About the reforms
No Australian with disability should be left behind. People with disability, injury or a health condition should have equal opportunities to gain employment. The disability employment reforms will deliver on the vision for a stronger and more inclusive Australia for people with disability.
The reforms will consider broader changes within the disability sector. This includes the response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme Review.
Specialist disability employment program
A new specialist disability employment program will start on 1 July 2025. It will replace the current Disability Employment Service program.
In line with the new specialist disability employment program, the National Panel of Assessors program will continue to deliver assessment services from 1 July 2025.
Learn more about the new specialist disability employment program.
Disability Employment Centre of Excellence
A Disability Employment Centre of Excellence is being established. It will develop best-practice, evidence-based information to improve disability employment outcomes. It will help providers deliver high-quality effective employment services. The Centre of Excellence will support the new program from 1 July 2025.
Learn more about the Centre for Excellence.
Complaints resolution and referrals
The Complaints Resolution and Referral Service (CRRS) and Hotline will continue to 31 December 2026. This will ensure people with disability can continue to raise any concerns they may have about their Disability Employment Services (DES) provider, Australian Disability Enterprises (ADE) and/or Advocacy Services funded by the Australian Government.
Call the Complaints Resolution and Referral Service Hotline on 1800 880 052 (free call).
Visit the JobAccess website(Opens in a new tab/window) for more information about the Hotline and CRRS.
Disability employment pilots
Three pilots are being undertaken to improve the employment outcomes of people with disability. Outcomes from these pilots will be used to inform improvements to the delivery of the current DES program and subsequent phases of reform to disability employment.
National Disability Insurance Scheme/Disability Employment Services Pathways Pilot
The NDIS/DES Pathways Pilot is looking at ways to improve the pathway into DES for NDIS participants without mutual obligations. Learn more about the NDIS/DES Pathways Pilot.
Career Pathways Pilot
The Career Pathways Pilot is a partnership between the Australian Disability Network and Business Council of Australia. It focuses on career progression for employees with disability.
Disability Employment - Tourism Local Navigator Pilot
The Disability Employment - Tourism Local Navigator Pilot is delivering place-based employment outcomes in the tourism sector.