Inclusive Employment Australia
Let your talents shine at work.
Are you a person with disability, injury or illness looking for a job?
Work is one of life’s great adventures. We are here to help you dive in! IEA can support you to start or continue your career path. We will work with you to find sustainable and meaningful employment.
You will receive dedicated services, supported job options and on the job training that gets you learning as you go. We also team up with employers to make sure your workplace is welcoming and set up for you to thrive.
Want to know something special about us?
We give you personalised support. This means we match you with your very own employment consultant who will be with you all the way.
Are you an employer? Find out how we can help you find great talent.
Ways we can support you on your work adventure
Working out your talents, skills and experience
Helping to get you and your resume ready for work
Applying for jobs and preparing for interviews
Training for new skills or improving ones you have
Driving you to job interviews or going on public transport together
Supporting you during job interviews
Organising modifications at your work
Giving on the job training and support
Supporting you at work for as long as you need
Being with you as you learn and grow
Making your next career move with you when you’re ready
We also offer financial support to help you get ready for work.
This includes paying for things like:
- Clothes and shoes for work
- Short courses, accreditations, certifications and industry checks
- Petrol vouchers, bus tickets and train fares
Who we are
Afford is a not-for-profit organisation committed to social inclusion for people with disability. We believe in the power of community and human connection.
Our services are for everyone who is eligible for IEA. We have a diverse and friendly team of employment consultants. They have lots of experience supporting people with disability to find jobs and career paths to love.
Fun Fact:
We have a net promoter score of 100%. This means people we have already supported to find jobs think we are really good at what we do.
Steps to get started
We will listen and support you the way you want and need so you can live more independently.
Contact us
To be eligible for IEA, you must:
Have a disability, injury or health condition
Be aged between 14 and the aged pension qualifying age (for most people this is 67)
Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident or have a temporary protection visa or a safe haven enterprise visa
Not be studying full-time, unless you are an eligible school leaver
Be able to work at least 8 hours, 15 hours or 23 hours per week
Not currently work at or above your work hours capacity.
Client stories
Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA)
“My boss teach me how to do my hairdressing job. I start with washing hair and then she teach me how to colour the hair.”
– Marites, IEA client
Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA)
“My boss teach me how to do my hairdressing job. I start with washing hair and then she teach me how to colour the hair.”
– Marites, IEA client
When we met Marites, we learned that she had always dreamed of working in a hairdressing salon. So we matched her with an employer to make her drea...
Where we provide IEA
NSW
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Bankstown Office - 02 7242 0800 Suite 2, Level 2, 56 Kitchener Parade
Bankstown NSW 2200 -
Campsie Office- 02 7242 0810 Suite 4, Level 1, 281-287 Beamish Street
Campsie NSW 2194 -
Lakemba Office - 02 7242 0820 23 Croydon Street
Lakemba NSW 2195
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Marrickville Office - 02 7242 0830 295 Victoria Road
Marrickville NSW 2204 -
Darlinghurst Office- 02 7242 0840 1 Francis Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
VIC
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Preston Office- 03 7078 5930 327-329 High Street
Preston VIC 3072 -
Epping Office- 03 7078 5940 748-760 High Street
Epping VIC 3076 -
Mernda Office- 03 7078 5950 70 Mernda Village Drive
Mernda VIC 3754
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Footscray Office- 03 7078 5900 225 Barkly Street
Footscray VIC 3011 -
St Albans Office- 03 7078 5920 Suite 12, 30-32 East Esplanade
St Albans VIC 3021 -
Werribee Office- 03 7078 5910 75-79 Watton Street
Werribee VIC 3030
QLD
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Nerang Office- 07 3110 7610 Unit 3/23 Cotton Street
Nerang QLD 4211 -
Southport Office- 07 3110 7600 74 Smith Street
Southport QLD 4215 -
Upper Coomera Office- 07 3110 7620 Shop 7A, 3/1 Brygon Creek Drive
Upper Coomera QLD 4209
Nerang
FAQs
IEA is a government-funded program that helps people with disability, injury or health condition to prepare for, find and maintain meaningful employment. Through IEA, you will get personalised support, training, and connections to inclusive employers. IEA used to be called Disability Employment Services (DES). It changed to IEA in November 2025.
You may be eligible if you have a disability, injury, or health condition that affects your ability to work, are aged between 14 and the age pension age, are an Australian citizen or permanent resident or hold an eligible visa and are willing to work and can participate in job-related activities.
IEA offers tailored support such as help with searching for and applying for jobs, writing resumes and preparing for interviews, training and skills development. We can also help with workplace modifications and ongoing support once you start work.
You can register your interest online, by phone, or by visiting one of our local offices. Our friendly team will contact you to confirm your eligibility and guide you through the next steps.
Yes! IEA continues to support you after you start work. We’ll check in regularly, help you settle into your new role, and make sure you have what you need to succeed long-term.
Yes, IEA has replaced the DES program and offers the same structure and support.
Our disability employment consultants are friendly, supportive and experienced. They are excited to meet you and get started on your work adventure! They will support you all the way.
If you still have questions about IEA, get in touch!
We are here to help you find the answers you need.
For Employers
Ever considered employing a person with disability?
In Australia, one in five adults have lived experience of disability. Worldwide, it’s likely almost everyone will experience temporary or permanent disability at least once in their lifetime.
A diverse workforce helps to unlock business benefits and grow a more inclusive team.
We offer a free service that can help you discover talented people with disability – and a whole lot of other benefits.
How we help you discover great talent
We start by getting to know you and your business. Then we match you with a person with disability who meets your needs.
We support you (and them) with training and post-placement support to make sure everyone is thriving.
If you’re interested, we can also share information about how the government supports businesses that employ people with disability.
Extra support you might be eligible for:
- Financial incentives
- Apprenticeship and traineeship schemes and incentives
- Wage subsidies to offset training and staffing costs
- Support with workplace modifications and equipment
Unlock business benefits
People with disability bring a range of skills and abilities to the workplace.
Reliable – people with disability take fewer days off, take less sick leave and stay in their jobs longer than other workers.
Productive – in the right job and with the right support, people with disability work as well as others.
Good for business – people with disability build strong customer relationships and demonstrate your commitment to your community.
Great for culture – socially responsible businesses have better staff engagement and highly motivated teams.
Other services
What is Inclusive Employment Australia?
Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) supports you on your work adventure.
It used to be called Disability Employment Services (DES)
Inclusive Employment Australia is for people with disability, illness or injury who want a job.
We match you with your very own employment consultant.
An employment consultant is someone who knows lots about jobs.
They will be with you all the way!
Ways we support you
Some of the ways our friendly employment consultants support you:
- Working out your talents, skills and goals
- Hands-on training and experience
- Creating a resume and cover letter
- Applying for jobs
- Preparing for interviews
- Visiting you at work
- Talking with your employer
- Organising modifications
Modifications are changes you might need.
We can help to pay for getting ready for work
We can help pay for things like:
- Clothes and shoes for work
- Training
- Travel costs
Where we have Inclusive Employment Australia
We offer Inclusive Employment Australia in:
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- Victoria
Client story: Marites
Marites always wanted to be a hairdresser
Marites says: “I like meeting new people every day. I don’t have to worry anything about job search.”
You can watch a video about Marites at this page on our website:
www.afford.com.au/employment/inclusive-employment-australia/
Who is eligible for Inclusive Employment Australia
To be eligible for IEA, you must:
- Have a disability, injury or health condition
- Be aged between 14 and the pension age (usually 67)
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Or have a temporary protection or safe haven enterprise visa
- Not be studying full-time, unless you are a school leaver
- Be able to work at least 8 or 15 or 23 hours per week
- Not be working at or above your capacity.
Capacity means your ability.
How to talk to us about Inclusive Employment Australia
You can fill out our online form at:
You can call us on the phone at: