Factors influencing the effectiveness of Australian Disability Employment Services.

What is it about?

Despite continual reform to Australian’s Disability Employment Services (DES) program, poor employment outcomes for Australians with disabilities persist. This paper explores the lives of DES participants with psychosocial disability that influence their engagement with the DES program in the context of the most recent DES reforms of 2018. We interviewed 30 DES participants with a psychosocial disability as part of the Improving Disability Employment Study. Findings highlight diverse life challenges including disrupted education, inadequate access to mental and general health services, and, financial and housing insecurity. All of which, continue to undermine the effectiveness of DES.

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