The Department of Social Services (DSS) has issued a Direction amending education placement provisions in the Disability Employment Services (DES) contract. From 1 July 2020, providers will not be able to place a participant into an education placement within a related entity without prior written approval from DSS. 

Providers should note that an education activity conducted by a related entity of the provider is not 'Education' for the purposes of the DES agreement. DSS approvals must be in writing and signed by an appropriate Departmental delegate. NDS is disappointed that notice of the change was not given to providers until the evening of 30 June 2020, which may have caused inconvenience for some of them. While we accept that DSS is concerned about both an increase in the number of education placements for DES participants and possible instances of sharp practices, we maintain that education placements and outcomes play a vital role in jobseekers and workers with disability gaining sustainable employment outcomes.