Supported Employment vs Open Employment: Which Path is Right for You?
For people with disability exploring work, two terms often come up: supported employment and open employment. They’re sometimes presented as completely separate pathways, but the reality is usually more flexible. Someone may enjoy supported employment for many years, another person might use it to develop confidence and experience before trying open employment, while others may move straight into the broader workforce with the right disability employment support around them. The best option depends on the individual.
What is Supported Employment?
Supported employment provides paid work in an environment where additional workplace assistance is readily available. Depending on the setting, that can include supervision, skill development, training and ongoing support.
For somebody entering employment for the first time, supported employment can offer the chance to build practical skills through real work. That might include learning how to follow workplace routines, work as part of a team, take direction from a supervisor, learn new tasks, build confidence and stamina, and communicate with co-workers.
For some people, supported employment is a stepping stone towards other opportunities; for others, it’s a long-term employment choice that suits them well. There’s no rule saying everyone has to eventually move into open employment.
What is Open Employment?
Open employment for people with disability means working in the broader labour market alongside people with and without disability. That could include jobs in retail, hospitality, administration, manufacturing, gardening, government or almost any other industry.
A person is employed by a mainstream employer and may receive reasonable workplace adjustments or other employment supports where required. Importantly, open employment doesn’t mean “working without support”. Some people may still need job coaching, assistance learning tasks, workplace modifications or other disability-related support.
So, What’s the Main Difference?
The biggest difference between supported employment vs open employment is the environment around the job. Supported employment is specifically structured to provide employment opportunities for people with disability, often with support built into the workplace, while open employment takes place within the wider workforce.
But the amount of support someone needs doesn’t automatically determine which pathway is right for them. A person in open employment may need significant assistance, while someone in supported employment may work very independently once they’re familiar with their role. It’s more useful to think about what environment gives the person the best chance to succeed.
When Might Supported Employment be a Good Fit?
Supported employment may suit somebody who is building confidence or workplace skills, learns best through practical experience, wants more day-to-day guidance, hasn’t had many opportunities to try different types of work, or enjoys working in an environment that already understands disability support. It can also simply suit somebody who likes the workplace, the job and the people around them. Meaningful work doesn’t have to look the same for everyone.
When Might Open Employment be a Good Fit?
Open employment may suit somebody who has a particular job or industry they want to pursue in the broader workforce. They might already have qualifications or relevant skills, or they may be ready to take on a new challenge with targeted support. Open employment can also create access to a much wider range of industries and career opportunities. For some people, that variety is exactly what they want.
Can You Move Between the Two?
Absolutely. Employment pathways don’t have to be linear. Someone might work several days a week in supported employment while exploring a mainstream role one day a week, giving them the opportunity to experience a different workplace without immediately leaving an environment they already know. Over time, they might increase those hours, or they might decide their original role is still the better fit. Both outcomes are valid.
How can the NDIS Help?
Where appropriate to a participant’s plan and disability-related needs, NDIS employment support may help people develop workplace skills, prepare for employment or receive additional support while working. That could include:
- On-the-job coaching
- Help learning tasks
- Communication and teamwork support
- Workplace routines
- Job customisation
- Disability-related personal care at work
The NDIS doesn’t replace an employer’s normal responsibilities, but it may fund disability-related supports that go beyond what an employer would ordinarily provide.
Start with the person, not the program
The simplest way to choose an employment pathway is to start with the individual. What kind of work interests them? What do they want to get from employment? What support would help them do their job well?
At Orana, we’ve seen how meaningful work can build more than just skills and income; it can also create confidence, friendships, routine and stronger community connection. For some people, supported employment is the right destination, while for others it may be one stage in a broader employment journey. What matters is that the pathway reflects the person’s goals, strengths and interests — not somebody else’s assumptions about what they can achieve.
