If you're a person with a disability searching for work in Australia, you're not alone — and you're backed by a powerful network of support. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Disability Employment Services (DES), and JobAccess all work together to help you prepare for, find, and keep a job that fits your skills and goals.
This guide breaks down exactly how each system works, what support you can access, and how to use them together to build a rewarding career.
🧩 Part 1: What the NDIS Actually Does for Employment
Here's what people often misunderstand: the NDIS is not a job agency. It won't write your resume or send you job ads. Instead, it funds "reasonable and necessary" supports that help you build your capacity to work.
When you include an employment goal in your NDIS planning meeting, your plan can fund supports under the "Finding and Keeping a Job" category.
💡 What NDIS funding can cover:
- Support workers to help you travel to interviews or learn a new commute route
- Specialist assessments to identify your strengths and work preferences
- Therapy to build confidence, communication skills, or workplace readiness
- School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) — intensive transition support for people aged 18–22 moving from school to work
In short: The NDIS gets you ready for work. It doesn't find you the job itself.
🤝 Part 2: Disability Employment Services (DES) — Your Job-Finding Partner
While the NDIS gets you ready, Disability Employment Services (DES) do the hands-on work of helping you find a job. DES providers are specialist employment agencies funded by the Australian Government to support people with disability into work.
✅ Important: You can use NDIS and DES at the same time. They're designed to complement each other.
🛠️ What a DES provider will do:
- Help you write your resume and cover letter
- Coach you on interview skills and mock interviews
- Search for jobs that match your skills and interests
- Speak with employers on your behalf if you'd like
- Provide ongoing support for you and your employer for at least the first 12 months after you start
🔄 Coming Soon: From November 2025, DES will transition to a new model called Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) — a more personalised, person-centred approach to disability employment support.
🔧 Part 3: JobAccess — Your Secret Weapon for Workplace Adjustments
One of the biggest worries for jobseekers with disability? That an employer won't hire them because they need special equipment or workplace modifications.
Here's the good news: JobAccess exists to solve exactly that problem. It's a free national service funded by the Australian Government.
💰 How the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) works:
JobAccess runs the Employment Assistance Fund, which pays for workplace modifications so the employer doesn't have to.
🛠️ What it can cover:
- Assistive technology like screen readers or voice recognition software
- Ergonomic furniture — special chairs, adjustable desks, modified workstations
- Physical building modifications like ramps or accessible bathrooms
- Auslan interpreters or communication support
- Job redesign consultancy to restructure tasks
💡 Why this matters: When you know about JobAccess, you can walk into an interview with confidence. If adjustments come up, you can say: "There's a government fund that covers the cost of workplace modifications — it won't cost the employer anything."
That knowledge levels the playing field.
🗣️ Part 4: Disclosure — When and How to Tell an Employer
One of the most common questions: Do I have to tell an employer about my disability?
The short answer: No — it's your choice.
You're protected by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. You're only required to disclose if:
- Your disability could affect your ability to perform the essential requirements of the job, or
- It poses a safety risk to yourself or others
🤔 When people usually choose to disclose:
- After receiving a job offer (once you know they want you)
- When requesting a reasonable adjustment for the interview itself (e.g., wheelchair access, extra time, or a quiet room)
- When they feel comfortable and trust has been built
💪 How to frame it:
Focus on your skills, your strengths, and what you can do. Frame your disability as one part of who you are — not the defining factor of your value as an employee.
Example:
"I have a hearing impairment, so I use captions in meetings. It doesn't affect my ability to [do the job], and JobAccess can fund any equipment I need at no cost to you."
You control the narrative. Own your strengths.
✅ Putting It All Together — Your Path to Employment
Finding a job is a journey, and you don't have to do it alone. When you understand how these three systems work together, you build a powerful support network around you.
🧩 Here's how the pieces fit:
| Service | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| NDIS | Builds your skills and work readiness | Before you start job searching — therapy, training, capacity building |
| DES / IEA | Finds jobs and supports applications | During your job search — resume help, interview prep, employer connections |
| JobAccess | Funds workplace modifications | When you've got a job or an interview — equipment, adjustments, accessibility |
💪 The takeaway:
You don't have to choose one. Use all three. They're designed to work together — and with them behind you, you're well-equipped to find a job that's both rewarding and sustainable.
🔗 Next steps:
- Contact the NDIS to include employment goals in your plan
- Find a DES provider near you (or wait for IEA in November 2025)
- Explore JobAccess to learn about workplace modifications
You've got this. And you've got support. 💙