DSS D18/923797

Disability Employment Services

Ongoing Support Fact Sheet – Information for Providers
Following the introduction of the new Disability Employment Services (DES) program on
1 July 2018, there are changes to the Ongoing Support arrangements to accommodate the new
52-week outcome. These changes ensure that a provider only moves a participant into Ongoing
Support when there is a genuine need.
This fact sheet outlines the changes to Ongoing Support before the first 26-week outcomes
under the new arrangements become payable. The changes affect Disability Management
Service (DMS) and Employment Support Service (ESS) participants with an anchor date on or
after 1 July 2018.

After the 26-week Outcome what am I required to do?

Following a 26-week employment outcome, the provider must decide on the most appropriate
servicing arrangement for the participant as they work toward the 52-week outcome. In
particular, the provider must assess the participant’s needs and determine if they:
 can remain in Post Placement Support, or
 need a higher level of support in the workplace to retain their job.
The provider’s assessment should take into consideration the hours of support needed in last
six months as well as the frequency of contact required. Essentially, if the participant is working
independently, or almost independently, by the time they achieve the 26-week outcome, the
participant should remain in Post Placement Support.
If the participant still has servicing needs, the provider should move the participant into Ongoing
Support and then organise their Initial Ongoing Support Assessment (OSA) as soon as
possible.
Further, if the participant’s circumstances later change, the provider can move the participant
from Post Placement Support to Ongoing Support, or vice versa, while the participant is working
toward the 52-week outcome.

When is the initial Ongoing Support Assessment due?

The initial OSA is due 28 days from when the participant moves into Ongoing Support.
What will happen if I do not organise the initial OSA?
Flexible Ongoing Support
Providers will be able to claim Flexible Ongoing Support fees during the first 28 days from when
the participant moves into Ongoing Support. Following this, providers are unable to claim further
instances of Flexible Ongoing Support until the OSA has confirmed the participant’s servicing
needs. For this reason, the Department recommends that providers organise the OSA as soon
as they move the participant into Ongoing Support, so there is no delay of payment.
Moderate or High Ongoing Support
Moderate and High Ongoing Support Fees are available when the participant has been in
Ongoing Support for one month. After this, providers will not be able claim Ongoing Support
fees until the OSA has been finalised and the participant’s Ongoing Support needs are verified.
Any delays to Ongoing Support will affect the amount paid when next Ongoing Support fee falls
due. Specifically, after the first monthly payment, any period of where there is no OSA in place
will not factor into the calculation of the Ongoing Support fee.
The Department strongly recommends that providers organise the OSA as soon as they move
the participant into Ongoing Support, so they can be finalised within 28 days and there is no
impact to their payments.

How long is the OSA valid?

As previously, OSAs are generally valid for 52 weeks. There are certain instances where,
following successive OSAs, the OSA is valid for 78 weeks.

More information
Please refer to the DES Guidelines and Supporting Documents on the DES Provider Portal
or on the department’s website at www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/freedom-of-
information/operational-information/disability-employment-and-carers-group.
Relevant DES Guidelines:
 DES Ongoing Support Guidelines
 DES OSA Allocation Guidelines
 DES OSA Guidelines
 DES OSAs Quality Framework