Disability Employment Services

Through DES, people with a disability, injury or health condition (including mental illness) are eligible to receive assistance from DES providers, like Maxima, to prepare for, find and keep a job.

DES providers are registered for-profit and not-for-profit organisations throughout Australia and provide both: 

• Support to eligible job seekers; and 
• Assistance to employers to enable them to meet their recruitment needs. 

Within DES there are three key programs providing support to people with a disability, injury or health condition: 

• Disability Management Service, a program for people with a disability, injury or health condition who require assistance from a DES provider but are not expected to need long-term support in the workplace; and 
• Employment Support Service, a program for people with a permanent or chronic disability, injury or illness, who are assessed as needing longer-term ongoing support, including in the workplace, and
• Eligible School Leaver Program, built around helping students prepare for a job and maintain employment with ongoing support.

You are eligible for Disability Employment Services (DES) if you: 

• Have a disability, injury or health condition, including injury, mental illness, chronic and complex health conditions, physical and social disability. 
• Receiving an income support payment, disability support pension, or are a NDIS participant.
• Are an Australian resident aged 14 to pension age. 
• Are at or above the minimum legal working age in your state.
• Have a future work capacity of at least 8 to 30 hours per week.
• Are not studying full time (unless you are an Eligible School Leaver in your last six months of school).