What is Inclusive Employment Australia?
Inclusive Employment Australia replaces the Disability Employment Services (DES) from 1 November 2025.
The new Inclusive Employment Australia program will help people living with disability, injury or a health condition to prepare for, find and maintain employment.
The new Inclusive Employment Australia program offers broader access, stronger support, and greater flexibility.
What you need to know:
- Inclusive Employment Australia is open to people living with disability, injury or health conditions who can work up to 30 hours per week
- If your work capacity is less than 8 hours per week, you can still volunteer to participate
- You don’t need to be on income support to be eligible.
- There’s no time limit — you can stay in the program for as long as you need support to reach your goals
- Program supports are tailored from intensive help for those preparing to be work ready, to flexible assistance for those who need less intensive support.
Ability Options is a CoAct Connect Network Partner, delivering the Inclusive Employment Australia program as CoAct Connect + Ability Options, from these sites:
If you would like to register with our service in one of these sites, please contact our team.
Transition from DES to Inclusive Employment Australia
DES participants will receive a letter from the Department of Social Services with details of the provider they have been matched with.
You get to choose which Inclusive Employment Australia provider in your region that you want to work with. Until 16 October, you can choose the provider that best supports your employment journey before the new program begins. Register with CoAct Connect + Ability Options today.
How we support you
With decades of experience in disability and employment services, Ability Options helps people build confidence, overcome barriers and reach their goals. Over the years we’ve supported thousands of jobseekers living with a disability, injury or health condition to become work ready. We’re trusted, local, and committed to inclusion — in the workplace and beyond.
Delivered in partnership with CoAct Connect, we combine national innovation with local knowledge, supporting jobseekers towards inclusive employment – from goal setting to job placement and beyond.
- We take time to understand your strengths and what matters to you
- We help you make a plan and connect you to training and support
- We guide your job search and help with resumes and interviews
- You’ll get access to online tools and resources
- We can support you to build your skills and confidence to get job-ready
- We stay with you once you’re working to ensure success in the workplace
