What Disability Employment Service Can I Use?
Are you in need of support with finding or maintaining a job due to an injury, illness or disability?
Don’t worry — you aren’t in this alone.
Looking for a job can be an incredibly exciting time, but it can also feel a little overwhelming with so many considerations, options and questions to ask yourself.
Whether you are returning to work after an injury, seeking your first-ever job, looking for a new role that better suits your needs or looking for additional support within your current role, you can get the help you need to thrive within the workplace.
There are disability employment services available to help support those with disabilities, injuries or illnesses with all things employment, including preparing for interviews because we all know that part can be a little bit daunting.
So, if you are looking for some extra support with your employment opportunities, we can help you find out what kind of support you may be eligible for.
What is a disability employment service?
DES (Disability Employment Services) is an Australian Government initiative that helps individuals with illnesses, injuries and disabilities to find and keep a job.
Because this program is government-funded, it is completely free for participants.
You can access help with managing your health issues in the workplace, identifying your strengths and challenges, developing new skills for jobs, preparing for interviews and finding success within a new role with increased support.
Is my health condition supported?
Disability employment services offer a wide range of support for various health conditions, including learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, short-term or permanent injuries, illnesses and more.
While we can’t list all of the supported health conditions, we will provide a list of some of the health conditions supported so you can get an idea of how exhaustive this list is.
Below we will list just the health conditions starting with the letter A.
- Acquired brain impairment
- Acquired brain injuries
- ADD/ADHD
- AIDs
- Alcohol dependence
- Alzheimer’s
- Amputation of a limb
- Anorexia
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asperger’s syndrome
- Asthma
- Ataxia telangiectasia
- Atopic dermatitis
- Autism
If you are curious to see if your health condition is supported, we suggest reaching out to a professional disability employment service company to find out.
How can a disability employment service help me?
By signing up with a professional disability employment service provider, you will be provided with a whole range of benefits.
Some of the benefits that you can experience with this service include:
- Having ongoing access to a dedicated employment consultant. AKA — always having somebody in your court who is dedicated and excited by helping you to thrive within the workplace and reach your fullest potential.
- Help in finding a job that works best for you. Instead of pushing yourself within a work environment that just isn’t comfortable for you, you can work with a team that is dedicated to helping you find the right job, not just any job. Our workplace satisfaction plays a huge role in our mental health, and ensuring that you are satisfied within the workplace is a very important part of an employment consultant’s role.
- Have somebody to discuss career goals with. Whether you already have a clear idea of what you want to do or not, having somebody to run ideas off and discuss potential opportunities with can spark positive and inspiring conversations and get you heading in the right direction for your dream career.
- Get assistance in putting your resume together. Putting together a resume can be a challenging part of applying for new roles, especially if you have had an injury or illness that leaves career gaps in your resume that you don’t know how to articulate. The good thing is — there is absolutely no shame in taking a break from work, and pairing with a dedicated employment consultant ensures that you are only working with businesses that get it. Regardless of your situation, we can help you to put together a resume that puts your best foot forward, increasing the likelihood of future career success.
- Get help identifying your skills and capabilities. By talking with a dedicated employment consultant, you can put together a list of your best skills that may look attractive to a potential hiring business. Knowing where your skills lay can be greatly beneficial when looking for a new job.
- Get assistance in preparing for interviews. Interviews can be a daunting process. By working with an employment consultant who can help practice interview questions and get you prepared for future interviews, you can lower your stress and anxiety and instead feel confident and prepared for what comes next.
What are the eligibility requirements for Disability Employment Services?
In order to be considered for the program, you must:
- You have a diagnosed injury, illness, or disability
- You are aged between 14 years old and the Age Pension age
- You are at or above the minimum legal working age in your state
- You can work at least eight hours per week (with access to support)
- You are an Australian resident
- You receive an income for support payment
- You are not currently studying full-time (unless you’re an eligible school leaver)
- You are not working at or above your assessed employment capacity
Want to find out more?
If you want to find out more about disability employment services and how they can help you, we recommend reaching out to a professional and established employment service company.
To find out more about whether your health condition is supported and how you can access these services, check out this page about disability employment services.
