Disability Employment Services

The new Specialist Disability Employment Program is an upcoming initiative replacing the current Disability Employment Services (DES) program. The changes are set to come into effect on 1 July 2025, with a focus on ensuring streamlined certification processes and improved support for Providers and participants.

The Department of Social Services is currently consulting with the community regarding how the new program will function and these discussions include people with disability, disability organisations, service providers, and employers.

The new program is scheduled to begin on 1 July 2025. All DES Providers will need to meet updated certification and audit requirements to operate under the new program.

The updated Disability Employment Services (DES) Program has been restructured to enhance service delivery, simplify processes, and provide more tailored support for participants.

Simplified Program Structure and Wage Subsidies

• Unified Program: The Disability Management Service (DMS) and Employment Support Service (ESS) will merge into a single specialist disability employment program. This consolidation reduces administrative burdens, enabling providers to focus on delivering high-quality services.

• Enhanced Fee Structure and Performance Framework: The new system incentivises quality service delivery and recognises flexible, customised pathways to employment for participants.

• Unified Wage Subsidy Program: Employers can access up to $10,000 per participant in wage subsidies, with simpler administration to help secure sustained employment opportunities.

Removing Barriers to Support for People with Disability

• Expanded Eligibility: The program now includes voluntary participants, such as individuals with a future work capacity of less than 8 hours per week or those who are not receiving income support. Current participants with under 30 hours per week work capacity will continue to be supported.

• No Service Time Limit: The removal of the 2-year service limit ensures participants can remain in the program for as long as they require support, eliminating unnecessary administrative churn.

• Two Levels of Servicing:

• • Flexible Service: Designed to keep participants connected while they build capacity through study, training, or other skill-enhancing activities.

• • Intensive Service: Provides targeted support based on specific participant needs, ensuring better employment outcomes.

Establishment of the Disability Employment Centre of Excellence

Launched as part of the program overhaul, the Centre of Excellence aims to improve employment outcomes for people with disability by:

• Supporting providers to deliver high-quality, effective services.

• Helping providers understand employer needs and equipping them with the skills to support inclusive hiring.

• Offering evidence-based best practice resources from July 2025 to foster continuous improvement.

Enhanced digital platform

A modern digital platform, similar to Workforce Australia, will be introduced to enhance service efficiency. These improvements will roll out in phases over three years, ensuring providers benefit from streamlined and updated digital tools.

The new program combines the Disability Management Service (DMS) and Employment Support Service (ESS) into a single streamlined program with a simplified structure. This ensures reduced administrative burden for providers and focuses on high-quality services. It also introduces a modern digital platform, new wage subsidies, voluntary participation options, and removes the 2-year service limit.

All existing NSDS (DES) certifications will no longer be recognised by the Department after 30 June 2025. Providers who successfully tender for work under the new program will be required to undergo a full certification audit within 6–12 months of the program’s rollout.

Yes. These standards are a requirement for all organisations funded by the government under the Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023 (DSI Act). No review of or changes to the standards have been indicated yet.

The audit requirements vary based on when your certification will expire.

Certifications Expiring Before April 2025: Providers are expected to complete a Surveillance audit to remain compliant through to the end of the DES program. The certification will lapse upon expiry, and successful tenderers will then undergo a full certification audit within 6–12 months under the new program.

Certifications Expiring Between May and June 2025: The Department will exempt Providers from undertaking a Recertification audit. Their certifications will lapse upon expiry, and successful tenderers will undergo a full certification audit under the new program within 6–12 months.

Certifications Expiring After June 2025: Providers who successfully tender under the new program will undergo a full certification audit within 6–12 months post-rollout.

All Providers who secure work under the new program must complete a full certification audit within 12 months of the rollout, though the Department recommends completing it within 6 months.

Providers who successfully tender under the new program can start by:

• Staying informed about updates from the Department regarding transition requirements. It’s recommended to maintain compliance with current certifications and prepare for the full certification audit once work has been secured under the new program.

• Booking in a certification audit with an accredited DES certification body like Intertek SAI Global within 6 to 12 months from the program rollout.