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Chapter 24. Workforce Specialists
Department wording for Chapter 24, Workforce Specialists, from Part B: Transition to Work version 1.20.
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Workforce Australia Guidelines, Part B: Transition to Work
Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
- Recorded version
- 1.20
- Effective
- 1 July 2026
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- 28 September 2026
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Source material: © Commonwealth of Australia. Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Workforce Australia Guidelines, Part B: Transition to Work, version 1.20, published 3 June 2026. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence, subject to the exclusions in the DEWR copyright notice.
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Source: Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Workforce Australia Guidelines, Part B: Transition to Work, version 1.20, published 3 June 2026. © Commonwealth of Australia. Used under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), subject to the DEWR copyright exclusions. Official publication record: https://www.dewr.gov.au/workforce-australia/resources/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-transition-work. Recorded Word file: https://www.dewr.gov.au/download/13955/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-transition-work/43266/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-transition-work/DOCX. ServiceCite reformatted the Word document for web navigation and search; this is not an official DEWR publication. These Guidelines are not stand-alone: providers must use their executed Deed, Work Orders and variations. Provider Portal material is excluded.
24.1. Chapter Overview
Workforce Specialist Projects are designed to meet the workforce needs of identified industries and occupations, connecting them to suitable participants in Workforce Australia Services, Workforce Australia Online and Workforce Australia- Transition to Work Services.
Projects may support Participants to identify, access and engage with:
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labour market opportunities within these industries
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the skills and training pathways to connect with these opportunities
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potential areas for career progression, and/or
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the support available to prepare for and take up these employment opportunities.
On 14 May 2024, the Australian Government announced it would cease approving new projects under the Workforce Specialists initiative, effective immediately. Projects currently being delivered will continue until completion.
Information regarding current Workforce Specialist projects can be found at: Workforce Specialists - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government (dewr.gov.au)
This Chapter outlines the requirements for Providers in regard to Workforce Specialists and Workforce Specialist Projects.
24.2. Role of Providers
Key responsibilities and actions undertaken by Providers in relation to Workforce Specialist Projects, which must be done in accordance with the Workforce Australia - Transition to Work Deed and these Guidelines, include:
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identifying if Participants meet any identified eligibility criteria to participate in a Workforce Specialist Project
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confirming, including by reference to the relevant Risk Assessments, if the Workforce Specialist Project is suitable for the Participant
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assisting Participants to submit an expression of interest to participate in the Workforce Specialist Project via Workforce Australia Online.
Where a Participant is accepted to participate in a Workforce Specialist Project, Providers:
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must ensure the Participant is aware of their responsibilities, such as attending the Workforce Specialist Project on the relevant days and times advised by the Workforce Specialist
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must work collaboratively with the Workforce Specialist to support the Participant’s participation in the Workforce Specialist Project. This may include accessing Relocation Assistance funding to support moving costs where required or drawing from Upfront Payments to assist Participants for work/training related items such as PPE, uniforms or licences
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must confirm an Activity Risk Assessment has been undertaken for any Specified Activity conducted by the Workforce Specialist as part of a Workforce Specialist Project.
Where a Participant is placed into Employment by a Workforce Specialist, Providers must provide Post-placement Support, in collaboration with the Workforce Specialist if appropriate.
(Deed Reference(s): Clauses, 111.3, 119)
24.3. Eligibility
Participation in a Workforce Specialist Project is voluntary. A Provider can assist a Participant from their Caseload to submit an expression of interest to be considered for participation in a Workforce Specialist Project, subject to any additional Workforce Specialist Project specific eligibility criteria. For example, a Workforce Specialist Project may be targeted to Participants of a specific age group or require Participants to have a Driver's Licence.
- System step — The Provider can view any additional eligibility criteria in a Workforce Specialist Project description in the Department’s IT System.** **
Participation in a Workforce Specialist Project will contribute towards the 25 hours a week Participation Requirement for Participants.
24.4. Collaboration with Workforce Specialists
Providers will need to work with Workforce Specialists to support Participant referrals to, and participation in, Workforce Specialist Projects. Providers will also need to work with Workforce Specialists to provide Post-placement Support to Participants placed into Employment as part of a Workforce Specialist Project.
- Work health and safety — Providers must provide support to Workforce Specialists to assess the suitability and capacity of a Participant from the Provider’s Caseload to undertake any Activity within a Workforce Specialist Project. This includes assisting with the provision of information to support the Workforce Specialist undertake a Participant Risk Assessment and the management of other Work Health & Safety matters, including incidents.
(Deed Reference(s): Clauses 80.1, 80.2, 81.5, 111.3, 112, 119)
24.5. Expression of Interest for a Workforce Specialist Project
Once a Workforce Specialist has entered Workforce Specialist Project into the Department’s IT Systems, Providers can search for and view that Workforce Specialist Project.
- System step — The Provider can view available Workforce Specialist Projects via the Activity Management component in the Department’s IT Systems.
Information about each Workforce Specialist Project will be available in the project description.
Workforce Specialists may also promote Workforce Specialist Projects to Providers and Participants outside of the Department’s IT Systems.
Providers must identify eligible and potentially suitable Participants for Workforce Specialist Projects. Providers should provide identified Participants with details of Workforce Specialist Projects available in their Employment Region.
Prior to discussing potential referrals with the Workforce Specialist, the Provider must ensure the Participant has been made aware of, and consented to, the disclosure of relevant personal information to the Workforce Specialist for the purpose of managing the Participant’s referral and participation in a Workforce Specialist Project, including any related PMaS.
Before recommending that a Participant submits an expression of interest for a Workforce Specialist Project, the Provider must consider the nature of the tasks involved in the Workforce Specialist Project and whether these are appropriate and suitable for the Participant. The Provider may also discuss potential referrals with the Workforce Specialist to assist in making any determination of the Participant’s suitability and capacity to participate in the Workforce Specialist Project.
To be considered for a Workforce Specialist Project, the Participant will need to submit an expression of interest. The expression of interest process will vary from project to project, and may include several screening questions (for example, relevant tickets or licences already held by the Participant, or occupations they may be interested in).
- System step — Providers are required to support Participants to submit expressions of interest for Workforce Specialist Projects via Workforce Australia Online.
The Workforce Specialist will assess all expressions of interest to participate in a Workforce Specialist Project. A place in the Workforce Specialist Project will only be confirmed once a Participant’s expression of interest has been accepted by the Workforce Specialist.
Participants may submit expressions of interest via Workforce Australia Online without first notifying their Provider. The Workforce Specialist is strongly encouraged to discuss the referral with the Provider prior to accepting an expression of interest from the Participant.
If a Workforce Specialist does not accept a Participant’s expression of interest, it should notify the Participant of the reasons for its decision. A Workforce Specialist Project may have a limited number of places available.
(Deed Reference(s): Clauses 109,119)
24.6. Payments
The funding arrangements for each Workforce Specialist Project will be outlined in a contract between the Workforce Specialist and the Department. The funding arrangement will consider existing support and funding available under other programs available to assist Participants.
Providers are expected to draw upon their Upfront Payment, to support Participants to successfully take part in Workforce Specialist Projects. For example, a Participant may require workwear or equipment for a job placement that forms part of a Workforce Specialist Project.
The Provider of a Participant placed into Education or Employment by a Workforce Specialist may be eligible to receive Outcome Payments in line with the Deed, the Provider Payments Chapter and the Vacancies and Outcomes Chapter.
(Deed Reference(s): Clause 130, 135)