Inclusive Employment Australia will replace the Disability Employment Services program on 1 November 2025.
About the program
Inclusive Employment Australia is a new specialist disability employment program. It assists people with disability, injury or health condition to prepare for, find and maintain work and grow their career.
It replaces the Disability Employment Services (DES) program on 1 November 2025.
Inclusive Employment Australia will help create a more inclusive future. The program places participants at the centre of the service. It will improve and simplify services for people looking for work, as well as for employers and service providers.
Benefits of Inclusive Employment Australia
- More people with disability will have opportunities to work.
- You will get better support to find and keep a job.
- There will be more providers skilled in working with people with different disabilities or from diverse backgrounds.
- There will be no more time limits – you can stay with your provider for as long as you need.
- Providers will be more responsive to your needs.
- You can be on the program even if you only work a few hours a week.
Features of the program
- You can choose your provider.
- You can move to a new provider at any time.
- You don’t need to get government payments to be in the program.
- There will be some new providers – some may have skills that interest you.
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 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.
How this change affects you
We sent DES participants letters about the change.
The letter sent in October 2025 gives more information about how the change affects DES participants. The letter lets you know if you are changing providers or remaining with your current provider. This will be different for each individual depending on their circumstances.
Letters to DES participants
If you need these letters translated into another format, email DES2025Transition@dss.gov.au.
Your work and payment
Your work and payment will stay the same.
What you need to do
You don’t need to do anything now. You should continue doing the activities agreed to with your DES provider.
Your Inclusive Employment Australia provider will reach out to you after 1 November 2025 to begin supporting you as part of the new program.
If you are unsure, speak to your current provider or a person that you trust to help you.
If you have not received any letters, speak to your current provider.
How to guide – tips for choosing your Inclusive Employment Australia provider
Access thisMutual obligations
For people who have mutual obligation requirements, we will pause them from 16 October 2025 to 5 January 2026, inclusive.
You will still get your payment during this time. You won’t get any demerits for not meeting your mutual obligations.
Visit the Workforce Australia website for more information on pause of obligations(Opens external website).
Mobility Allowance
If you receive Mobility Allowance, you will need to ask your Inclusive Employment Australia provider to update your Job Plan. This means you will keep receiving your Mobility Allowance.
Visit the Services Australia website for more information on Mobility Allowance(Opens external website).
If your future work capacity is under 8 hours
More people will be able to take part in the new program. You won't have to be able to work 8 hours or more per week.
From 16 October 2025, if you are re-assessed with a future work capacity of zero to 7 hours you will be eligible to join Inclusive Employment Australia on 1 November 2025.
More information
Inclusive Employment Australia
If you have any questions about Inclusive Employment Australia, you can:
- speak to your current DES provider
- call the DES Transition Line on 1800 227 337.
If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 13 14 50* and ask for 1800 227 337.
Disability Employment Services
DES Participants calling about the current Disability Employment Services program are to call the NCSL line on 1800 880 052. This includes transferring between Disability Employment Services Providers, complaints and enquiries about their current situation.
The following information may also be of interest to DES participants.
- Visit the Disability Gateway(Opens external website)
- DES Service Guarantee
- Disability Employment Services performance scorecards
- Complaints and referrals
- Employment | Disability Gateway(Opens external website)
If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 13 14 50* and ask for 1800 880 052.
*Call charges apply for calls to ‘13’ and ‘1800’ numbers from mobile phones.
If you are d/Deaf, hard-of-hearing or have speech communication difficulties, please contact the National Customer Service Line through the free National Relay Service. For more information, visit accesshub.gov.au(Opens external website).