Living with disability and need work?

Living with disability and need work? This government funded service can help.

When you’re living with disability, working can have a positive impact on your mental health and quality of life, according to two Australians who have first-hand experience.

Sharon, who struggled to find work after an accident resulted in lasting damage to her hand, said that finding a job has transformed her outlook in life.

“It’s given me my self-esteem back, my confidence back. I feel like I’m a new person,” she said.

For Jeff, working as a carer has been like a new beginning too.

“It gives me a purpose and a reason to get out of bed,” he said.

The truth is, finding work wasn’t always easy for Jeff or Sharon. It’s challenging for a lot of Australians who are living with a disability or long-term health condition.

A life-changing back injury meant Jeff couldn’t work as a labourer, a job he’d had for 40 years.

“You get so down. Everything seems like there’s a brick wall in the way and you can’t get through it,” said Jeff.

Sharon struggled to find a job where employers would give her a chance.

“As soon as I tell them I had an injury at work they just turn around and say: ‘you’re a liability, I don’t want to take a chance on employing you’. And that really hurts,” Sharon said.

It was through the Disability Employment Services (DES) program by APM that Sharon and Jeff were able to find a job that suited their strengths and work capacities.

The Disability Employment Services program by APM is a Government-funded service that helps people who are living with injury, illness or disability find employment.

The program can help with:

Managing health conditions and barriers to work
Searching for suitable job opportunities
Writing resumes, cover letters and job applications
Preparing for interviews
Accessing training to increase employability

Employment Services also provides support so people with injury, illness or disability can stay in work and perform well in their roles.

This may include services such as:

Talking with employers about workplace modifications or solutions
Assessing and making changes to the workplace
Accessing funds for special equipment

If you’ve had to navigate a few challenges while looking for work and are feeling discouraged, DES could provide you the support you need.

Find out if you’re eligible for APM’s Disability Employment Services program

If you are living with an injury, illness or disability and want to find work, you could be eligible for support from Employment Services.

This includes mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

You could be eligible for the program if you are:

Receiving an income support payment
Aged at least 14 to 65
At or above the minimum legal working age in your state or territory
Able to work at least eight hours per week (with support when required)
An Australian resident
Not studying full time

How can you access an Employment Services program today?

Specialised Employment Services are delivered by providers across Australia.

You can access these services by:

Being referred to a provider by Centrelink
Registering directly with a provider such as APM

APM is Australia’s largest Disability Employment Services provider with more than 500 offices around Australia.

We’re passionate about helping people find fulfilment in their new job, just like Sharon and Jeff did.

In 2019 we helped over 60,000 people with injury, illness or disability find work.

Our strong network of recruitment, training and job-matching partners means we can help find a job for you too.