Expanding Our Support Footprint Through Inclusive Employment Australia
Mai-Wel has been awarded Inclusive Employment Australia contract
We are excited and proud to announce that Mai-Wel has been awarded a five-year contract under the Australian Government’s Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) program, expanding our reach across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and the Upper Hunter area.
From 1 November 2025, Mai-Wel will be positioned to support more people with disability to access career pathways, employment opportunities, and meaningful work.
Delivering Inclusive Employment Australia
We will now operate full-time Inclusive Employment Australia sites in Mayfield, Wallsend, and Singleton, alongside outreach services in Raymond Terrace, Toronto, Belmont, Nelson Bay, Cardiff, and Muswellbrook.
“This is an exciting and transformative moment for Mai‑Wel. Our expansion under the IEA program allows us to more than double our impact and further deliver on our promise of creating inclusive, empowering employment opportunities for people with disability right across our region,” CEO John Cleary said.
“This outcome further positions Mai‑Wel as a leader in delivering holistic, inclusive, and accessible employment services for people with disability. It opens the door for us to expand our existing programs into new areas, strengthening our presence and enabling us to offer even greater support to individuals right across the regions we proudly serve.”
The introduction of Inclusive Employment Australia (formerly DES)
This milestone comes as part of the Commonwealth Government’s broader reform of disability employment services, with IEA replacing the current Disability Employment Services (DES) program from 1 November 2025.
The new program is backed by additional investment of $227.6 million and is expected to support an extra 15,000 people with disability into employment each year, offering streamlined wage subsidies of up to $10,000 and more tailored, specialist support options.
This achievement solidifies our reputation as a sector leader in inclusive employment and reaffirms our ongoing commitment to empowering people with disability across the communities we serve.
