Mid-term Review of the Disability Employment Services (DES) Program

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) on behalf of the Department of Social Services completed a mid-term review of the Disability Employment Services (DES_ program, between May and August 2020.

BCG put forward suggestions, such as:

• Improving the delivery model so that participant and employer needs are better met
• Creating an integrated government approach to the provision of disability and employment support
• Addressing the sustainability of the DES program caseload and expenditure
• Ultimately, improving the number and quality of employment outcomes for people with disability.

The Department of Social Services is committed to delivering effective supports to help people with disability into employment. The mid-term review informed improvements to the DES program, announced in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 Budgets. From mid-2021, public consultation will begin on a new disability employment services model to replace the current DES program, following the expiration of current arrangements on 30 June 2025.