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Work experience, volunteering or casual work (Easy Read)

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On this page, you will find Easy Read information about:

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About this page

A man with an intellectual disability serving a woman at a cafe

This page is about different ways to learn about work.

Five words on white paper strips against a black background.

Hard words are in bold.

We explain what they mean.

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It is a good idea to read this document with support.

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If you want to know more about learning about work go to:

Learning what you are interested in (easy read)

Work experience

Person typing on a laptop with two clocks showing 9:00 and 5:00 in the background.

Work experience is learning about work at work.

Person thinking with a thought bubble with an image of five people wearing different work uniforms and the text 'What do YOU want?'

Work experience helps you learn what you like doing.

Five people wearing different uniforms for work.
Work experience teaches you about:
  • Different jobs
Young woman with an intellectual disability in an office operating a copy machine.
  • Work skills
Five people standing in a line, each in different professional attire, with the middle person holding a sign that says 'Team'.
  • Working in a team.
School building with the words High School showing front entrance, a fence and a gate.

Work experience usually starts in high school.

An image of a calendar showing the words Year 10.

Most schools run work experience in year 10.

A notepad showing the days of the week and the words Work Experience inside a red circle with arrows on it.

Work experience usually goes for one week.

An image of a notepad with the word Plan and three people gathered around a table looking at a white banner.

It is your school’s job to:

  • Plan your work experience
Two people collaborating at a workstation, one in a wheelchair using a computer mouse and the other writing on a notepad.
  • Support you at work experience.
Five people wearing different uniforms for work.

Doing more work experience helps you try more jobs.

An image of a calendar that says Year 11 and another calendar that says Year 12.

You try can doing work experience:

  • In year 11 and 12
A notepad showing the days of the week and the words Work Experience circled red against Wednesday.
  • One day each week
A man's hands holding a banner showing two images, a school building with an arrow pointing to the word School, and a man making coffee at a coffee machine and an arrow pointing to the word After.
  • After you finish school.
A map of Australia showing the different States and Territories in different colours.

Work experience may be different depending on:

  • The school you go to
  • The State you live in.

Volunteering

A man wearing a bright yellow vest standing in front of a food delivery van and beside a stack of boxes of food.

You can also learn about work by being a volunteer.

A woman helping another woman to her feet beside an image of Australian notes inside a red circle with a cross through it.

Volunteers help others without being paid.

An image of a woman smiling and holding her hands in a love heart. Behind the woman are five different coloured petal shapes and below her is the word Give inside a purple shape.

Helping others feels good.

A woman in a wheelchair pointing to one of two clocks showing 9 o'clock and 5 o'clock inside a white banner.

Volunteers choose how much time they give.

An image of two notepads showing the days of the week and the word Volunteer circled in red on different days.

You might choose to volunteer for a few:

  • Days
An image of a calendar showing a month with the word Volunteer and a red circle around three weeks.
  • Weeks
An image of seven calendars showing different months.
  • Months.
An image of a man wearing a yellow basketball shirt and spinning a basketball on his finger.

Some jobs you may be able to volunteer at are:

  • Basketball coaching
A man wearing a bright yellow vest standing in front of a food delivery van and beside a stack of boxes of food.
  • Delivering meals to older people
An elderly woman sitting in an arm-chair and knitting inside an image of a house showing the word Visit.
  • Visiting people who are lonely.

Casual work

A man wearing a beige and green cafe uniform making coffee at a coffee machine.

Casual work is great for learning about work too.

An image of a woman holding a phone to her ear with a speech bubble with the word Work?

Casual work means you:

  • Work when you are asked to work
An image of a hand holding a wad of Australian notes behind an image of two clocks reading 9am and 5pm.
  • Get paid for the hours you work.
An image of three notebooks showing the days of the week with 2 hours, 3 hours and no work circled red.

You may work different hours each week.

Some weeks you may not work at all.

An image of a woman holding her head and her belly in pain next to an image of Australian notes inside a red circle with a cross through it.

You do not get paid if you:

  • Are sick
An image of a woman on holidays holding a handbag and pushing a bag next to an image of Australian notes inside a red circle with a cross through it.
  • On holiday.
A building icon showing the word cafe and an image of a cup of coffee and a sandwich.

Casual jobs can include:

  • Cafes
An image of a hamburger chips and a drink from a fast food restaurant.
  • Fast food restaurants
An image of a woman being served at a checkout by a supermarket employee and the word Supermarket.
  • Supermarkets.
A woman dressed as a waitress holding a jug of water and a hand towel.

Casual workers may need to wear a uniform.

Work skills

An image of an elderly man wearing a suit pointing to his wrist watch with a green tick.

At work you must:

  • Come to work on time
Young woman with an intellectual disability in an office operating a copy machine.
  • Do your job
A waiter with an intellectual disability standing next to a waiter without a disability in a cafe and smiling.
  • Work with other people
Two men saying goodbye to one another and waving in front of a clock showing 5pm with a green tick.
  • Finish work on time.
An image of a woman seated at a desk and frowning with her arms folded and a speech bubble showing the words No more work.

If you do not do these things, your boss may stop giving you work.  

Using NDIS funding

A purple, green and white NDIS logo.

NDIS funding can help you:

A woman typing on her laptop
  • Do work experience
A man wearing a bright yellow vest standing in front of a food delivery van and beside a stack of boxes of food.
  • Volunteer
A man wearing a beige and green cafe uniform making coffee at a coffee machine.
  • Get casual work.
An image of a laptop computer with the word Click and a hand cursor icon.

To learn more go to:

Work and the NDIS (Easy Read)

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