Employment Assistance Fund
What is the Employment Assistance Fund?
The Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) provides workers with a disability or mental health condition with funding for workplace modifications, equipment or services they need to perform their job.
The EAF provides funding for work related modifications and services including:
- the cost of modifications to the physical work environment
- modifications to work vehicles
- special equipment for the workplace
- information and communication devices
- Auslan interpreting
- specialist services for employees with specific learning disorders and mental health conditions
- disability awareness training
- deafness awareness training
- mental health first aid training.
A free Workplace Modification Assessment is available through the EAF to help work out what modifications or equipment will best meet workers needs and help them to do their jobs.
Funding caps apply to some work-related modifications. More information can be found here.
Who is eligible for Employment Assistance Funding?
The EAF is available to people with disability who are about to start a job or who are currently working, as well as people who need help to find and prepare for a job. It is also available to people with disability who are self-employed, and jobseekers who need Auslan assistance, or special work equipment to look for and prepare for a job.
To be eligible for the EAF, the person with disability must:
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident as defined in the EAF Guidelines
- be working at least eight hours per week, or 20 hours per week if self-employed
- have an ongoing disability that has lasted, or will last at least two years. Your disability must limit, restrict or impair your ability to work.
- be currently in a job that is expected to continue for 13 weeks or more
- A person with disability who has periods of Employment of less than 13 weeks, or who is Employed in a position that may not be continuous (e.g. seasonal industries) may also be eligible for EAF assistance. Applications in these circumstances will be considered and approved by the JobAccess provider on a case-by-case basis.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants can also get ongoing and regular support at work through their NDIS plan funding. NDIS plan funding won’t pay for things that EAF already covers.
Who can submit an application for Employment Assistance funding?
An EAF application can be submitted by:
- an employer of a person with disability
- an employee with disability
- a self-employed worker with disability
- a job seeker who requires Auslan assistance or who requires work related assistive technology or special work equipment to look for and prepare for a job
- a Disability Employment Services provider, jobactive provider, or a Community Development Programme provider on behalf of their participant or participant's employer.
- A person may also apply for EAF assistance on behalf of someone with disability as their nominee.
For further information about the Employment Assistance Funding please visit www.jobaccess.gov.au/employment-assistance-fund-eaf or call 1800 464 800.
Users who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment can connect with JobAccess through the National Relay Service (NRS):
- TTY users phone 1800 555 677 then ask for 1800 464 800.
- Speak and Listen users phone 1800 555 727 then ask for 1800 464 800, or
- Connect online at relayservice.gov.au.
- Consider downloading the NRS app via the online app store or by following the NRS app fact sheet instructions.