Close Search
 
MEDIA, JOBS & RESOURCES for the COMMON GOOD
News  |  Social IssuesDisability

New trial to link NDIS to DES providers


2 November 2022 at 8:03 pm
Danielle Kutchel
Minister says the trial will help disabled people into work, but the announcement has been met with scepticism by people with disability.


Danielle Kutchel | 2 November 2022 at 8:03 pm


2 Comments


 Print
New trial to link NDIS to DES providers
2 November 2022 at 8:03 pm

Minister says the trial will help disabled people into work, but the announcement has been met with scepticism by people with disability.

A trial linking NDIS participants with Disability Employment Service (DES) providers has been unveiled by social services minister Amanda Rishworth. 

In a speech to the Australia’s Disability Strategy National Forum, Rishworth announced that the Department of Social Services is trialling a program that would “better support NDIS participants who have an employment goal to engage with a DES provider”, to commence early next year.

“The trial will… contribute to a stronger understanding of ‘what works’ in the context of DES reform,” Rishworth said.


See more: DES sector gets shakeup in wake of Royal Commission


The minister said she wanted to ensure that DES’ “are delivering high quality and great outcomes for those living with disability”, and noted that some people with disability had had bad experiences with DES providers.

“There are some services that need to lift their game,” Rishworth said.

Last week’s budget extended the current DES program by two years, so that changes could be made to the “performance and quality” of DES’, the minister said.

Shadow mutual obligations?

Advocates online indicated their shock at the announcement.

The minister’s plans were also panned by Antipoverty Centre spokesperson and DSP recipient Kristin O’Connell.

“I feel horrified for every NDIS participant who’s been forced to interact with Disability Employment Services hearing this news today,” she said.

“This announcement heralds the introduction of a shadow “mutual” obligations regime and will distress many NDIS participants like me who hoped we had escaped abusive and incompetent employment services providers for good.”

The centre noted that a consultation on a new Disability Employment Support model had received numerous negative responses from people unhappy with the DES model.

“The NDIS is far from perfect but increasing the involvement of Disability Employment Services providers can only make things worse. DES has been failing disabled people for as long as it’s existed,” O’Connell said.

“Pushing a failed industry on people discriminated against and excluded from the labour market because of our disabilities won’t get us jobs but it will expose us to harm.”


Danielle Kutchel  |  @ProBonoNews

Danielle is a journalist specialising in disability and CALD issues, and social justice reporting. Reach her on danielle@probonoaustralia.com.au or on Twitter @D_Kutchel.


Get more stories like this

FREE SOCIAL
SECTOR NEWS

2 comments

  • Nb84 says:

    the whole of society has to be accepting and flexible in making changes in workplaces before trying to push ndis participants onto disability employment services

  • Caz Jones says:

    If DES’s are viewed as negative by the very people they are trying to serve, it highlights a disconnect between the expectations of the recipients and the DES providers understanding of the needs of those seeking their service.
    Let’s find a way to open the lines of communication here.


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

More than just mats: opening the beach to people with disability

Danielle Kutchel

Monday, 27th March 2023 at 4:13 pm

Moving towards cultural safety for Aboriginal children with disability

Danielle Kutchel

Monday, 27th March 2023 at 1:47 pm

Disabled workers face systemic barriers at work: report

Danielle Kutchel

Wednesday, 22nd March 2023 at 9:57 am

Lived experience is key in mental health reform

Katie Larsen

Tuesday, 14th March 2023 at 9:01 am

pba inverse logo
Subscribe Twitter Facebook
×