Ending one-size-fits-all employment services

The Albanese Labor Government is embarking on once‑in‑a‑generation reform to the employment services system, overhauling Workforce Australia’s one‑size‑fits‑all approach to help more Australians into jobs.

For too long, employment services have treated everyone the same regardless of their skills, experience or the barriers they face. 

That approach has failed many people who need more than basic help to find and keep work.

Despite historically low unemployment, around 1 in 5 Workforce Australia participants – approximately 140,000 people – have been in the system for five years or more, a significantly higher proportion than a decade ago. 

The proposed changes will support more Australian jobseeker into work by introducing three new service streams, with tailored service offerings: 

• A digital service that provides participants with individualised resources and brief interventions when they need it for people who are ready to work and need help finding the right job
• High-quality targeted provider-led support for people who need help to build skills and confidence to return to the job market
• Intensive services for people facing complex barriers providing them with more time, more flexibility and more joined up support to build confidence and capability as they move towards work.

A new assessment and triage system will also be used to identify barriers early and match people with the right level of support from the start — with the flexibility to adjust as circumstances change.

Mutual obligations remain and will become more purposeful, individualised and focused on helping people move towards suitable work.

Job Plans will be replaced by a new Employment Goal Plan, giving people a clearer pathway into work by setting out their goals, barriers and the practical steps needed to succeed.

The Government will take the first step on reforming employment services, with consultation on the design of the new model, to support jobseekers into work sooner. 

To facilitate these changes, we have launched a public discussion paper which is open for submissions until 31 July 2026. 

A expert advisory group will also support this work, alongside targeted consultation with jobseekers, employers, providers and communities.

These reforms seek to redesign the system so support is tailored to individual needs, focused on suitable employment, and deliver better outcomes for participants especially those that have been unemployed for years.

The government is backing these reforms with significant investment of $312.1 million through the recent Budget, including:

• $205.5 million to build the new digital service with personalised tools, training and career support, including $5.9 million to trial a virtual advisory service for parents delivered by Future Women
• $52.6 million for an early targeted roll-out to test and refine the intensive service ahead of a national rollout
• $27.5 million to introduce a new holistic assessment and triaging process
• $26.5 million to increase resourcing for the National Customer Service Line.
• These reforms require significant design detail underneath the overarching framework that will need to be carefully worked through. 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Amanda Rishworth:

“We are determined to get more Australians into work and to do that we need to move beyond a one size fits all approach to employment.

“Under our Government, we have seen the lowest average unemployment rate of any government in the last 50 years, and the creation of over 1.2 million jobs. 

“However, there are still too many Australians missing out on the benefits of work, because of barriers to their participation in the labour market.  

“For too long, the employment services system has struggled to help people who need more intensive employment support.

“This is about ending the one‑size‑fits‑all approach and building a system that recognises people’s individual needs.

“We’re getting the fundamentals right: identifying barriers early, matching people to the right support, and helping them move into suitable, meaningful work.”

Further information, including the discussion paper and about the lived experience panel, can be found on the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations website: Employment services reform - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government