Supported employment means working alongside trained supervisors, with tasks adapted to your abilities, so you can build skills, join a team, and earn an income at a pace that suits you. For people with disability across Western Sydney, it's one of the most practical paths into the workforce, and it's very different from navigating open employment alone.
Thorndale Foundation has delivered supported employment from its Werrington base for almost 60 years, supporting people with disability across the Nepean, Hawkesbury, and lower Blue Mountains regions.
How Supported Employment Works
Supported employment happens through an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE), a workplace specifically structured to provide disability employment support. At Thorndale Industries, the commercial arm of Thorndale Foundation, participants work in real commercial roles while receiving:
- Trained supervision: dedicated staff on hand throughout each shift
- Modified tasks: work broken down and adjusted to individual ability
- Skill-building support: ongoing coaching so participants grow into new responsibilities
- A steady income: genuine paid work, not unpaid "work experience"
Supported Employment vs. Open Employment
The key difference is the level of built-in support. Open employment means competing for and working in a mainstream job with standard expectations and minimal workplace adjustment.
Supported employment, by contrast, is designed around the participant: the environment, pace, and tasks flex to the person, not the other way around.
For many people with disability, it's the stepping stone that builds the confidence and workplace routine needed for long-term employment, whether that stays within an ADE or eventually transitions elsewhere.
What Kind of Work Is Available?
Thorndale Industries offers a genuinely varied range of roles, including:
- Packaging and assembly (promotional kits, conference kits, show bags)
- Warehousing and storage services
- Contract packaging and 3PL (pick-and-pack) logistics
- Shrink wrapping and mailing/fulfilment services
- Lawn and garden services: mowing, mulching, weed control
- Textile recycling
This range means participants can find work that genuinely matches their interests and strengths, rather than being placed in a one-size-fits-all role.
The Benefits Go Beyond a Pay Cheque
Supported employment participants regularly report gains that extend well past their wage:
- New, transferable skills
- Growing self-esteem and confidence
- Friendships and a sense of belonging
- A genuine connection to the broader Western Sydney community
Thorndale also runs a social program alongside its employment services, giving participants the chance to unwind and connect through weekend and evening activities.
How NDIS Funding Fits In
Most participants access supported employment through their NDIS plan, typically under funded supports related to finding and keeping a job. If you're unsure whether your plan covers this, Thorndale's team can help you understand your options and next steps.
What a Day Looks Like at Thorndale
A typical day includes arrival and settling in, task allocation based on current commercial jobs, supervised work blocks with regular breaks, and social time with the team. It's structured, predictable, and paced: exactly the environment many participants need to thrive at work.
Getting Started
If you're an NDIS participant in Werrington, Penrith, St Marys, or anywhere across Western Sydney and want to explore supported employment, the first step is a conversation with Thorndale's team about your goals and current NDIS plan.
Ready to explore supported employment options in Western Sydney? Contact Thorndale Foundation or call (02) 9912 7800 to discuss your NDIS supported employment pathway.
With almost 60 years supporting the Western Sydney disability community, Thorndale Foundation remains one of the region's most established supported employment providers. Get in touch today to find out how Thorndale Industries can help you build skills, earn an income, and become part of a supportive team.
