Choosing the right provider can be the difference between you, or your participant, being able to get the right supports or not.

Sometimes, it’s tricky to know what to look out for and what questions to ask. In this edition of our “What to look out for” series, we’re exploring Employment Support Providers.

We spoke to the team at 4gr to discover some new insights about Employment Support Providers and help you make the best choice.

What are Employment Support Providers?

Employment Support Providers help those who experience disability to find and maintain meaningful employment.

Employment supports may include individual career counselling and work skills sessions, group-based training, working in a supported disability employment service, or customised supports to work in open employment.

What should a participant, nominee or support coordinator be looking for in employment supports?

It’s good to keep in mind that a number of providers offer a range of employment supports, and each provider approaches things differently.

When you’re making the choice, you must look for a registered provider. This will ensure that they are accountable through checks and audits by the NDIS and therefore providing the best quality service.

It’s also important to establish what the individual’s goals are, the outcomes they are hoping for and the type of support they need. The right provider will consider the individual goals and needs of the participant to provide them with the most appropriate employment supports.

An employment provider should spend time getting to know the individual, building rapport, and really understanding how they can work together to achieve their goals.

What questions should someone ask an employment provider as part of their selection process?

Firstly, make sure to have a meet-and-greet session with an employment provider before committing to an agreement. Ask plenty of questions to ensure they’re the right fit.

Some questions to consider are:

• What are the provider’s values?


• Is the provider registered with the NDIS?


• How are supports delivered?


• Is there a structure or program that’s followed? What does this look like?


• What is the provider’s mission for their participants?


• What are some of the outcomes the provider has achieved for current or past participants?


• How long do they work with and support participants?

What’s the best way to get in touch?

To learn more about 4gr read our Provider Spotlight feature on the organisation and visit the website.

For Melbourne enquiries, contact Tilley at [email protected] or on 0466 268 485.
For Adelaide enquiries, contact Carolyn at [email protected] or on 0412 813 170.
For Barwon enquiries, contact Adele at [email protected] or on 0481 188 749.