About BUSY Ability (formerly ON-Q)
BUSY Ability (formerly known as ON-Q) is a leading provider with nearly 40 years experience supporting people living with disability, illness or injury to achieve their employment goals. We’re dedicated to supporting inclusivity and opportunities for people living with disability, assisting them to find their pathway to independence.
New and Improved Disability Employment Program – from Nov 1
To ensure people with disability have the same opportunities to find and keep a job, the Australian Government has announced a new and improved disability employment support program called Inclusive Employment Australia, replacing the current Disability Employment Services (DES) program. The new program will launch 1 November 2025.
The new inclusive employment program will offer support based on where job seekers are on their employment journey. It will offer help for job seekers with resumes, role applications, opportunities to connect with employers, work experience, and work trials. With work retention in mind, once customers find work, they will continue to get support to help them settle in and keep their job.
Inclusive Employment Australia – supporting more people living with disability into work
Through the new program commencing November 1, our team is looking forward to continue servicing individuals with their employment goals and workplaces with their human resourcing needs.
The new program offers service improvements and will be open to anyone with a work capacity of up to 30 hours per week due to a disability, injury, or health condition. Key continuing services and changes include:
- Current DES participants will continue to receive services.
- Those with a work capacity of less than eight hours per week are offered opportunities to volunteer.
- Participants do not need to receive an income support payment to be eligible.
- There is no longer a two-year service limit and participants can remain in the program as long as they need support.
As part of the national CoAct network, BUSY Ability will deliver tailored, person-centered employment services for people with disability, injury or health conditions – to create meaningful and sustainable employment outcomes.
BUSY Ability will deliver the new Inclusive Employment Australia program in 51 locations within these areas:
- Inner Sydney, NSW (2 locations)
- Macarthur Region, NSW (3 locations)
- Sutherland Shire, NSW (2 locations)
- Mackay, QLD (4 locations)
- Townsville, QLD (7 locations)
- Outer North Brisbane, QLD (5 locations)
- Monash, VIC (2 locations)
- Southern WA (26 locations)
Replacing the current Disability Employment Services (DES) program, Inclusive Employment Australia represents a shift toward a more personalised, community-focused approach championing choice and control for job seekers and enhancing engagement with local employers to drive inclusive hiring practices.
As Australia’s leading network of not-for-profit community service providers, CoAct was awarded delivery of the Inclusive Employment Australia contract nationally, ensuring consistent, community-driven employment support across Australia with CoAct’s broad national reach.
Simon Brown, CoAct CEO, said CoAct’s partnership approach delivers a co-designed, person-centred model that offers flexible and intensive support, specialised staff, and smart technology to improve both jobseeker and employer experiences.
“Our co-designed model brings together deep local knowledge, specialist expertise, and lived experience to deliver high-quality services tailored to the diverse needs of jobseekers and employers across Australia,” Mr Brown said.
“As our network continues to grow, so does our shared vision of building communities where everyone can reach their potential through meaningful and sustainable work.”
Paul Miles, Managing Director of The BUSY Group, said BUSY Ability has been a proud and long-standing CoAct partner and looks forward to continued collaboration in delivering disability employment services.
“We’re excited to support Australian communities through the Inclusive Employment Australia program from November. BUSY Ability understands that every person’s journey to employment is unique and Inclusive Employment Australia gives us the tools and flexibility to provide truly tailored support. Our focus is on matching individual strengths with the right opportunities, while helping Inner Sydney employers recognise the incredible value that people with disability bring to their workplaces,” Mr Miles explained.
Together with CoAct, BUSY Ability looks forward to continuing its mission of empowering people with disability to achieve their employment goals while working closely with local employers to build more inclusive, diverse and resilient workplaces in its communities.
Looking for staff for your business?
We support employers with workplace inclusivity, finding job ready candidates who are enthusiastic, loyal and skilled. If you would like more information on how we can support your recruitment needs email info@busyability.org.au or call us on 1800 761 561
What does this mean for our current and new customers from November 1?
If you’re a current DES participant in the regions we will be delivering the new services, the Department of Social Services will contact you with further details. We are looking forward to supporting you!
Current customers of BUSY Ability will be contacted by us and your employment consultant will explain your next steps.
More Information
If you have any questions about the changes, speak to your BUSY Ability employment consultant or call our support team on 1800 761 561, or email info@busyability.org.au.
You can also find out more on the Department of Social Services and JobAccess websites.
Alternatively call the Job Seeker Hotline on 13 62 68 or speak to a JobAccess Advisor on 1800 464 800.
If you are deaf or find it hard to hear or speak on the phone, you can connect with JobAccess through the National Relay Service (NRS) via Access Hub.