Twentyfour organisations will share in $5.5 billion in national Albanese Government funding to provide better employment services in Blair for people with disability, injury and long-term illnesses through the establishment of Inclusive Employment Australia.

Replacing the Disability Employment Services (DES) program, Inclusive Employment Australia recognises that people with disability may be at different stages of their employment journey and that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work.

The new specialist disability employment program will replace the DES program from 1 November 2025, and will mean more funding, more people accessing services, more tailored support, more accountability and more support for providers to help an extra 15,000 people with disability find a job that they love.

The reforms are based on consultation over the past two years with people with disability, disability representative organisations and disability employment providers. The changes will also better match supply to demand by responding to oversaturation of providers in some locations, and undersupply in other areas.

This will improve provider viability and better support small and medium not-for-profit entities, and ensure more parts of Australia are properly served.

To enable these changes, an open tender was conducted in late 2024 to award the next five-year contracts for DES providers, with a total investment of $5.5 billion and 84 organisations receiving an offer for funding.

Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said he was proud that the Albanese Labor Government was delivering on its commitment to provide better employment services for people with disability and long-term illnesses.

“People with disability often struggle to find employment, and don’t get to experience the dignity of work and financial and social benefits of having a job. This is where Inclusive Employment Australia comes in,” Mr Neumann said.    

“Inclusive Employment Australia aligns with the Government’s vision of a more inclusive future, where people with disability, as well as those with injuries or health conditions, can get the support they need to find work and progress in their careers.

“Recently, I was delighted to visit local Disability Employment Services program provider, WISE Employment, in Ipswich to hear about the amazing work they are doing. 

“WISE is an Australian not-for-profit provider that aims to empower people with disabilities, including university students and graduates, through meaningful employment opportunities.

“It helps more than 15,000 people every year find meaningful work. Since 2001, WISE has invested $3.5 million in projects to support some of the most disadvantaged in our community.”

Another local DES provider, APM Employment Services, has also helped young job seekers and NDIS clients from the Somerset Region find roles that match their strengths and passions.

In Blair, 13 providers who operate under the current DES program will carry over into Inclusive Employment Australia. These are: WISE Employment; APM Employment Services; AtWork Australia; CPL - Choice, Passion, Life; Help Enterprises; CoAct; MatchWorks; The Salvation Army Employment Plus; WISE Employment; Breakthru; Campbell Page; Inclusive Employment by Ontime; Sign For Work; and Jobsupport.

In addition, 11 new providers have joined the program: Connect2 Employment; Endeavour Foundation; Managing Pain Employment Services; Settlement Services International; Sureway Employment and Training; Verto; Real Futures; SYC Ltd; Vision Australia; Flourish Australia Services; and the Personnel Group.

Current participants under the DES program, and their families and carers will receive individual communications and support about the new program prior to its commencement. To help them adjust to the changes, providers will also have access to a dedicated organisation, which will provide transition support for up to 12 months.

For more information, visit https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-employment-reforms/inclusive-employment-australia