For people who are already working, Ongoing Support can help if an injury, disability or health condition is making it hard for them to keep their job.

Ongoing Support is available to eligible employees who are having difficulty performing the essential functions of their job due to the impact of their disability, injury or health condition. 

Ongoing Support is a free service funded by the Australian Government and is available through Inclusive Employment Australia. An Inclusive Employment Australia provider will work with you and your employer to provide Ongoing Support to help you keep your job.

Employers are also supported by Inclusive Employment Australia providers to keep you working so they don’t lose a valuable team member.

How do you get help?

Contact an Inclusive Employment Australia provider, and ask to register for Ongoing Support. They will then check your eligibility for Ongoing Support and book an interview with you. Your employer can also refer you to a provider for an interview with your consent. 

At the first interview the provider will talk about your circumstances, your employment situation and any support needs you may have. 

If the provider considers that you are eligible and need Ongoing Support to maintain your job they will:

• seek your agreement to register to receive Ongoing Support as an Ongoing Support (Work Assist) participant
• start providing Ongoing Support
• ask you to attend an Ongoing Support Assessment.

The Ongoing Support Assessment determines how much assistance you need to help maintain your employment.

What help can you get?

• Ongoing Support can include:
• face-to-face support, such as meeting in person for appointments
• advice about job redesign, for example changing or swapping tasks
• a comprehensive workplace assessment and help to identify and implement reasonable adjustments
• help to apply for free workplace modifications and/or special equipment
• help with managing workplace changes
• advice and training for employers and co-workers
• referrals to health support services, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pain management or counselling
• other support in the workplace to help manage the impact of the injury, disability or health condition.

It is your choice if you want to talk to people at work about your disability. For more information visit talking about your disability at work.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for Ongoing Support, you need to:

• be currently employed
• have a disability, injury or health condition (this will be confirmed by the Inclusive Employment Australia provider)
• have been working in your current job over a consecutive period of at least 12 weeks, or there is an expectation that the job will last for at least 12 weeks
• be assessed by as needing Ongoing Support to keep your job
• be at least 14 years old but have not reached the Age Pension age
• be an Australian resident or eligible visa holder
• not already be receiving assistance from another Inclusive Employment Australia provider or other Government funded employment service provider.

How to apply for Ongoing Support 

Contact an Inclusive Employment Australia to apply for Ongoing Support services. Find an Inclusive Employment Australia provider near you.

For more information call a JobAccess Adviser on 1800 464 800 or fill out our online enquiry form.