A first shift that changes everything.
Real workplaces. Real mentors. Real pay-day pride. Accucare's Work Experience hub matches NDIS participants across NSW with local businesses who actually want them on the roster.
Not "training". A proper job.
Most work-readiness programs run drills in a classroom. Ours run shifts in a bakery, a nursery, a warehouse or a studio — with a job coach on the floor, a supportive employer in the loop, and a skills passport that grows every week.
Pick a lane. Or try a few.
Try-a-trade taster days let you sample the vibe before committing. When it clicks, we build a regular roster around it.
Hospitality & cafés
Barista basics, front-of-house, food handling and the confidence to call out an order to a full room.
Retail & customer service
Stocking, POS, visual merchandising and the small talk that turns a browser into a regular.
Horticulture & nurseries
Potting, propagation, watering rounds and outdoor days with a team that talks to plants back.
Warehousing & logistics
Pick-pack, forklift-adjacent tasks, safety inductions and the buzz of a well-run loading dock.
Commercial kitchens
Prep, plating, cleaning to standard and the muscle memory of a lunchtime service done well.
Creative & media
Content shoots, podcast production, print finishing — a portfolio built shift by shift.
Small crews. Loud employers. Actual outcomes.
We only partner with employers who commit to inclusive rostering, so every placement is a real seat at the real table — not a spectator badge.
Four NSW hubs. More opening this year.
Parramatta · Bankstown · Liverpool · Blacktown
Wollongong · Shellharbour · Dapto
Newcastle · Maitland · Cessnock
Gosford · Tuggerah · The Entrance
The four-step onboarding.
We map what you love, what you'd try, what's a hard-no and what your NDIS plan can fund.
Short low-pressure shifts across two or three industries so you feel the fit before you commit.
You start regular shifts with an Accucare mentor on the floor, easing you into the routine.
Coach steps back as you step up. Written reference, skills passport and a next-step plan.
Work experience suits you if any of this rings true.
Bring your NDIS plan (or don't — we can help you check your funding). Bring the curiosity. We'll bring the roster.
Apply for a hub- You're finishing school, TAFE or a day program and want something with a pay-slip attached.
- You've had jobs before but need a mentor to help you get back on the floor.
- You're not sure what you like yet — you want to try three things before you commit.
- You want a workplace that already understands access, sensory needs and communication styles.
- You want the skills, the reference and the confidence — in that order.
- Your goal is paid open employment, a micro-business or a supported enterprise role.
Ready to punch in?
Tell us your postcode and what you're curious about. We'll match you to a taster day inside two weeks — no CV, no pressure, no lectures.
Work Experience — your questions
Eligibility, referrals, timelines and what happens next — answered.
Who can join a hub?+
NDIS participants 15+ with Capacity Building funding for Finding & Keeping a Job, or School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES).
How do I refer in?+
Enquire online, chat to your Support Coordinator, or ask your school transition team to reach out. We book a hub tour within a week.
How long before I start my first shift?+
Most participants finish induction and start their first supported shift within 2–3 weeks of enquiry.
What happens next after I sign up?+
1) Hub tour and interests chat. 2) Industry stream match. 3) Induction and safety training. 4) First supported shift with a job coach. 5) Ongoing coaching plus employer intros.
Is this a real job or training?+
Both. You build real skills in real workplaces with a coach beside you, and we bridge you toward paid work when you're ready.
Which NSW hubs are open?+
Sydney, Illawarra, Hunter and Central Coast — with new streams launching quarterly. Ask us about the closest hub to you.