The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

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.