Disability Employment Services
The Disability Employment Services (DES) program is the main employment service for people with disability, injury and/or health condition.
People with disability may be eligible for one of two different parts of the DES program:
- Disability Management Service is for job seekers with disability, injury or health condition who need assistance to find a job and occasional support in the workplace to keep a job.
- Employment Support Service is for job seekers with permanent disability who need help to find a job and who need regular, ongoing support in the workplace to keep a job.
Providers of DES are a mix of large, medium and small for-profit and not-for-profit organisations. They have experience in supporting people with disability, as well as helping employers to support employees with disability in the workplace.
To find a DES provider:
- visit the Job Access website to conduct a DES provider search(Opens in a new tab/window)
- contact a JobAccess Advisor(Opens in a new tab/window) on 1800 464 800
- call the Centrelink employment services line(Opens in a new tab/window) on 132 850
- visit a local Centrelink service centre(Opens in a new tab/window)
- view the list of current DES providers.
DES providers can help people looking for work to:
- get ready to work
- train in specific job skills
- write a resume
- practice interview skills
- look for jobs that suit them.
Once in a job, DES providers can help with specific on-the-job training and support that suits the participants' needs. This includes help under the Work Assist program(Opens in a new tab/window). Work Assist provides support to eligible employees who find it hard to fulfil essential requirements of their role due to their injury, disability or health condition. A DES provider will work with the Work Assist participant and their employer to provide support that maximises the chance of maintaining employment.
The current DES program will run until 30 June 2025. A new specialist disability employment program will commence on 1 July 2025.
Support for participants
The DES program gives participants flexibility and choice in the services they receive and how they receive them. A DES participant information pack is available for participants, providing information to support making informed choices on their employment journey. The participant information pack contains frequently asked questions (FAQ) fact sheets.
Read the DES participant information pack.
Support for employers
DES providers offer recruitment support and guidance to employers. This may include help to:
- post job vacancies
- shortlist candidates
- interview people with a disability
- access available financial support (if eligible).
Information for providers
Operational information for DES providers is available.
Performance Framework
The Disability Employment Services Performance Framework (Performance Framework) measures provider performance. It replaces previous DES Performance Frameworks and measures. It came into effect from 1 July 2024.
Under the new Performance Framework, providers are assessed against key performance measures. These measures include the DES Quality Framework.
The Performance Framework will help improve:
- provider performance
- the quality of services delivered
- employment outcomes for participants.
Read more about the Performance Framework.
View the Disability Employment Services performance scorecards.
Quality Framework
The Disability Employment Services Quality Framework (Quality Framework) ensures the delivery of high quality, tailored services for people with disability. It requires providers to listen and respond to the needs of individuals and employers to drive meaningful and sustained quality improvement. The Quality Framework started in July 2023.
We continue to consult with providers, peaks and disability representative organisations. This informs and supports continuous improvement of the Framework. Disability Employment Services Quality Guidelines complement the Framework. The Guidelines formalise the rating approach and frequency to inform provider quality assessments.
Read the DES Service Quality Framework.
A factsheet summarises the Framework and is also available in Easy Read. DES Service Quality Framework – Fact sheet
JobAccess
JobAccess is the national hub for workplace and employment information for people with disability, employers and service providers.
JobAccess provides free, confidential and accessible information and advice through the JobAccess website and a telephone advice line. It offers help and workplace solutions for people with disability and employers.
JobAccess also plays a coordinating role with the National Panel of Assessors to conduct free workplace assessment and advise on workplace modifications and support which may be eligible for reimbursement through the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF)(Opens in a new tab/window).
The EAF gives financial help to eligible people with disability and mental health conditions and their employers to buy work-related modifications, equipment, Auslan (Australian Sign Language) services and workplace assistance and support services. The EAF is available to eligible people with disability who are about to start a job, are self-employed or who are currently working. It is also available to people with disability who need Auslan assistance or special work equipment to look for and prepare for a job.
Under JobAccess, a National Disability Recruitment Coordinator(Opens in a new tab/window) (NDRC) can offer assistance to employers across Australia to:
- increase their knowledge of support available through DES
- implement employment practices
- provider disability and training for staff.
Visit the JobAccess website to learn more about getting your workplace ready(Opens in a new tab/window). Employers can also call JobAccess Advisor(Opens in a new tab/window) on 1800 464 800 to connect with a National Panel of Assessor provider or NDRC account manager (if eligible).