Developing a support plan for your staff

Support plans can benefit your employees with disability, as well as your business. Find out what to include in a plan and how to get started writing one – or download a handy template.

What is a disability employment support plan? 

A disability employment support plan is a document created for an employee with disability. It addresses their specific needs in the workplace and help they may need to settle into or keep a job long term. Not every employee with disability needs a plan. 

A support plan might include:

• information on workplace changes and special equipment, if needed
• details of the job, including tasks, procedures and hours
• instructions for duties
• visual or written checklists and memory prompts
• disability awareness training for the workplace
• plans for skills training
• details about when the employer and employee may review and update the employment support plan.

You can divide a support plan into different stages of employment. For example:

• first days on the job
• probation period
• the employee’s career long term.

Support plans should clearly state actions, who is responsible for them, and how long they should last.

Who writes the support plan?

The first disability employment support plan is put together by the employer and employee.  If the employee has a DES provider, they may help with this too.  As the employee becomes more comfortable in their role the next plan may only need to be put together by the employee and employer.  

Benefits of a support plan

A disability employment support plan can help your employee with disability do well in their role and progress in their career. 

The plans can also help your organisation. They can:

• make staff feel supported and stay in their job longer 
• get ongoing help that is needed from Disability Employment Services providers

Getting started 

You should start writing the plan as soon as possible after the employee begins work. 

The National Disability Recruitment Coordinator (NDRC) has a handy employment support plan template you can download and use to suit your employee. For more advice, you can contact one of our JobAccess Advisers.