not the right one for you
• the funding band for Community Participation does not match your support needs

Read the Appeal Information and Consent Form - Post School Programs: Information for Young People and their Families (PDF)

Choosing a service provider

School leavers who have been assessed as eligible for a post school program will receive an information package containing information about all the approved service providers in a region. 

Providers are listed alphabetically (by their outlets) in each local government area. 

Young people and their families are encouraged to visit a number of providers and to ask questions to help identify the best one for their needs. You can also contact your local ADHC regional office for help.

Once you have chosen a service provider, you need to fill out a registration form.

See the 'Choosing a service provider' booklets on the right side of this web page.

Attending your program

You are encouraged to use mainstream transport to get to and from your program. If this is not possible, or you need more help to attend your program, you may need to discuss other options with your service provider and ADHC case worker (if you have one).

Specialist support and services

The Equipment and Modifications Fund can support you with meeting the extra costs of equipment or minor building adjustments that you may need to participate in your program.

• Equipment and modifications fund guidelines (PDF) 

You can also talk to your service provider about your needs.

Person centred approaches

A person centred approach assumes that a person’s disability does not define who they are. Service providers should respectfully and sensitively discuss your needs, strengths, goals and expectations with you while being aware of their own biases in perception, values, experience and judgment.

There are four key elements to a person centred approach:

• You, the service user, is at the centre. Planning focuses on finding out what you want to do and achieve in your life, your abilities and the supports needed;
• You may decide to involve other people in your life, such as your family and friends, in the program you choose so that there is a partnership between you, your support people and the service provider;
• You can plan activities to fit in with your ‘whole of life’ goals; and
• These goals can be changed with age or due to different needs and expectations.

All ADHC funded organisations need to demonstrate capabilities for delivering services that reflect the rights, needs and expectations of Aboriginal people and service users of culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse backgrounds.

Read more about person centred planning:

• Person Centred Planning: a review of the literature (PDF)
• Exploring and Implementing Person Centred Approaches (PDF)
• Exploring and Implementing Person Centred Approaches (accessible PDF)

Further information

For more information on post school programs:

• call the Post School Programs information line on 1800 761 030
• contact your local ADHC regional office
• for Community Participation email community.participation@facs.nsw.gov.au
• for Transition to Work email transitiontowork@facs.nsw.gov.au