The Albanese Labor Government will help strengthen the supported employment sector with an additional $57 million in funding.
Supported employment services, often known as Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs), support the paid employment of people with disability.
Supported employment – and ADEs more specifically – play a vital role in supporting 16,000 people with disability to contribute and connect to their local community through employment.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the $57 million would fund measures to further evolve the supported employment sector.
“We all want high quality workplaces, and better pay and choice about employment opportunities for supported workers,” Minister Rishworth said.
“Over the next four years, this funding will increase the capability of the sector to provide people with disability with high support needs access to a wider range of employment opportunities with appropriately targeted supports.
“The funding will also provide access to advocacy support and information for people with disability and their families, in order to build confidence and understanding about rights and options at work.”
Of the $57 million:
$35 million will be made available for a grants program for ADEs and other social enterprises, to assist them in upskilling supported employees, building the capacity of their support workforce or implementing innovative business models
$6 million will be allocated for evaluations of initiatives and trials, Jobs Expos and consultation on a disability business procurement initiative
$11.7 million will be used to establish a disability employment advocacy and information program for supported employees, and their families and carers
$3.2 million will be used to extend the National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline and the Complaints Resolution and Referral Service, and
$1.1 million is being dedicated to the consultation and design of the Disability Employment Centre of Excellence.
Minister Rishworth said that this funding is part of a suite of measures announced in the 2023-24 Budget to improve support for people with disability and delivering outcomes under Australia's Disability Strategy 2021–2031.
More than one in six people in Australia have disability, or 4.4 million Australians. This includes more than 2.2 million women and one in four First Nations people.
“Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 unites us in a coordinated effort over the next 10 years to ensure that people with disability can participate as equal members of the community,” Ms Rishworth said.
The measures are in line with the guiding principles for the future of supported employment, which were developed in 2022, in consultation with sector representatives including people with disability, and states and territories.
The Department will consult with key stakeholders, including people with intellectual disability, on the design of the measures to ensure supports are appropriately targeted.
More information on the Supported Employment, including a copy of the guiding principles, is available on the Department of Social Services website.
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