We explain what an Employment Services Assessment involves so you can feel prepared and confident.
If Services Australia has asked you to attend an Employment Services Assessment, you may be unsure about what it means.
An Employment Services Assessment, often called an ESAt, is a conversation about how a disability, illness or injury affects your ability to work.
The assessment helps Services Australia understand your work capacity, the support you may need and which employment service may suit you.
If you are a person with intellectual disability, preparing can make the conversation easier and help ensure your communication and support needs are understood.
Here are some steps that can help you be ready for what comes next.
Services Australia may arrange an ESAt when you:
Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) is the Australian Government’s disability employment program. It provides disability employment support to eligible people with disability, injury or health conditions.
The ESAt helps Services Australia decide what type of employment support may be suitable for you. It is not the same as a job interview, and you are not expected to arrive knowing exactly what job you want.
During an ESAt, the assessor may ask questions about:
It can be helpful to explain to your assessor what support helps you at work. For example, you may need:
These details can help the assessor build a more accurate picture of what you are capable of with the right support.
Services Australia may ask for medical evidence before your ESAt, which explains your diagnosis and how your disability affects your capacity to work. Relevant evidence may include:
The most useful information explains how your disability affects you in everyday situations, rather than only naming the diagnosis. It may also help to write down:
Yes, a relative, friend or advocate can support you during your ESAt.
They may help you understand questions, remember important information or explain support needs that are difficult to describe.
Your support person should still ensure you speak for yourself wherever possible. Their role is to help make sure you are understood, not to make decisions for you.
Services Australia can also arrange an interpreter if one is needed.
An ESAt may be completed over the phone where suitable. You can ask Services Australia about other arrangements if a phone assessment would make communication difficult.
After discussing your barriers to work and support needs, Services Australia will prepare an assessment report.
You can read more about what happens during and after an ESAt on the Services Australia website. The report may describe:
Services Australia may then discuss the employment services and providers available.
You can ask to choose a provider that has experience supporting people with intellectual disability. Not every provider has the same specialisation, communication approach or experience.
If you are receiving the Disability Support Pension (DSP) and voluntarily ask for an ESAt to help you find work, completing the assessment does not automatically cause you to lose your DSP.
Endeavour Foundation is a specialist IEA provider for people with intellectual disability, delivering services across Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.
Our team understands that each person communicates, learns and prepares for work differently.
We take the time to understand your strengths, interests, preferred work environment and support needs.
You do not need to navigate the disability employment pathway alone.
If you or someone you support is preparing for an ESAt, has been referred through Services Australia or wants to learn more about choosing a specialist IEA provider, our team can help explain the next steps.