What is Inclusive Employment Australia?
Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) is Australia’s specialist disability employment program.
The program supports people with disability, injury or a health condition to prepare for, find and maintain meaningful work.
It also helps employers grow inclusive, capable teams by connecting them with skilled and motivated job seekers living with disability, illness or injury.
Inclusive Employment Australia replaced the Disability Employment Services (DES) program on 1 November 2025.
What IEA offers
Inclusive Employment Australia is a program designed to put people at the centre of their employment journey. It’s flexible, strengths-based and personalised, with features that include:
Provider Choice
Choose from a list of local IEA service providers, and change providers at any time.
Unlimited Support
Get support for as long as you need – there’s no time limit on your support.
Broad Access
Flexible work hour requirements and no need to be in receipt of income support.
Get quick answers to your questions here
How is IEA different from DES?
Inclusive Employment Australia delivers increased flexibility, accessibility and choice, with a focus on long-term, sustainable success.
Key differences include:
- No time limit on support (DES services were limited to 2 years).
- IEA is accessible to more people including those:
- With an assessed work capacity of under 8 hours per week.
- People who are not receiving income support.
- The choice to select the provider that best meets your needs.
embarc and IEA.
embarc is the dedicated Inclusive Employment Australia service provider of The Disability Trust. The Disability Trust is listed by the Department of Social Services as an IEA provider in several Employment Service Areas. To learn more about who we are and what we stand for, go to the about us section for our full story.
If you’d like to work with us, you can check out our growing list of locations, contact our team, or check the Department’s provider list to confirm coverage in your local area. Remember, we’ll be listed as The Disability Trust.
If we’re a provider in your area, we’d love to hear from you, wherever you are on your employment journey. Just reach out to us and you’ll be connected with one of our dedicated employment service specialists in your area. Get in touch, let’s talk about your unique path to finding and securing meaningful employment.
How to get started
- Choose a provider from the Department’s Provider list. If you’d like to work with embarc, you’ll see us listed as The Disability Trust.
- Contact your provider of choice to ask to register for support. If you choose embarc, you can call us on 1300 771 458
- You can change your Inclusive Employment Australia provider at any time. You can visit Workforce Australia online or call the National Customer Service Line on 1800 805 260
- Have questions? Call us on 1300 771 458
Start your employment journey with us
Are you an employer?
If you’re an employer seeking support for your business to embrace and harness the transformational power that true diversity brings to workplace culture, community connection and innovative business practices, get in touch with us. We can provide you with the tools, candidates, or support you need to make it happen.
Quick Answers
Am I eligible for IEA?
You may be eligible for IEA if you:
- Live with a disability, health condition or injury.
- Are between 14 years old and pension age.
- Are an Australian resident or have an eligible visa.
- Are able to work less than 30 hours per week.
What industries do you work with?
We support job seekers to find meaningful employment across all industries.
Can I change providers?
Yes – IEA lets you choose and switch providers at any time.
Do I have to be on income support?
No – you can participate even if you’re not on income support.
Do I need to have an NDIS plan?
No. IEA is completely independent of the NDIS. You do not need to have an NDIS plan to access IEA. If you do have an NDIS plan, you do not need to use your funding to access the program.