Finishing school and stepping into adulthood can bring plenty of exciting possibilities.

It can also bring some big questions.

What do I want to do for work? How can I become more independent? How do I make new friends? What if I’m not ready for employment yet?

For young people living with disability, having the right support can make exploring those questions feel much more achievable.

At Blue Tongue Adventure, our programs focus on much more than filling a day with activities.

We create opportunities for young people to learn, connect, explore their interests and work towards their individual NDIS goals.

For school leavers, Blue Tongue Pathways also provides School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES). These supports help young people build confidence and develop skills for their future.

Together, these programs can create a pathway from learning and exploration towards greater independence, community participation and employment.

Turning NDIS goals into real-life experiences

An NDIS goal can look simple when it’s written in a plan.

You might want to become more independent, improve your social skills or participate more in your community.

However, achieving those goals usually takes practice.

That’s where practical experiences become important.

NDIS capacity building supports can help participants increase independence and become more involved in their communities. The NDIS specifically recognises activities that build social skills, friendships, community connections and independence.

At Blue Tongue Adventure, we work on these skills through activities young people can actually enjoy.

Our Crew might be cooking, playing sport, creating digital art, learning woodwork, dancing, making music or heading out into the community.

The activity itself is only part of the experience.

Along the way, participants can practise communication, teamwork, problem-solving, decision-making and independence.

Most importantly, they’re learning through doing.

Building confidence and independence

Independence doesn’t happen overnight.

Often, it develops through lots of small experiences.

Ordering something at a café. Paying for an item at the shops. Making a decision within a group. Following instructions for a recipe. Catching public transport. Speaking to someone new.

Each experience creates another opportunity to practise.

The NDIS recognises community participation supports as one way participants can build skills that may eventually support employment. These can include using public transport, managing money, meeting people and learning to work within a team.

At Blue Tongue Adventure, our goal is to create a supportive environment where young people feel comfortable giving things a go.

Sometimes that means succeeding straight away.

Other times, it means trying something, making a mistake, having another go and discovering that you’re capable of more than you thought.

That’s where confidence starts to grow.

Making friends and feeling part of a community

For many young adults, one of the biggest parts of life after school is finding a new social circle.

School naturally creates opportunities to see the same people every day. Once school finishes, those opportunities can suddenly disappear.

Unfortunately, people living with disability can face greater barriers to social and community participation.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIWH) reports that 19% of people with disability aged 15–64 experience social isolation. That compares with 9.5% of people without disability.

Newer AIHW reporting also shows that 29% of people with disability aged 15–64 reported often feeling lonely.

That makes meaningful opportunities to connect especially important.

Blue Tongue Adventure brings young people together through shared interests and experiences.

Our programs create space to have conversations, share a laugh and try something new together.

Over time, those repeated interactions can help participants improve communication skills and build genuine friendships.

For us, social participation shouldn’t feel forced.

It should feel like being part of the Crew.

Learning everyday life skills without sitting in a classroom

Not every important skill needs to be learnt from a workbook.

Some things make far more sense when you experience them in real life.

That’s why our programs incorporate practical skills into everyday activities.

Cooking can involve planning, following instructions, food safety and teamwork.

A community outing might involve planning transport, managing money or communicating with staff at a venue.

Woodwork can involve concentration, safety awareness and following a process.

Meanwhile, theatre, dance and music can encourage creativity, confidence and communication.

Different activities create different learning opportunities.

Therefore, participants can explore what works for them while developing skills they can use outside the program too.

Preparing for the next step after school

Many young people leave school without knowing exactly what they want to do with the rest of their life.

And they shouldn’t have to.

Some young people are ready to start looking for a job straight away. Others need more time to develop confidence and workplace skills.

Some simply need the opportunity to discover what kind of work they might actually enjoy.

That’s where School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) can help.

SLES-style employment supports are designed to help school leavers build the skills needed to move towards employment.

Current NDIS guidance recognises intensive employment support for school leavers transitioning into work. It can also support pathways towards further education, training, traineeships and apprenticeships.

At Blue Tongue Pathways, we start with the individual.

What are you good at?

What interests you?

What would you like to become more confident doing?

And, eventually, what type of work might you enjoy?

From there, we can start building a pathway.

What can you learn through SLES?

Employment involves much more than knowing how to perform one particular job.

You need to communicate with other people. You need to understand expectations. You may need to travel independently and manage your time.

You also need confidence.

That’s why our SLES program starts with foundation skills.

Depending on your individual goals, this may include:

• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Personal presentation and hygiene
• Money management
• Numeracy and literacy
• Independent travel
• Time management
• Workplace behaviour and expectations
• Understanding workplace rights
• Teamwork
• Building a positive work ethic
• Problem-solving and decision-making

From there, participants can explore vocation-specific skills related to industries that interest them.

The NDIS requires employment providers to develop tailored supports around each participant’s employment goals, barriers and individual support needs.

That’s also how we approach SLES at Blue Tongue Pathways.

There isn’t one pathway everyone needs to follow.

What if I don’t know what job I want?

That’s completely okay.

One of the valuable parts of SLES is getting the opportunity to explore.

You might think you want to work in hospitality before discovering that you love something creative.

You might enjoy working with animals, working outdoors or helping other people.

Alternatively, you may discover that further study or training is the right next step for you.

You don’t need to have your whole career mapped out before you begin.

Supported work experiences can give young people an opportunity to understand what different workplaces actually feel like.

Once you’ve identified an area you’re interested in, Blue Tongue Pathways can help explore suitable work experience opportunities.

When you feel ready, support can then move towards job applications, resumés, interview preparation and employment.

What does a day at SLES look like?

At Blue Tongue Pathways, a typical SLES day runs from 9 am to 3 pm.

Most participants attend once or twice each week.

Mornings generally include small-group workshops focused on employment, independence and life skills.

Group discussions also give participants opportunities to practice communication and learn from each other.

Then, afternoons become more hands-on.

You might take part in a course, attend work experience, practice travelling independently or complete a mock job interview.

Support can be provided individually or in small ratios, depending on the activity and participant needs.

The aim is to gradually turn skills discussed in a workshop into skills you can confidently use in everyday life.

More than getting a job

Employment can certainly be an important goal.

However, becoming work-ready often creates benefits well beyond employment.

Learning to travel can increase community independence.

Improving communication can help with friendships.

Money-management skills can help with everyday purchases.

Learning to speak confidently in an interview can make it easier to advocate for yourself elsewhere.

Meanwhile, discovering your strengths can change the way you see your own future.

That’s why employment preparation and everyday capacity building often complement each other so well.

A job might be one destination.

The bigger goal is helping young people build confidence, choice, and independence along the way.

Why choose Blue Tongue Adventure and Blue Tongue Pathways?

At Blue Tongue, we believe learning works best when people actually enjoy being there.

Blue Tongue Adventure programs are designed for young people aged 17–30 with low to moderate support needs.

Our activities include theatre, dance, music, woodwork, art, digital art, cooking, community access, sports and more.

However, our programs aren’t about ticking activities off a calendar.

They’re about the “Crew” themselves.

We keep our support personal, with ratios no higher than 1:3 across our Blue Tongue Adventure programs. This allows our team to build genuine relationships and provide meaningful support.

For young people preparing for employment, Blue Tongue Pathways takes that same personalised approach into SLES.

We’ll work with you to explore your interests, build your independence and develop the skills you need for your next step.

Maybe that’s work. Maybe it’s study. Maybe it’s gaining the confidence to travel somewhere independently for the first time.

Whatever the goal, we’re here to help you work towards it.

Because adulthood isn’t about following one predetermined pathway. It’s about discovering yours.

Get in touch with Blue Tongue Adventure or Blue Tongue Pathways to learn more about our programs, SLES and how we can support your NDIS goals.

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