Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) Certification

Inclusive Employment Australia is a new Australian Government program that launched on 1 November 2025 that replaces Disability Employment Services (DES).

The program assists people with a disability, injury or health condition to find and maintain work and grow their career.

Inclusive Employment Australia is designed to deliver participant-focused employment services, increase flexibility and tailoring of supports, broaden eligibility to include more jobseekers, have a strong focus on quality service delivery and increase wage subsidies to support the creation of employment opportunities.

The following service types are applicable to the IEA Scheme:

Pre-Employment Services:

Intensive Services: Services that deliver support to Participants who are able to regularly engage in a full range of services, supports and activities that will help them to prepare for and find work.
Flexible Services: Services for Participants engaged in work and/or approved Activities or who are otherwise not able to participate in the Intensive Service due to their personal or family circumstances.

In-Employment Support Services:
Post Placement Support: Services for Participants who have started Employment (including Apprenticeships and Traineeships) or self-employment and are progressing towards an Employment Outcome.

Ongoing Support:
Services following a 26 week Employment Outcome for Post Placement Support Participants who require Ongoing Support to help them maintain their Employment, or upon Commencement in Services for Ongoing Support (Work Assist). Participants who are eligible employees who enter the IEA because they require assistance to maintain their existing ongoing job.

IEA is a regulated activity under the Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023 (DSI Act), requiring service providers to:

  • Comply with the Code of Conduct
  • Hold a certificate of compliance
  • Implement and maintain an appropriate complaints management system
  • Implement and maintain an appropriate incident management system
  • Not be subject to a NDIS banning order.

To be eligible for funding under the DSI Act, providers must hold a certificate of compliance to the National Standard for Disability Services.

The standards used for the Inclusive Employment Australia program are the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS) and these are applied in conjunction with the Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) Scheme, Issue 12.

Resources

The following resources may be useful as you prepare for your next IEA assessment:

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