Employment is central to dignity, independence, and social participation — yet Australians with disability face persistent employment barriers, with participation rates significantly lower than those without disability. Government and philanthropic investment in disability employment creates pathways from exclusion to meaningful work. Understanding this landscape matters for disability service providers, employers, individuals with disability, and funders committed to workplace inclusion.
Statistics
Barriers to employment
Disability Employment Services (DES)
DES is the federal government's primary disability employment programme — contracted to specialist providers:
- Employment Support Services (for job seekers with episodic or fluctuating disabilities)
- Disability Management Service (for job seekers with stable disability)
- Services include: job preparation, placement assistance, and up to 2 years of post-placement support
Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs)
ADEs provide supported employment for people with significant disability who need ongoing workplace support:
- Open employment (in community businesses) with supported placement
- ADE-operated workplaces (sheltered or supported employment businesses)
- Funded through government block funding and commercial activity
National Disability Employment Framework
Review of DES and disability employment policy — reform is ongoing.
Wage Subsidy Schemes
Access and Inclusion Index
Australian Network on Disability (AND) provides resources for employers — not grants but tools and recognition.
The NDIS funds support related to employment for some participants:
- School leaver employment supports (SLES)
- Finding and keeping a job support (NDIS funded support)
- Assistance with social, economic, and community participation
NDIS is not a substitute for DES — they operate in parallel.
Australian Network on Disability (AND)
AND supports employer inclusion — providing tools, training, and recognition programmes for inclusive employers. Not a grantmaker but advocacy and sector support.
Mitsubishi Motors Foundation
Some disability employment research and support.
Foundation for Young Australians (FYA)
Youth employment including disability — future of work research.
Cerebral Palsy Alliance
Employment support as part of broader disability service — some research and innovation.
Corporate disability employment commitments
Large Australian employers have disability inclusion commitments:
- Employ for Ability pledge (AHRC)
- Australian Employers' Network on Disability members
- Specific employer programmes (Telstra, banks, Woolworths)
Social enterprises employing people with disability
Social enterprises specifically designed to create employment for people with disability:
- NOVA Employment (supported employment enterprise)
- Various cleaning, gardening, hospitality social enterprises
Pre-employment support
Building work readiness before formal employment:
- Life skills and work readiness training
- Volunteer and work experience placements
- Digital skills development
- Certificate-level vocational training
Employer engagement and education
Workplace modifications and support
Social enterprise development
Funding to establish and grow social enterprises employing people with disability:
- Business planning and development
- Working capital
- Market development
Disability employment research
Youth transition
School-to-work transition for young people with disability — School-based Apprenticeships, supported pathways, mentoring.
NDIS alignment
Show how your employment programme complements NDIS — what the NDIS funds and what your programme adds (particularly for people not accessing DES).
Outcome focus
Employment outcomes are measurable and must be measured:
- Job placement rates
- Job retention (6 months, 12 months)
- Hours worked
- Award wage vs supported wage
Employer partnerships
Programmes with specific employer partners — named employers committing to placements — are significantly stronger than generic job readiness training.
Disability-specific approach
Different disabilities require different employment approaches. Show that your programme understands the specific disability types you work with.
Lived experience leadership
People with disability leading disability employment programmes — in governance, management, peer support — demonstrates authentic commitment.
Tahua's grants management platform supports disability employment organisations and inclusion funders — with participant outcome tracking, employer partnership management, placement data, and the tools that help disability employment services demonstrate impact and manage complex DES, NDIS, and philanthropic funding portfolios.