Career Support

Benefits of Disability Employment Service Providers

 

Disability Employment Services (DES) provides specialist employment assistance to support people with disability to get and maintain a job. DES also provides support to their employers if required. There are no waiting lists and services are provided free of charge. 

There are two separate programs within Disability Employment Services:

• Disability Management Service (DMS) is for job seekers with disability who are not expected to need long-term support in the workplace.
• Employment Support Service (ESS) is for job seekers with permanent disability and with an assessed need for long-term support in the workplace. 

Before choosing a DES provider, work out what is important to you. Various DES providers may offer different services better suited to your needs and your employment goals.  Knowing what is important to you will help you in your journey to finding the right DES provider.

Things to consider when choosing DES Provider

The DES Provider should:

1. Listen to you
   A Disability Employment Services provider should listen to you to develop a plan that matches their services to your goals and needs, including your skills, capacity to work and commitments outside of work.
2. Provide a dedicated Employment Officer
   A great DES provider will appoint an Employment Officer dedicated to connecting you with training courses, resources and employers that help you to achieve your career goals. Your Employment Officer should make sure you’re prepared for each stage of your plan and continue to support you when you gain work if you require it. 
3. Have flexible communication options
   Your job search should not unnecessarily bog you down in communication challenges or paperwork. Look for a DES provider who supports you to meet Australian Government requirements, while offering you options to communicate in a way that best suits your lifestyle and accessibility requirements (face-to-face, phone, MS Teams, FaceTime are just some options). They should also be able to work with you in a culturally appropriate way.
   Consider choosing a provider’s location that is accessible and close to public transport, other services you need, or your home.
4. Help you build your self-belief
   Your DES provider should believe in you and your potential and support you to build self-belief.
   Even if you are already very confident in yourself and your abilities, with the right tools your provider can help you build this even more. If you sometimes doubt yourself, then finding a Disability Employment Services provider who believes in you and can work with you to develop your own belief is even more critical.
   
5. Have connections: to great jobs, community services and support
   Once you and your Job Coach have a plan, you need a provider who can connect you to employers who are ready to hire; as well as provide any help you may need to connect with Government and community support. It’s a great idea to ask providers about how they match people to the services and support they need.
   
   
   

Questions to ask a DES to help you pick the right one:

• What are your company values and how are they demonstrated in your service?
• What range of services does your organisation provide? For example, counselling, connecting to other services including NDIS and Centrelink.
• Do you subsidise further studies and training?
• How do you assist with individual jobseeker’s aspirations and goals?
• What support do you provide participants while studying?
• How do you support participants to prepare for job search before completing Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications? 
• How do you match job seekers to jobs that use their VET qualifications?
• What examples can you provide of skilled jobs you have gained for people with Apprenticeship and VET qualifications? 
• How do you work with employers to build inclusive recruitment processes and team building?
• How do you support job seekers to self-advocate for accessibility requirements during the recruitment process and employment?
• Do you assist with preparing tailored job applications (including addressing selection criteria) and resumes?
• Do you assist with interview skills training and interview preparation for each job application?
• What on the job support do you provide? 
• Does your organisation offer re-training for a new task or position? 
• Do you offer any programs to assist with work preparation?
• Do you provide transport support and, what support will you offer?
• On average, how long does it take you to get someone into work?

Find a DES in your local area.