What’s Inclusive Employment Australia and what can it do for you?

Finding any job right now is hard, let alone finding one that you love. And if you also need help to get ready for employment, find a boss who understands your needs, ask for workplace adjustments, and build confidence in the environment you work in, sometimes going it alone can feel like a little too much.

Thankfully, that's where Inclusive Employment Australia comes in.

What's Inclusive Employment Australia?

Inclusive Employment Australia is a specialist disability employment program that was introduced by the Australian Government at the end of 2025. It replaced the Disability Employment Services (DES) program, which had been around for some time.

The new program is designed to give people with disability, injury, or a health condition more personalised support to prepare for, find, and keep a job – one that means something to them and improves their life. 
Inclusive Employment Australia places a stronger focus on personal strengths, career goals, and ongoing assistance, so the support you receive is individualised and able to adapt to your needs.

Whether you're looking for your first job, returning to work after a break, wanting to increase your hours, or hoping to build a long-term career, Inclusive Employment Australia is there to help you work out your next move.

How do I access support?

Unlike National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports, Inclusive Employment Australia isn't something that appears in your NDIS plan or needs to be funded through your it. Instead, it’s a separate government-funded employment program that people can access directly through a provider.

You may be eligible if you have a disability, injury, or health condition, you’re looking for work, and you’re:

• at least 14 years old but younger than Age Pension age
• an Australian resident, or holder of an eligible visa
• able to work less than 30 hours per week

You can find out about eligibility here or you can call 1800 805 260 for more information.

What support is available?

The support you receive will depend on your individual circumstances, goals and interests. An Inclusive Employment Australia provider may be able to help you:

• identify your strengths and skills
• develop your career goals
• prepare for your job search and interviews
• connect with employers and job opportunities
• build workplace confidence and skills
• access workplace adjustments and supports
• keep your employment and overcome challenges once you're working
• progress your career over time. 

You can find a provider here.

If you're an NDIS participant, your support coordinator, local area coordinator, or National Disability Insurance Agency planner should be able to help you connect you with an Inclusive Employment Australia provider.

Support doesn't stop when you get a job

Finding a job is only one part of the journey. A lot of people need ongoing support to settle in, debrief about work life, or increase their hours over time, so there’s no limit to how long you can work with Inclusive Employment Australia, even once you’re happily employed.

If you were previously supported through the DES program, you should’ve been transitioned to Inclusive Employment Australia when it launched. If that didn’t happen, make sure to get in touch to reconnect.

Using Inclusive Employment Australia and the NDIS at the same time

Many people with disability access supports from multiple programs at the same time – this helps you to make sure you’re getting the right support for your situation and not a one-size-fits-all package deal.

Think of Inclusive Employment Australia as the program that helps you pursue your work goals, while the NDIS may be able to fund reasonable and necessary disability supports to help you participate in a job, as well as in everyday life.

The exact supports available through each program will depend on your circumstances, so it's worth speaking with both your NDIS support networks and an Inclusive Employment Australia provider to find out how they can work together to support you.