National Work Experience Programme—
information for job seekers
Disability Employment Services (DES)
help people with disability find work and
keep a job.
The National Work Experience
Programme (NWEP) is available in DES. It
is a work experience programme which
places job seekers in real life work
experience placements. It helps
jobseekers gain experience and
confidence, while demonstrating skills to
potential employers.
There is a network of DES and jobactive
providers across Australia that work with
job seekers and employers to identify
suitable NWEP placements.
Am I eligible for the National Work
Experience Programme?
To be eligible to participate in NWEP you
must be:
 registered in DES,
 over 18 years of age, and
 receiving an income support
payment.
You can participate in NWEP at any time
and participation is entirely voluntary.
How will the National Work Experience
Programme help me?
NWEP offers work experience through
unpaid placements with employers of up
to 25 hours per week for a maximum of
four weeks.
Participating in NWEP will give you the
chance to:
 demonstrate skills like teamwork,
communication and reliability,
 increase your confidence and
show you are ready for work, and
 meet new people and make useful
contacts.
If the employer thinks you are a good fit
for their organisation you may be offered
a job with them at the end of the
placement.
When you take part in NWEP you will
receive an extra $20.80 per fortnight in
addition to your income support
payment.
What will I be doing?
There are many different types of roles
and activities you can do through an
NWEP placement.
You should talk to your DES provider
about the things you think you are good
at and the types of jobs you want to do.
This will help to find the right placement
for you.
The purpose is to place you in a work-like
role. This will give you the best
opportunity to show your skills to a
potential employer.
NATIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMME INFORMATION SHEET Effective Date: 1 Oct 2015
TRIM ID: D15/661444
In placing you in an NWEP placement,
your DES provider will make sure you
have completed any necessary
workplace-specific training or required
activities before you start.
Your DES provider will also continue to
support you while you undertake NWEP
and look for work.
Where will I do the National Work
Experience Programme?
An NWEP placement can be undertaken
in businesses run for profit, not-for-profit
organisations and local, state, territory
and Australian government agencies.
Your DES provider can help you to
identify a suitable organisation where
you could complete your work
experience.
Let your DES provider know if there is a
specific organisation you want to do an
NWEP placement in. If it is suitable, your
DES provider will help you to approach
the employer to see if there are job
opportunities available and negotiate a
work experience placement.
Is the National Work Experience
Programme voluntary?
NWEP placements are entirely voluntary.
If you have commenced a placement and
you don’t think it is suitable, you should
talk to your DES provider about your
options.
Want more information about DES?

Visit the JobAccess website

Call JobAccess on 1800 464 800

Go to www.jobsearch.gov.au to
find your local DES provider
 Call the Employment Services
Information Line on 13 62 68*

Do you need help with this fact sheet?
If you need an interpreter, please call the
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)
on 131 450* and ask for the Employment
Services Information Line on 13 62 68*.
If you are deaf, or have a hearing or
speech impairment you can use the
National Relay Service.
* Note that call charges apply for calls to
‘13’ numbers from mobile phone.