DES Services
Jobseekers with disability may have a number of different needs to get ready for work. DES providers work with each DES participant to meet their individual needs.
DES providers meet with DES participants regularly to ensure they get the support they need. The first contact will be face-to-face, to discuss the participant’s needs and plan support from the provider. Other contacts can be face-to-face, video conference or by phone.
Preparing for work (Employment Assistance)
Providers can help a participant get ready for work with resumes, interview skills, career advice, refer to training, work experience and can make direct contact with employers about suitable jobs. Providers can also help participants to manage the affects of their disability and may refer to interventions such as psychological or pain management counselling and referral to physiotherapy.
Providers can help participants and employers access the Employment Assistance Fund to help with necessary workplace modifications if needed to do the job, offer wage subsidies to employers as a financial incentive, and arrange other support like relocation assistance if needed.
Settling in to work (Post Placement Support)
When a participant gets a job, the provider will offer support to the participant and their employer (with the participant’s consent) for the first year in employment.
Providers will maintain contact with participants to ensure they get the support they need. Providers can talk to employers about any workplace modifications that may be required, help with job design, offer on-the-job training and provide other supports that may be needed.
Continued assistance (Ongoing Support)
Participants can also receive extra support after 26 weeks in a job, where required. This Ongoing Support can continue beyond the first 52 weeks of the placement, for as long as needed.
An Ongoing Support Assessor will recommend that a participant receives Flexible, Moderate or High levels of support. This happens every 12 to 18 months.
A participant must work, on average, a minimum of at least 8 hours per week to continue to receive Ongoing Support.
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