The Albanese Labor Government is today unveiling the new Disability Employment Services (DES) Performance Framework and Scorecards, taking the next step towards ensuring Australians with disability have equal opportunities to gain and maintain employment.
There are 5.5 million Australians with disability - 2.7 million of whom are of working age.
The Performance Framework will monitor, measure, and drive continuous improvement of DES providers against an agreed set of key performance measures
The Framework is supported by Scorecards, which will for the first time report provider performance against all measures of the Framework every quarter.
Providers will be given a score out of three for each domain and measure of the Framework, which will be reflected on their Scorecard. Ensuring that current or future DES participants, their families and carers can make an informed choice of their preferred DES provider.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the Performance Framework will help drive a high-performing DES program that delivers real and meaningful employment outcomes for Australians with disability.
"The new Performance Framework and Scorecards will give providers, employers and participants, as well as the general public, a very clear picture of what is expected of DES services and how providers are stacking up," Minister Rishworth said.
"We want DES providers to be striving to ensure jobseekers with disability are informed, supported and getting the best services possible."
Minister Rishworth said the Scorecards will improve effectiveness, efficiency and quality of DES providers.
"By publicly releasing performance Scorecards and working with providers, we will enhance transparency and accountability in the program, and ensure providers are delivering high quality, effective services and are committed to continual improvement," Minister Rishworth said.
"Participants will be able to check accessible Scorecards that will show what services DES providers offer and how they rate for quality and effectiveness, helping them make an informed choice when selecting their provider."
The new Performance Framework is firmly outcomes-focused, measuring not only quality of services but how successfully providers support participants to find and stay in employment or complete training and education that help them be job-ready.
The Performance Framework will replace the previous systems of evaluation for DES providers - the 2018 DES Performance Framework, Star Ratings and the current Interim Performance Measures.
Details about the DES Performance Framework are available on the Department of Social Services website.
