Pathfinder:
Work readiness for
high school students.
An introduction to employment skills for young adults with disability.
Inspire confidence. Build capability. Transition successfully.
Entrenched barriers to employment for people with disability begin at school. While their peers step confidently into the workplace, many students with disability are frequently excluded from meaningful work experience. This reinforces the misconception that they don’t belong in the workplace.
At Jigsaw, we’re changing that narrative.
An evidence based approach to school leaver transitions.
The evidence is clear: early work experience works.
In fact, participating in early work experience increases the probability of being employed two years later by 17 perceptage points (Mamun et al., 2017).
Moreover, young people with disability who participate in work experience are more likely to be employed, earn higher wages, and are less likely to have contact with the justice system compared to peers who miss out on these early opportunities (Fraker et al., 2018).
The Pathfinder impact: Translating research into reality.
Pathfinder is a structured, six-week introductory work readiness program designed specifically for senior students and recent school leavers with disability.
By embedding core, transferrable work skills training within an active social enterprise, we help students bridge the hap between classroom learning and sustainable mainstream employment.
What will the participants achieve?
Unlike conventional work experience, Pathfinder delivers a blended learning environment through a combination of hands-on learning and group training within a real workplace.
Throughout the program, your students will be supported to:
Develop Core Workplace Capabilities: Targeted training across essential professional soft skills, including workplace communication, teamwork, time management, and task prioritisation.
Build On-the-Job Confidence: Students practice their skills within our inclusive social enterprise.
Map Post-School Pathways: Dedicated sessions focus on career exploration, interview preparation, and professional goal setting.
Cultivate a Professional Identity: Empowering students to see themselves as capable, contributing members of the workforce.
How does it work?
We view schools and families as critical partners in a student’s transition success.
Our Pathfinder framework is designed to provide a structured, fully supported introduction to the professional world, providing straighforward, actionable insights into each student’s milestones and future work goals.
Duration & Structure: A six-week program. Students attend their local Jigsaw hub one day per week for a full six-hour training day.
Expert Support Ratios: Training is delivered by skilled specialists at a supportive 1:3 group ratio.
Collaborative Progress Reporting: We provide weekly updates to both the school and parents/carers, tracking each student’s progress and behavioural milestones.
Graduation & Celebration: The program concludes with an end-of-cohort celebration at the Jigsaw hub, recognising the achievements of the students alongside their support network.
Program Funding & Investment
The total cost to participate in the six-week Pathfinder program is $600 per participant.
To ensure accessibility, the program can be funded via multiple pathways:
NDIS Funding: Most commonly funded through a student’s Core Support, or Capacity Building budgets.
Using existing NDIS funding for Pathfinder can work to show the NDIS that the student has a need for employment-related funding at their next review to assist in their post-school transition.
School or Private Funding: Available for students without an active NDIS plan in place.
Note for Support Coordinators: Our team can provide a quote for your student to share with their NDIS plan manager or support coordinator. We can also provide your student with a tailored support letter to assist with a request for employment related funding post-school.
Student Eligibility
Pathfinder is ideal for students who are:
- Living with disability.
- In their final year of school or have recently graduated.
- Motivated to explore future employment pathways.
- Supported by, or eligible for the NDIS.
- Possess foundational literacy and basic computer skills.
Bring Pathfinder to your school today!
“The program at Jigsaw has been paramount in taking my students to the next level with their employment skills. The students have loved participating each week and have shown maturity in their ability to plan goals and reflect on their personal development. Thank you for empowering my students!”
Contact our Schools Team
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FAQs
Where are your hubs located?
We have hubs in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra.
Is there a limited number of places?
Yes, there is a maximum of five students per day in the terms that the program is running. Please contact your local hub for more information.
Which terms is this program available?
Hubs usually offer school programs terms 2 and 3. Discuss additional requirements with your local hub.
If the student doesn’t have NDIS funding, can it be paid for privately?
Yes, it can be privately funded by the school or the family attending. If you are unsure about funding, please reach out for a chat with your local hub.
Which NDIS funding categories can be used?
- Category 4: Core: Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation
- Category 9: Capacity Building Social, Economic and Community Participation
- Category 10 Capacity Building Employment (SLES)
- Category 15 Capacity Building Improved Daily
Do schools need to provide a teacher to supervise the students?
No. This is welcomed, but not mandatory. Whilst teachers and/or SSOs are welcome to attend and support the students in the initial day/s of their program, we typically seeidentify that students excel and advance their independence when they are fully immersed in the Jigsaw work environment, without their usual school educator’s direct supervision.
Does Jigsaw provide transportation to the hub?
Whilst Jigsaw doesn’t directly provide transport, we can work with you to explore possible transport options. Contact your local hub for more information.
Do students have to be in year 12?
No, we recommend that students are in their last year of schooling. For example, this could include a student in year 10, if they will not be continuing into the final two years of school.
Our current locations
Jigsaw is currently operating in Frenchs Forest, Sydney and Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, Abbotsford, Melbourne, Adelaide CBD and Canberra.
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