Leaving school is a significant transition point in the life of a young person with disability. We have two programs to help young people with disability in making this transition:

• Community Participation
• Transition to Work

We fund non-government organisations to deliver these programs across NSW.

The purpose of these Post School Programs is to help young people with disability develop the skills they need to increase their independence and participate as valued and active members of the community.

Eligibility criteria

To be able to access a Post School Program, you need to:

• live in NSW
• have a disability as defined by the Disability Services Act 1993
• have completed year 12.

If you meet the criteria, an eligibility assessment will be undertaken.

Assessments are carried out in May to June of each year for Year 12 school leavers with disability who wish to attend a Post School Program when they leave school. Young people are advised of the outcome of their assessment in September.

Read more about the eligibility assessment.

Person centred planning

In 2008 ADHC undertook a project with the Australian Catholic University to help Community Participation providers develop person centred approaches in their services. The project included a review of literature and development of a practice guide.

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

In 2008-09, Community Participation service providers from across NSW participated in 22 workshops designed to develop person centred approaches. These workshops focused on organisational and service change, renewal and realignment.

Fact sheet – Person centred and flexible day and post school programs – update for individuals (October 2011) (PDF) provides information on changes to self management in day and post school programs.

Fact sheet – Person centred and flexible day and post school programs – update for providers (October 2011) (PDF) provides information on changes to self management in day and post school programs.

Equipment and Modifications Fund

The Equipment and Modifications Fund was established to assist young people to participate in Post School Programs.

The fund helps remove some of the barriers to participation by contributing to the cost of assistive equipment and technology or minor building modifications. Read more about the Equipment and Modifications fund guidelines (PDF).

Becoming an eligible service provider - Community Participation and Transition to Work

ADHC funds eligible service providers to deliver Transition to Work and Community Participation services. Service providers become eligible to deliver Transition to Work and Community Participation services through a tender process.

Service providers wishing to deliver the Community Participation and/or Transition to Work program in the future should continue to check ADHC tenders for upcoming tenders.