𝗗𝗘𝗦 𝘃𝘀. 𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗦 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂?
- admin-eat
- Mar 25, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 8, 2025
At Empowering Abilities Together (EAT), we know that navigating employment support options can be confusing. That’s why we’re here to help you understand the difference between Disability Employment Services (DES) and NDIS Funded Employment Services, so you can choose the right path for your goals.
𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 (𝗗𝗘𝗦) 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗦-𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁
Disability Employment Services (DES)
💼 DES is designed to support individuals with a disability who are job-ready and seeking to find and maintain employment in the open job market. To be eligible for DES, participants must demonstrate a future work capacity of at least 8 hours per week.
DES focuses on helping individuals secure and retain jobs.
NDIS Funded Employment Services: Finding and Keeping a Job
🎯 In contrast, NDIS Funded Employment Services, specifically the Finding and Keeping a Job program, offers additional support to help participants become employment-ready. This service is ideal for individuals who have the capacity to work but may require further assistance to prepare for and succeed in the workforce. Unlike DES, which is aimed at those already ready for employment, NDIS Employment Services focus on building foundational skills necessary for job readiness.
Key Features of NDIS Funded Employment Services:
➤ Skill Development: Enhances essential skills such as money handling, time management, and communication.
➤ Discovery Activities: Engages participants in activities that help them identify their strengths, interests, and potential career paths.
➤ Preparation for Employment: Provides training and support to prepare individuals for suitable employment opportunities.
➤ Work Experience: Facilitates opportunities for participants to gain practical work experience, learning how to take instructions and develop travel skills.
On-the-Job Support: Assists with ongoing support once employment is secured, ensuring participants can thrive in their roles.
Purpose of NDIS Employment Services:
➤ Preparation for DES: Helps young people and others who have work capacity but need additional support to become ready for DES.
➤ Employment Readiness: Focuses on preparing participants to enter the workforce, rather than directly providing employment opportunities.
How They Work Together:
Both DES and NDIS Funded Employment Services play complementary roles in supporting individuals with disabilities. DES is ideal for those who are already prepared to seek and maintain employment, while NDIS Employment Services provide the necessary groundwork for individuals who need additional support to reach that level of readiness.
By collaborating closely with Support Coordinators, we ensure that participants receive the appropriate funding and resources to maximize their employment potential. This integrated approach allows us to create tailored support plans that address both immediate job placement needs and long-term career development goals.
✨ How We Can Help:
✅ Skill development for workplace readiness
✅ Work experience opportunities
✅ Support to transition into DES when you're ready
Not sure which employment service is right for you? Our team is here to help! Click below to book a FREE consultation and discover the best options for your needs.