IEA: Refer with Confidence

Anyone supporting a person with disability can make a referral, including Support Coordinators, Local Area Coordinators (LACs), allied health professionals, parents, teachers and advocates. We also accept self-referrals.

The process is designed to be simple and flexible, so no one misses out on the support they need. Whether you are referring through the NDIS, community services or family support, we will work with you to make sure the person is connected quickly to the right pathway.

We only require a few key details to get started: contact information for the person you’re referring, a short description of their goals and any relevant background information like training, school leaver status or work history.

You can provide as much or as little detail as you have. We’ll follow up directly to gather the rest.

Our goal is to make the referral process quick and stress-free, so jobseekers can start receiving support as soon as possible.

Once we receive a referral, a member of our team will contact you or the jobseeker within two business days. We’ll confirm eligibility, explain next steps and start building the jobseeker’s employment plan.

If assessments are required, we’ll guide participants through the process.

Most participants begin active support within a few weeks, depending on their readiness and availability.

We keep you informed at every stage, so you are always in the know.

If the individual you refer isn’t eligible for Inclusive Employment Australia, or if it’s not yet available in their area, we’ll work with you to explore other suitable options.

These options may include Supported Employment through Endeavour Foundation Business Solutions, Supported Hosted Employment (SHE) in the community or training and skill-building programs to help them prepare for work.

Our team will take the time to understand each jobseeker’s goals and connect them with the right pathway. We want to make sure every person you refer has the chance to build skills, confidence and independence, whatever their goals or location.

Absolutely. We value collaboration with referrers, families and Support Coordinators.

With the participant’s consent, we’ll keep you informed about progress and invite you to key meetings or planning sessions.

Staying connected ensures the participant continues to receive the right support and means we’re all working towards their unique employment goals. You’ll always know how your referral is tracking and what outcomes are being achieved.

We partner with inclusive employers across a wide range of industries, from retail, hospitality and administration to logistics, manufacturing and customer service.

The goal is to match each person’s skills, interests and aspirations with the right opportunity. We focus on sustainable, long-term placements where participants can grow, learn and feel valued.

Our employer partners are committed to inclusive practices, so every job is set up for success.

No. People do not need to receive Centrelink or NDIS funding to access Inclusive Employment Australia. IEA is a free, government-funded program that supports anyone with a disability, injury or health condition who wants to work.

If the person does have an NDIS plan, we’ll align our support with their employment goals to make the most of available funding.

IEA replaced DES in November 2025. It offers more flexible, person-centred support with no time limits and a stronger focus on long-term outcomes.

Participants can stay connected for as long as they need help to find and keep a job.

IEA also allows greater choice of providers, so people can work with specialists like Endeavour Foundation, which understands intellectual disability and inclusive employment deeply.

Communication is important to us. With consent, we provide regular updates at key milestones such as referral acceptance, eligibility confirmation, job matching and placement success.

We can contact you by phone, email or Microsoft Teams – whichever suits your workflow best. You’re also welcome to check in anytime with our team.

Our goal is to make collaboration easy and transparent, so you always feel confident in the support being provided.

You can refer someone quickly through our online enquiry form or by calling 1800 112 112. Our team will contact you or the jobseeker within two business days to confirm details and discuss the next steps. If you’re unsure whether someone qualifies, just call us. We can check eligibility, explain the process and guide you through what’s needed.