Looking for Disability Employment Services?
The former DES program has now been replaced by Inclusive Employment Australia. BUSY Ability provides Inclusive Employment Australia to help eligible people with disability, injury or illness prepare for work, find a job and receive support to stay employed.
About Inclusive Employment Australia
Replacing the previous Disability Employment Services (from 1st November 2025), Inclusive Employment Australia is a new specialist disability employment program with added services for persons living with disability, illness or injury.
The program offers clients tailored and flexible support to prepare for, find and maintain meaningful employment and advance their careers.
Under the new and improved Inclusive Employment Australia, you can expect continuing personalised support for your goals to find employment.
As well, more people will be eligible for the program as those assessed as less than 8 hours work capacity are now able to access, as well as voluntary participants who are not receiving Centrelink.
Inclusive Employment Australia is a new specialist disability employment program that replaced the previous Disability Employment Services (from 1st November 2025).
Supporting and empowering people with disability, injury or health conditions, the program offers tailored, flexible support to prepare for, find and maintain meaningful employment and advance their careers. The improved program offers more people access to employment support.
Improvements under the new Inclusive Employment Australia offer:
Continuing personalised support and plans for your unique needs and goals
More people eligible for support – those assessed as less than 8 hours per week of assessed work capacity are now able to access
Voluntary participants not receiving Centrelink income support are eligible.
Removal of the previous two‑year time limit on service access.
Flexible and individualised support for those ready to find work and those wanting to stay in work.
How BUSY Ability help job seekers with disability, illness or injury
With decades of proven experience, BUSY Ability is an experienced and trusted disability employment provider.
Our employment support for people with disability, illness or injury provides:
- One-on-one meetings with an employment consulting to discuss your interests, aspirations and any barriers to employment.
- A practical step-by-step employment plan to assist you to reach your goals.
- An updated resume, tailored to each job application.
- Opportunities for you to acquire new skills or complete training programs.
- Help to prepare for job interviews and post placement support (for as long as you need) to help you thrive in your new role.
Recruitment Support for Employers
At BUSY Ability we pride ourselves on being employment experts with nearly 40 years experience, helping businesses like yours to find and recruit your next superstar.
We help with inclusivity in the workplace and work with individuals from Inclusive Employment Australia, which specialises in finding work for people living with disability.
BUSY Ability also work with job seekers registered with Workforce Australia Specialist Employment Services, supporting individuals who have lived experienced of the justice system to find and maintain employment.
Let us assist with the skills and staffing needs for your team. We have a large database of job ready candidates, and can advise on all the support you and your new team member can access to ensure they succeed in the role!
Reduce the costs of hiring new employees by employing an eligible job seeker through BUSY Ability.
Access to Potential Wage Incentives
There are a number of different subsidies your business may be eligible for that include wage subsidies of up to $10,000 and workplace modifications and other assistance for your new employee to help them thrive in your team and in their new role.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Disability Employment Services?
Improvements under the new Inclusive Employment Australia offer:
Continuing personalised support and plans for your unique needs and goals
More people eligible for support – those assessed as less than 8 hours per week of assessed work capacity are now able to access
Voluntary participants not receiving Centrelink income support are eligible.
Removal of the previous two‑year time limit on service access.
Flexible and individualised support for those ready to find work and those wanting to stay in work.
I was a previous customer for Disability Employment Services (DES), what happens now?
You will be automatically placed into the new Inclusive Employment Australia program. Your provider may have changed as the new program providers may have changed their delivery areas or are replaced by another provider. A letter and other communications would have been sent to you explaining this but if you need further assistance, please contact your local Centrelink office or you can search for a local Inclusive Employment Australia provider.
What is the difference between Disability Employment Services and Inclusive Employment Australia?
You will be automatically placed into the new Inclusive Employment Australia program. Your provider may have changed as the new program providers may have changed their delivery areas or are replaced by another provider. A letter and other communications would have been sent to you explaining this but if you need further assistance, please contact your local Centrelink office or you can search for a local Inclusive Employment Australia provider.
How does BUSY Ability help people into work?
BUSY Ability is contracted by the Australian Government to provide Inclusive Employment Australia and we have nearly 40 years’ experience in this field. We are focused on helping people who have a disability, injury or health condition to find employment that suits their abilities and interests.
We’ve helped 1000’s of people to gain financial independence and get their life back on track through employment.
How have you helped other people like me find employment?
Our programs provide one-on-one support to job seekers, assessing their skills, capabilities, goals and personal circumstances.
If you require extra skills, training, resume or interview support, we work closely with you. A part of The BUSY Group, we can also provide access to health services, apprenticeship support and vocational training to support your goals.
Through program funding we can support you with anything you need to overcome barriers to your work goals – including equipment or workplace modifications required, help with travel to work, work uniform requirements etc.
Once you find employment, we provide ongoing support to ensure you maintain and thrive in your role.
Does BUSY Ability have an Auslan / interpreting service that can help me?
Yes, BUSY Ability is able to access interpreting services to meet your individual needs.
Do you have people who understand my cultural background?
Yes, we have staff from a number of different backgrounds and BUSY Ability is committed to Cultural Competence Training for all of our staff.
Can you help me get a qualification?
Of course! We can connect and support you in obtaining qualifications to assist you into ongoing employment.
What do I have to do to receive your services?
If you are someone living with disability, injury or illness, and wanting to work, we can assist you through Inclusive Employment Australia.
You can ask us how you can switch to us as your provider if you are not happy with your current provider.
To find out more, simply send us a message through our contact us page, or call 1800 761 561 and speak with one of our helpful team members. We would love to hear from you!
How often do I need to meet you?
Together we will set up times that suit your needs and lifestyle with a minimum requirement of once a fortnight. This can be face to face or through other means that best meet your needs.
What flexibility can you offer around meetings?
The first meeting will be face to face, after that we will work with you to agree other methods including FaceTime, phone calls, Zoom or a location that best suits your needs.