Is my health condition supported?
Is my health condition supported?
Disability Employment Services (DES) provide vital support for individuals living with disability, illness or injury, ensuring they can actively participate in the workforce.
DES assists people facing a range of health challenges including, but not limited to:
- Physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries, and amputations
- Mental health conditions including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Intellectual disabilities such as Down syndrome, developmental delays, and cognitive impairments
- Sensory impairments like blindness, low vision, deafness, and hard of hearing
- Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, and HIV/AIDS
- Neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injuries
- Autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Crohn’s disease
- Neurodiverse conditions including ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, and Dyslexia
- Substance use disorders and addiction-related challenges
- Other health conditions or disabilities that may impact an individual’s ability to work or participate fully in the workforce.
Job seekers are generally eligible for Disability Employment Services (DES) if they:
- have a disability, injury or health condition
- are aged at least 14 but have not yet attained the pension-qualifying age
- are at or above the minimum legal working age in their state or territory
- are an Australian resident or eligible Visa holder
- are not studying full-time (there is an exception – see below); and
- have a valid Employment Services Assessment (ESAt) or Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) recommending DES with a Future Work Capacity of eight or more hours per week; and
- are not working at or above their assessed work capacity (not applicable for Work Assist Participants and people who receive National Disability Insurance Scheme funding for supported employment, and/or Australian Disability Enterprise participants).
Undertaking an ESAt
Apart from people who are eligible to access DES under the special eligibility arrangements, job seekers wanting to register for DES will generally need to undertake an ESAt. The Employment Services Assesment (ESAt) is designed to evaluate your eligibility for DES and the funding and resources you need to find employment. This assessment helps Centrelink understand your barriers to employment, your capacity to work, and the best employment services program for you.
Call our DES team on 1800 226 228 or email [email protected] to discuss your personal circumstances and eligibility for DES.
