DES Reforms – Recent reviews and recommendations relating to disability employment

This consultation has now closed

The current Disability Employment Services (DES) program concludes 30 June 2025. The Australian Government has made a commitment that the current program will be replaced by a new disability employment service.

There has been extensive engagement and stakeholder consultation over the past two years on potential DES reforms. However, since the last round of consultations were held, there have been a number of other reviews which made recommendations that relate to disability employment services. This includes recommendations from the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploration; the Independent Review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme; and the House Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services.

The Department of Social Services facilitated two online forums (webinars) on 21 and 22 February 2024. The webinars provide an overview of recent recommendations that relate directly to disability employment services, and some options being considered to address them as part of the DES reform process.

The Department would like to thank everyone who participated in this round of consultation.

The Department has considered submissions and input from attendees during the webinars. A Consultation Report sets out a summary of feedback received in response to the concepts discussed during the webinars.

A recording of the webinar has been made available on this site. It includes Auslan and a transcript has also been published.

Stakeholders were able to ask questions of the department live on the day. Answers to questions asked during the webinars have also been published.