Quality Strategy for Disability Employment
All disability employment services must meet the requirements of the independent quality assurance system to receive funding from the Australian Government.
The legislation containing this requirement is the Disability Services Act (1986).
The Quality Strategy for disability employment was introduced in 2002. All Australian Government funded services were required to be independently certified against the 12 Disability Services Standards by December 2004.
In December 2013 all Australian jurisdictions endorsed a revised set on National Standards for Disability Services. These new Standards are now applicable to all Disability Employment Services.
The objectives of the Quality Strategy is to:
- give people with disability confidence in the quality of service delivery and employment outcomes achieved by Australian Government funded disability employment
- ensure all services meet, as a minimum, the National Standards for Disability Services
- make the assessment of service quality more objective and measurable
- link certification to funding
- reduce government intervention in the day to day operation of services
- assist services to continuously review and improve the services they deliver.
Quality Assurance for Disability Employment Services - Frequently Asked Questions from Service Providers
Should my organisation be certified against the Disability Services Standards?
Yes. If you are receiving funding as Disability Employment Service you will have to meet the requirements of the Disability Employment Services Quality Assurance System.
Should my organisation pay to become certified?
DSS, on behalf of the Australian Government, will provide a contribution towards the costs to an approved amount.
What happens if my organisation is not certified?
Under the Commonwealth Disability Services Act (1986) organisations funded by the Australian Government to deliver disability employment services must be certified against the National Standards for Disability Services. Failure to do so may result in loss of funding.
Quality Assurance Links and Resources:
- Quality Assurance for Employment Services
- National Standards for Disability Services and supporting documents
- Disability Services Act 1986
- List of Accredited Certification Bodies
Related information
- Disability Employment Services
- Disability Services Act 1986
- Human Services Scheme and DEES Scheme
- List of Accredited Certification Bodies
- Complaints and Referral Processes
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