How to Help Clients Prepare for Inclusive Employment Australia: A Referrer’s Guide

Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) is on its way. This handy guide will help you to help your clients prepare for the change.

With Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) replacing the existing Disability Employment Services (DES) program on 1 November 2025, referrers have a unique opportunity to guide clients into a more flexible, participant-focused employment model.

For Support Coordinators, allied health professionals and other referrers, this means helping clients prepare now so they can access the right supports and begin their IEA journey with confidence.

This guide gives you a clear, step-by-step approach to preparing your clients, ensuring they are well-positioned to choose a provider and service stream that work for them.

1. Review Your Client Caseload

Begin by mapping out exactly who in your caseload will be affected. This should include:

• Current DES participants who will need to transition to the IEA program
• Eligible clients not currently part of DES who may benefit from being part of IEA
• Clients considering a change in provider for better alignment with their goals or support needs

Doing this now helps you prioritise those who will need more preparation time or might have a more complex referral. It also allows you to start early conversations with clients about the opportunities that IEA offers.

2. Understand the IEA Service Streams

Under IEA, clients will be matched to one of two streams:

• Intensive support: For clients who need regular, structured assistance such as skills training, job search support and workplace visits
• Flexible support: For clients who can work independently most of the time but still benefit from occasional guidance or problem-solving support

The matching process will consider factors like support needs, work history and personal goals.

As a referrer, being familiar with these streams allows you to pre-empt which might best fit each client, ensuring your referral includes the right detail to support their placement.

3. Clarify Client Goals and Preferences

IEA is designed to be goal-driven, so the more clarity your client has, the better the provider can support them. Explore:

• Employment aspirations: Specific roles, industries or sectors they’d like to work in
• Work environment preferences: Large workplace vs. small team, indoor vs. outdoor roles, flexible scheduling, etc.
• Work hours: Full-time, part-time or casual arrangements that suit their lifestyle or health needs
• Trial opportunities: Whether they’d like to test a workplace before committing

This step is crucial because it helps providers design a tailored plan rather than starting with a generic service offer.

4. Assess Skills, Support Needs and Readiness

An accurate picture of your client’s current capabilities will make the provider’s intake process faster and more targeted. Document:

• Existing skills and qualifications: Include formal qualifications, on-the-job skills and transferable capabilities
• Gaps in skills or knowledge: Identify training needs or qualifications they may want to pursue
• Workplace adjustments: Physical, sensory or communication supports needed for success
• Level of ongoing support: How often they will need check-ins or structured guidance to stay on track

By doing this assessment yourself, you reduce back-and-forth with providers and help your client get started sooner.

5. Gather and Update Documentation

Having complete, current documentation ready before referral speeds up the intake process. Collect:

• An updated resume or work history that reflects current skills and experience
• Certificates, licences and training records to prove qualifications
• Assessment reports (vocational, medical, functional) to support eligibility and service planning
• Workplace adjustment documentation to inform provider planning from day one

Delays in service start dates are often caused by missing paperwork. Gathering this now avoids those bottlenecks.

6. Research Providers Early

Not all providers are the same, and your client’s success can depend on the quality of the match. When shortlisting:

• Check IEA registration in your client’s location
• Look at service specialisation: Some providers, like Endeavour Foundation, have deep expertise with people with intellectual disability and complex support needs
• Evaluate employer networks: A provider’s industry links can expand your client’s options
• Confirm intake capacity: In high-demand regions, not all providers can take new referrals immediately

Doing this research now means you won’t be scrambling to find the right match later.

7. Refer Early to Avoid Gaps

Some providers, including Endeavour Foundation, are accepting early IEA referrals before the official rollout. Early referral means:

• Clients secure their place before peak demand
• Onboarding and welcome processes start sooner
• There’s more time to match your clients to an employer that fits their goals

By registering interest with Endeavour Foundation now, you’ll receive important updates, practical tips and resources to help you guide your clients through the transition. This will help them to begin strongly and avoid service gaps.

Why Choose Endeavour Foundation for IEA?

As a specialist IEA provider for people with intellectual disability, we make the referral process as simple as possible. We:

• Specialise in intellectual disability support with decades of experience
• Offer both intensive and flexible IEA services
• Have a strong, established network of inclusive employers
• Provide consistent workplace support to ensure long-term job retention

Our team is ready to collaborate with referrers to get clients matched, prepared and confident before IEA begins.

Partner with the Right Provider for IEA Success

The shift to Inclusive Employment Australia is more than a program change, it’s your opportunity to connect clients with rewarding, long-term employment.

The right provider will not only understand the new system but will also have the proven experience, employer relationships and tailored supports to make it work in practice.

As a specialist IEA provider for people with intellectual disability, Endeavour Foundation is ready to help your clients start on solid footing.

We’ll work with you to ensure a smooth transition, minimise service gaps and build the confidence and skills needed for success from day one.

Register your interest with Endeavour Foundation below to receive important updates, practical tips and resources that will help you and your clients prepare for the move to Inclusive Employment Australia, or click here to learn more.