The Australian Government is introducing a new specialist disability employment program starting on 1 November 2025 called Inclusive Employment Australia.

This new program will provide better, more flexible support for people with disability, injury and/or a health condition. It will also offer help to employers to make their workplaces more inclusive and build their confidence in hiring people with disability.

The aim is to build strong relationships between participants, employers and service providers to make employment more accessible.

What the New Program Means for Participants

The new program will be designed around your needs, goals and situation.

You can expect:

• Tailored support to help you find and keep a job

• Choice of provider that suits you and understands your needs

• Help with writing your resume, applying for jobs, work experience and training

• Flexible support based on where you are in your job journey

• Ongoing help even after you start work

• The chance to stay in the program as long as you need support

• Access to the program even if you are not on income support

Everyone’s employment journey is different, and the new program is built to support that.

You don’t need to do anything now. If you’re in the current Disability Employment Services (DES) program, your support will continue as usual for now.

What the New Program Means for Employers

The new program is also focused on giving practical help to employers who want to create and continue to build inclusive workplaces.

 Employers will be supported to:

• Find and hire the right person for the job

• Make their recruitment more inclusive

• Receive help with job design, training and workplace changes

• Keep employees with disability through ongoing support

• Learn best practices from a new Disability Employment Centre of Excellence

• Access services like JobAccess and the Employment Assistance Fund

If you already employ someone with disability, support will also be available to help both you and your employee continue to succeed at work.

What’s Next?

The Government will continue talking with people with disability, service providers and employers to make sure the new program works well for everyone.

More details will be shared in the coming weeks and until the program begins. In the meantime, current services will continue as normal.