How Families and Carers Can Support Someone Through IEA

Families and carers can play an important role as people with intellectual disability begin their Inclusive Employment Australia journey. Here's how you can help your loved one feel informed and confident from the start.

For many people with intellectual disability, starting work can feel both exciting and daunting.

The right support can help build confidence, reduce uncertainty and create a positive foundation for the future.

If your loved one is joining the Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) program, your involvement can help them navigate new information, understand their options and feel more confident about what comes next.

Providing support does not mean making every decision for your loved one. The goal is to help them understand their choices, communicate what matters to them and remain at the centre of their employment journey.

Here are some practical ways you can help.

Learn How Inclusive Employment Australia Works

IEA is the Australian Government’s national disability employment program, helping eligible people with disability, injury or health conditions prepare for, find and maintain a job.

Support delivered through the program can include building confidence, developing workplace skills, preparing for interviews, connecting with employers and receiving guidance after employment starts.

Services Australia may refer someone to IEA after discussing their circumstances and support needs. In some cases, the person may complete an Employment Services Assessment before being referred.

Understanding the basic IEA process can help you explain what is happening in a way that doesn’t overwhelm your loved one with too much information.

Help Them Prepare for Their Services Australia Appointment

Before your loved one has their Services Australia appointment, talk with them about what they would like the assessor to understand. You could help them write down:

• The types of tasks they enjoy
• Jobs or workplaces they are interested in
• Previous work, volunteering or training
• How many hours they want to work
• How their intellectual disability affects learning, communication or work
• Support that has helped them in the past
• Questions they want to ask

Try to use the person’s own words wherever possible.

You can also help gather documents requested by Services Australia, such as reports that explain the person’s diagnosis, functional needs or previous support.

Ask your loved one whether they would like you to attend the appointment or help them prepare. Depending on the situation, Services Australia may also require formal permission before discussing personal information with another person.

Help Them Understand That They Can Choose a Provider

A person referred to IEA can usually choose the service provider they want to work with. They can also change providers later if the service is not meeting their needs.

Families and carers can help compare providers by looking at:

• Whether they specialise in intellectual disability
• How they communicate with participants
• The employment support they provide
• Whether they take time to understand individual strengths and goals
• How they involve families and support networks
• What support remains after someone starts work

Do not assume that the closest or first suggested provider will automatically be the best fit. Taking the time to compare providers can help you find a service that aligns with your loved one's goals and support needs.

At Endeavour Foundation, we are a specialist IEA provider for people with intellectual disability. This means our approach is shaped by experience supporting people with intellectual disability with tailored information, employment preparation and ongoing workplace support.

Support Choice and Independence

Families often have valuable insights into a loved one’s strengths, support needs and previous experiences. But the person should still have a genuine say in:

• Whether they want to work
• The types of jobs they want to explore
• Their preferred working hours
• Who is involved in appointments
• Which provider they choose
• What information is shared

Instead of asking, “What job should they do?”, try asking:

• What activities do you enjoy?
• What are you proud of being able to do?
• Would you prefer working indoors or outdoors?
• Do you like working with people, animals, tools, food or computers?
• What would make you feel comfortable at work?
• What support would help you learn a new task?

These questions can make employment planning feel more practical and less intimidating.

Help the Provider Understand What Good Support Looks Like

With your loved one’s consent, share information that may help their IEA provider support them best. This could include:

• How they prefer information to be explained
• Signs that they are confused, anxious or overwhelmed
• How they learn new tasks
• Helpful routines or visual prompts
• Sensory or communication needs
• Transport considerations
• Experiences that have worked well or poorly in the past

It is also helpful to share strengths. Talk about what the person does well, what motivates them and the situations in which they are most confident.

The provider should see the whole person, not just their barriers.

Support Progress Without Adding Pressure

Employment journeys do not always move in a straight line.

A person may need time to build confidence, explore different jobs or recover from an experience that did not work out.

Their goals may also change as they learn more about different workplaces. You can help by:

• Celebrating small steps
• Encouraging the person to ask questions
• Checking whether they understand what happens next
• Helping them prepare for appointments or interviews
• Speaking up when support is not working
• Avoiding pressure to accept an unsuitable job

The goal is not simply to find any job. It is to work towards employment that is suitable and sustainable.

Looking for Specialist IEA Support?

As a specialist IEA provider for people with intellectual disability, our team works with participants, families and supporters to understand each person’s strengths, communication preferences and employment goals.

The jobseeker remains at the centre of decisions, with families and carers involved where they choose.

You can access our IEA support across Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.

Chat with our team about supporting someone through a Services Australia referral or choosing Endeavour Foundation as their IEA provider.