Specialist disability employment program
About the program
The new specialist disability employment program will commence on 1 July 2025. It will replace the current Disability Employment Services (DES) program.
The new program will support more people with disability into employment. It will also improve user experiences. Eligibility will be expanded to people with an assessed work capacity of less than 8 hours per week and those not receiving an income support payment. There will also no longer be a 2-year time limit.
Current DES participants will continue to be eligible. Further information will be provided in early 2025, before the new program starts.
Everyone’s journey to finding employment is different. Providers will work in partnership with each participant to develop a personal plan. This will be tailored to their needs, goals and their work capacity.
Support will also be based on each participant’s circumstances. This will include a range of pre-employment, job search and in-employment support. Those who find a job will continue to be supported while they settle into employment. They can also receive longer-term supports, if needed, to maintain a job.
Support for employers
Employers will be able to access expert guidance from providers on recruitment and workplace practices. Providers will work with employers to:
- identify their business needs
- find suitable candidates
- access training
- make workplace adjustments, job customisation and tailoring
- provide safe and productive workplaces
- retain employees with disability.
Employers may also be eligible for the new wage subsidy program. This will provide up to $10,000 per eligible supported job seekers who are supported to achieve sustainable employment.
A diverse network of providers
A diverse network of high-quality providers will deliver the new program. There will be greater focus on providers with staff and leadership reflecting the diversity of their community. Providers will place clients and employers at the centre of their service design. They will build meaningful relationships with both clients and employers.
The Disability Employment Centre of Excellence (Centre of Excellence) will support providers. It will develop best practice, evidence-based information in disability employment. This will help providers deliver high-quality, effective employment services and supports to improve outcomes.
Requests for Tender
The new specialist disability employment program Request for Tender was open from 4 October to 4 November 2024.
The National Panel of Assessors Request for Tender was open from to 16 October to 11 November 2024.
Visit the AusTender website to learn more about the tenders:
- specialist disability employment program tender(Opens in a new tab/window)
- National Panel of Assessors tender(Opens in a new tab/window)
We hosted an industry briefing on the New Specialist Disability Employment Program Request for Tender on Friday 11 October 2024. We held a briefing on the National Panel of Assessors Request for Tender on Monday 21 October 2024.
The briefings outlined key elements of the tenders and provided an overview of key changes from the Exposure Draft and the procurement process. Visit the Engage website to learn more about the public briefings(Opens in a new tab/window).
Consultation
We have consulted on how the new program will work, with:
- stakeholders and the community
- people with disability
- peak organisations
- service providers
- employers.
In May 2024, we held a live event with the Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP. We provided details on the reforms announced in the 2024-25 Budget.
Visit the Engage website(Opens in a new tab/window) to view the 2024-25 Budget Disability Employment Reform event.
Following release of the new specialist disability employment program and National Panel of Assessors Exposure Drafts(Opens in a new tab/window) of the Requests for Tender, we hosted public briefing webinars.
The webinars provided an opportunity for questions and feedback.
We will share how to contribute to ongoing consultation as the new program is implemented. We will also update our consultation website DSS Engage(Opens in a new tab/window).
The need for a new program
More than one in 5 Australians, about 5.5 million people, live with disability. People with disability experience higher levels of disadvantage. Employment services help job seekers to build skills and capacity and help employers tap into an underutilised workforce.
People with disability and employers should have a service that meets their needs and provides the right support.
As part of the 2022-23 October Budget, the Government agreed to commence a reform process for the DES program.
Read the Media Release: Better support for people with disability.
Extensive consultation informed potential changes to the current DES program and future reforms. Feedback highlighted issues with the current DES program and ways to improve service quality for participants and employers. Information is available on DSS Engage on the following public consultations:
- New Disability Employment Support Model(Opens in a new tab/window) (November 2021 to February 2022)
- DES Reforms – Recent reviews and recommendations relating to disability employment(Opens in a new tab/window) (February 2024)
A DES Reference Group provided advice and guidance on the reforms. The Reference Group was chaired by the former Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Ben Gauntlett.
The new program considers findings from multiple reviews. They further highlighted the need to re-design the DES program, including:
- Working Future: Australian Government White Paper on Jobs and Opportunities(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability(Opens in a new tab/window)
- House Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Independent Review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme(Opens in a new tab/window)
The following papers also informed the reform process.
- Mid-term Review of the Disability Employment Services (DES) Program (May 2021)
- Building Employer Demand - Literature Review (March 2021)
- Disability Employment Landscape Research Report (December 2021)
Contributing to the Government’s agenda
The Australian Government has developed strategies to support all people with disability to thrive in diverse and inclusive communities. The new specialist disability employment program will be informed by, and contribute to the implementation of the following strategies: