Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

What Department of Employment and Workplace Relations does

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) is an Australian Government department established on 1 July 2022. It consolidated employment services, workplace relations, and skills and training functions previously distributed across other Commonwealth agencies. DEWR serves Australian job seekers, employers, workers, and vocational education students, administering programs such as Workforce Australia, the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, the National Skills Agreement, the Commonwealth Prac Payment, and Building Women's Careers, alongside the National Employment Standards and Fair Work legislation.

Name

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Legal name

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Website

https://dewr.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

DEWR is an Australian Government department established in July 2022 that administers employment services, workplace relations, and skills training programs for Australian citizens, employers, and workers, funded through Commonwealth appropriations and delivered across 51 employment regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The department is funded through Australian Government appropriations and taxation revenue. It does not generate commercial revenue but allocates public funds to deliver employment, skills, and workplace relations programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) is an Australian Government department that delivers public employment services, vocational skills and training programs, and workplace relations policy. It operates the national Workforce Australia employment services platform, funds apprenticeships, traineeships, and Fee-Free TAFE places, and administers the Fair Work framework including National Employment Standards. The department also co-manages the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and distributes workforce funding to over 4,000 registered training organisations and contracted employment service providers across 51 employment regions.

Product overview

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) is an Australian government department providing a portfolio of employment, skills, and workplace relations services rather than a unified commercial product. The core service architecture consists of three main pillars: Skills and Training (including apprenticeships, TAFE, and VET programs), Employment Services (including Workforce Australia, jobactive legacy, and targeted employment programs), and Workplace Relations (policies and programs for fair workplaces). Key digital platforms include Workforce Australia (employment services portal), Your Career (career exploration), and Jobs Hub (industry information). Supporting programs include Parent Pathways, Fee-Free TAFE, Commonwealth Prac Payment, PALM Scheme, Inclusive Employment Australia, and Building Women's Careers. The department operates as a service provider rather than a technology product company, with services delivered through government websites, call centers, and contracted employment service providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workforce Australia Digital employment services platform replacing jobactive on 4 July 2022, providing job search tools, provider services, and self-management for job seekers and employers.
• Fee-Free TAFE Government-funded training places in areas of high demand and skills need, removing financial barriers to study for eligible Australians.
• Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme Scheme allowing eligible Australian businesses to hire workers from 9 Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste when local workers are unavailable.
• Parent Pathways Voluntary service providing personalised and financial support to eligible parents and carers of young children under 6.
• Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) Payment helping students undertaking mandatory vocational education and training placements manage associated costs, available from 1 July 2025 for eligible Diploma of Nursing students.
• VET Student Loans Loan program helping eligible students cover tuition fees for approved vocational education and training courses.
• Employability Skills Training Employment service helping individuals gain skills and work experience to obtain and maintain employment through industry exposure and workplace skills development.
• Career Transition Assistance Practical assistance increasing competitiveness in the local job market through skills identification, digital skills development, and job search support for mature workers.
• Inclusive Employment Australia Specialist disability employment program assisting people with disability, injury or health condition to prepare for, find, and maintain work.
• Local Jobs Program Program addressing employment and skills needs at local level across 51 employment regions, including Job Coordinators, Local Taskforces, and Local Recovery Fund.
• Your Career Digital career platform providing independent information about Australian industries and occupations, connecting users with study, training, and job opportunities.
• Jobs Hub Industry information hub featuring entry-level jobs, advice, and webinar series for job seekers.
• Remote Training Hubs Network Network supporting Central Australian First Nations peoples with access to On-Country vocational education and training matched to local jobs.
• Building Women's Careers Program Program establishing partnership projects to drive systemic structural and cultural change in training and work environments for women.
• Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program Free training initiative helping eligible Australians aged 15+ develop English language, reading, writing, maths, and digital skills.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and strategic.

• Deloitte AustraliaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 July 2025Engaged to conduct independent assurance review of the Targeted Compliance Framework at a cost of AU$439,000. The 237-page report was published in July 2025 and was later found to contain fabricated citations generated using Azure OpenAI GPT-4o.
• Fair Work OmbudsmancoreOthersRegulatory partner for workplace relations compliance and enforcement. The Fair Work Ombudsman works with DEWR on National Employment Standards and workplace rights compliance.
• Services AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey delivery partner for employment services, connecting job seekers with services and managing mutual obligations for income support recipients.
• Safe Work AustraliacoreOthersCollaborates on work health and safety policy and programs to promote safe workplaces across Australia.
• Jobs and Skills AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides independent advice on labour market, workforce changes, and skills needs. Tripartite partnerships with state/territory governments, industry, unions and training providers.
• Fair Work CommissioncoreOthersNational workplace relations tribunal. DEWR collaborates on enterprise agreements data and workplace relations policy.
• Workforce AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational employment services platform replacing jobactive from 4 July 2022, providing job search, employment assistance and employer services.
• Department of Foreign Affairs and TradecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint management of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, including domestic operations and policy.
• State and Territory GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners under National Skills Agreement providing up to $12.6 billion over 5 years for vocational education and training, implementing shared stewardship approach.
• Ninti OnestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal-owned not-for-profit organisation that worked with the department to develop resources for First Nations engagement in transition to net zero and culturally safe training environments.
• Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)coreOthersNational regulator for vocational education and training sector. DEWR collaborates on training quality and regulatory frameworks.
• Your CareercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital platform providing independent career information, connecting users with study, training and job opportunities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Department of Social Services (Australia): Australian Government department covering social security, ageing, families, and housing policy. Operates an overlapping policy portfolio with DEWR on vulnerable cohorts and welfare-to-work transitions.
• UK Department for Work and Pensions: UK ministerial department responsible for welfare, pensions, and labour market policy. Comparable in operating large-scale employment services and welfare-to-work programs at national scale.
• US Department of Labor: US federal cabinet department overseeing workforce development, labour standards, unemployment insurance, and occupational safety. Closest international functional analogue to DEWR's combined employment, training, and workplace relations remit.
• Department of Education (Australia): Australian Government department responsible for higher education and school education. The former parent of DEWR's skills functions; jointly stewards VET and tertiary policy alongside DEWR.

Direct peers

• Services Australia: Australian Government delivery agency for Centrelink, employment services and mutual obligations. Core delivery partner to DEWR; comparable in providing national-scale employment and welfare services directly to citizens.

Others

• National Careers Service (UK): UK-government-funded careers information and advice service for adults. Comparable to Your Career and Jobs Hub in providing independent, publicly funded career exploration and guidance.
• WorkBC (British Columbia, Canada): Province of British Columbia's publicly funded employment services network. Comparable to Workforce Australia as a regional publicly funded employment platform with digital and in-person service delivery.
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Australian Government statutory body providing independent labour-market and skills advice. Functions as DEWR's tripartite data and advisory arm; closely coupled to DEWR's workforce planning.
• Fair Work Ombudsman (Australia): Australian Government agency enforcing the Fair Work Act and National Employment Standards. Regulatory partner to DEWR; operates an adjacent workplace-relations mandate with its own enforcement footprint.

Regional players

• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (New Zealand): New Zealand government ministry covering labour market policy, immigration, skills, and workplace relations. Functions as the Kiwi counterpart to DEWR across employment and industrial relations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AusGovDEWR
• LinkedInau.linkedin.com/company/department-of-employment-and-workplace-relations

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Department of Employment and Workplace Relations