Engaging with employers key in DES reform

The Hon Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services, has reaffirmed the Coalition Government’s commitment to reforming Disability Employment Services (DES).

Mrs Prentice met with the Australian Network on Disability (AND) employers and the Business Council of Australia today to discuss employer perspectives on DES reforms.

“The Government is looking for innovative ideas from employers on how we can improve employment outcomes for people with disability,” she said.

“Today’s roundtable discussion was central to our focus of engaging with employers to consider how we can improve DES and promote the benefits of employing people with disability.

“This was one of many discussions as we push for better employer engagement alongside the DES program and I would like to thank the AND employers and the Business Council of Australia for sharing their views and ideas.

“On 2 November 2016 Minister for Social Services, Christian Porter and I launched a Disability Employment Services discussion paper calling for public input to ensure DES is the best it can be.

“The Australian Network on Disability provided feedback on the paper which will be vital to the program moving forward,” she said.

Mrs Prentice said engaging with employers is key when it comes to achieving better outcomes for people with disability in the workplace.

“In 2018 we will be implementing a new and improved DES to ensure people with disability find work and stay in jobs longer,” she said.

“Engaging with employers is one of our core focuses to ensuring we have a sustainable and productive DES program and we will continue to work closely with them in the future so we can deliver the best outcomes in disability employment.”