Several major employment service providers have been criticised for failing to support Australians with disabilities in the job market, reports The Guardian, citing the federal government’s first public report on the industry. Of the 88 providers assessed on the disability employment services program in July, 92% were meeting quality expectations, while 90% exceeded or met effectiveness expectations. 

The report found that some of the largest providers are among those needing to improve services, with seven needing to improve quality standards and five failing on effectiveness. The quality scoresheet considers factors such as participant rights, compliance, provider capability and understanding of quality. The Department of Social Services said it will work “closely” with providers scoring low on minimum requirements. 

Disability employment service providers are given ongoing service fees from the federal government for their work and can also receive outcome fees when a client has a job for four, 13, 26 and 52 weeks. Around 250,000 Australians currently use disability employment service providers.