Disability Employment Services
At IDEAL Placements we understand that looking for work can be challenging. Our team is here to support you every step of the way and listen to your needs.
Together we will support your work and life goals to create a plan navigating you toward success. If you are not ready for work just yet, we can focus on building skills through training and upskilling to become job ready.
Our friendly team will source job opportunities and provide on-the-job training, supporting you and your new employer, and creating long-term partnerships. Our goal is to find employment that best matches your needs and capabilities.
What is DES?
Disability Employment Services (DES) is the Australian Government’s employment service that helps people living with a disability find work and keep a job.
Get started with IDEAL Placements
You can get started by registering with us:
- Through a Services Australia referral or
- By directly registering with us.
To register directly with us contact your closest IDEAL Placements office and our friendly team will help you through this process.
How we work with you
A friendly IDEAL Placements Employment Consultant will be assigned to you, and work with you to understand what assistance you may need while sourcing suitable job opportunities. Your Employment Consultant will get to know your interests, qualifications, experience, and skills and will set achievable goals for you to work towards in your employment journey.
Help with the prep work
IDEAL Placements provides individualised services to support you in preparing for and finding a job. Everyone’s journey is different and if required, we provide access to the right services to help you overcome any challenges.
On-Site Support
IDEAL Placements can assist you with on-site support and training at your workplace. On-the-job training takes place in your normal working situation, using the actual tools, equipment, documents, or materials. Your Employment Consultant can attend the workplace prior to you commencing your job to learn the required roles and tasks to assist you with your on-the-job training.
Support for Employers
Check out our Employer Page for information on how IDEAL Placements can help you find, recruit and retain exceptional staff.
Check Your Eligibility
You may be eligible for the Disability Employment Services (DES) program if you are:
An Australian Citizen or hold a permanent residency or relevant Visa.
Living with a disability, mental health condition, treated illness or injury that makes it difficult to find and keep a job.
Between 14 and 67 years old.
Able to work at lease 8 hours per week, but no more than 30 hours per week.
Are receiving an income support payment such as (but not limited to) JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, Disability Support Pension.
Want more information?
Further Support Available
Observational Work Experience
Observational Work Experience (OWE) replaced the National Work Experience Program in 2022.
OWE provides voluntary, short-term, unpaid, observational work experience placements to help participants build soft skills and gain a better understanding of the workplace or potential career opportunities.
OWE may benefit both participants and employers including:
Providing an opportunity for a participant to gain valuable exposure to a workplace and learn about employer expectations;
Enhancing participant’s awareness of different careers in their local communities;
Supporting participants to build employability skills such as attendance, time management and communication;
Allowing employers to gauge whether a participant would be a good fit for their business;
Enabling participants to demonstrate their interests in a workplace; and
Employers may then be eligible to receive a Wage Subsidy after an offer of employment.
Is my Business Eligible?
An Observational Work Experience placement can be hosted in a business as long as the business has not downsized in the past 12-month period. This includes redundancies or terminations.
Businesses must also ensure any proposed OWE activities or tasks do not include any work that would have been performed by an employee that was made redundant or terminated.
For a placement to be eligible, it must satisfy several requirements including:
The participant must be 15 years or older
A maximum of 4 weeks in duration
A maximum of 50 hours per fortnight (and not exceeding 8 hours per day)
Only involve observation (including participation in meetings or discussions) and no tasks to be undertaken by the participant.
Employment Assistance Fund (EAF)
The EAF gives financial help to eligible people with disabilities and mental health conditions and employers to buy work-related modifications and services including:
Special equipment for the workplace
Modifications to work vehicles
Information and communication devices
Mental health first aid and disability awareness training
A free workplace assessment through the EAF is available to help work out what modifications will best meet your needs and help you do your job. The eligibility criteria for a Workplace Modification Assessment requires:
You be an Australian Resident (including a Temporary Protection Visa Holder or a Safe Haven Enterprise Holder).
Your employment be expected to continue for the next 13 weeks (at minimum) and be at least 8 hours per week.
If you are self-employed, you must have worked at least 8 hours per week over the past 13 weeks and earning an hourly income that is equivalent to the National Minimum Wage.
You have an ongoing disability that has lasted or will last at least two years and the disability must limit, restrict or impair your ability to work.
