What WISE Employment does

WISE Employment Ltd is an Australian not-for-profit employment services provider founded in 1992 and headquartered in Victoria (ABN 68 093 718 766). The organisation is funded by the Australian Government through the Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) and Workforce Australia programs and delivers free employment support to job seekers with disability, injury, or health conditions, as well as free recruitment services to employers. Its core service portfolio spans IEA, Workforce Australia, Work Assist, WISE Women, GradWISE (graduate disability employment), NDIS at WISE supports, WISE Training Services (RTO 6653), WISE IDEA and WISE Wellbeing mental health programs, occupational rehabilitation, Project SEARCH, and an Integrated Practical Placement (IPP) program.

WISE operates through a physical-office distribution model with sites across all eight Australian states and territories (ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA), supported by local job coaches/employment consultants who provide in-person outreach, job matching, interview preparation, and post-placement support. Digital channels include website webforms for job-seeker and employer registration, a freecall 1800 number, email newsletters, and a WISE Online platform; no proprietary technology platform, API, or AI/ML capability is described. The organisation also operates three social enterprises — Clean Force Property Services, ELS, and Peppergreen Farm — that provide direct employment pathways in property services, packaging, and agriculture.

The business model is government-contract funded rather than fee-based: services are free to both job seekers and employers, with revenue derived from Australian Government program contracts and NDIS plan funding. Group CEO Matt Lambelle has led WISE for 30 years, and more than 250 first-time managers have been internally developed during his tenure. Employer relationships are diversified across industries (e.g., Officeworks, Fast Fuel Meals, LF Facilities, Brasserie Bread, Burleigh Pavilion, Nutworks, H Hardware, Infinity Security, Rydges Hotel Palmerston), and the organisation supports more than 15,000 people into employment each year.

Name

WISE Employment

Legal name

WISE Employment Ltd

Website

https://wiseemployment.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

WISE Employment is an Australian not-for-profit, government-funded employment services provider founded in 1992 that delivers free job placement, training, NDIS, and rehabilitation supports to job seekers with disability or health conditions and free recruitment services to employers across all eight Australian states and territories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Employment Services (5613), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Unemployment Insurance & Employment Support Benefits (BPAIAKAB), Disability Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAC)

Keywords

• Disability employment services
• Inclusive employment programs
• Workforce Australia services
• NDIS employment support
• Vocational training services

Headquarters

HQ city

North Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Employment Services: WISE is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Australian Government through Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) and Workforce Australia programs. Services are provided at no cost to job seekers and employers. The organization delivers employment assistance, NDIS supports, occupational rehabilitation, and training services as part of government contract arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

WISE Employment is a not-for-profit organisation delivering Australian Government-funded employment services including Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA, formerly Disability Employment Services) and Workforce Australia. It provides free job matching, personalised job coaching, pre-employment training, NDIS supports, occupational rehabilitation, and post-placement assistance to people with disability, injury, or health conditions, while supplying employers with free recruitment, pre-screening, wage-subsidy guidance, and ongoing support.

Product overview

WISE Employment is a not-for-profit employment services provider offering a portfolio of government-funded and community programs. The core offerings include Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) for people with disability and Workforce Australia for general job seekers. These are complemented by specialist services including GradWISE (graduate disability employment), NDIS at WISE supports, WISE Training Services (RTO 6653), WISE IDEA and Wellbeing mental health programs, Occupational Rehabilitation, Work Assist, WISE Women, the Integrated Practical Placement (IPP) program, Project SEARCH, WISE Online, and Social Enterprises. The programs collectively aim to support job seekers across training, placement, and ongoing employment support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clean Force Property Services: Social enterprise providing property cleaning services
• ELS
• Peppergreen Farm

Products and services

• Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) Government-funded employment program (formerly Disability Employment Services) providing free job support for people with disability, injury, or health conditions, including job matching, coaching, workplace adjustments, and post-placement assistance.
• Workforce Australia Australian Government-funded employment services program for job seekers who do not identify as having a disability, providing free recruitment and placement support.
• GradWISE Specialised graduate disability employment program helping university graduates with disabilities access job opportunities and career support.
• NDIS at WISE NDIS supports and services for participants including School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES), Occupational Therapy, Finding and Keeping a Job, Access Creative Studios, and EPIC program.
• WISE Training Services (RTO 6653) Registered Training Organisation providing Employability Skills Training (EST) and other vocational training programs for job seekers.
• WISE IDEA Mental health program offering psychological support and wellbeing services for job seekers and participants.
• WISE Wellbeing Mental health and wellbeing support services integrated with employment assistance for job seekers.
• Occupational Rehabilitation Rehabilitation services including Pre-employment Assessments for job seekers with injury or health conditions.
• Work Assist Free support program for individuals at risk of losing their job due to disability, injury, or health conditions, assisting both employee and employer.
• WISE Women Tailored employment program supporting women facing barriers to workforce participation.
• Integrated Practical Placement (IPP) Program Program helping young people with disability gain real-world job experience while studying, bridging education and employment.
• Project SEARCH Pathway to employment program providing structured workplace learning for job seekers with disability.
• WISE Online Digital platform providing online employment support and resources for job seekers.
• Social Enterprises (Clean Force, ELS, Peppergreen Farm) WISE-operated social enterprises providing employment opportunities across property services (Clean Force Property Services), packaging (ELS), and agricultural sectors (Peppergreen Farm).
• Employer Recruitment Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ people supported annually into employment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• OfficeworksflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2018National employment partnership between WISE and Officeworks for hiring people with disability. Started as pilot program in December 2018 with 3 Victoria stores (Richmond, Mornington Peninsula, Chirnside Park). Expanded to South Australia and Tasmania. Within 6 months, 7 stores across 3 states hired 12+ job seekers. 50%+ made permanent part-time. Includes disability awareness training for staff and ongoing WISE support to stores.
• Fast Fuel MealscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood processing company in Revesby, NSW that has hired multiple WISE job seekers including James who works as kitchen hand 3 days per week. WISE Industry Employment Partner Ali established the employer connection.
• LF FacilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMelbourne-based commercial cleaning business founded by Mark Keating. Employs 15+ people with almost half supported into roles through WISE. Partnership focused on creating inclusive workplace environments.
• Melbourne UnitedminorOthersNDIS at WISE participant James volunteers with Melbourne United helping deliver game-day experiences. This volunteer role builds confidence and community connection.
• The Inclusion ProjectminorOthersOrganization where James works as Inclusion Officer supporting customers at sporting events and guiding them to sensory-safe spaces.
• Clean Force Property ServicescoreOthersWISE social enterprise providing employment pathways in property services for people with disability.
• ELScoreOthersWISE social enterprise providing employment opportunities and training.
• Peppergreen FarmcoreOthersWISE social enterprise providing rural and agricultural employment pathways.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• APM (Advanced Personnel Management): One of Australia's largest employment services and disability employment providers, delivering DES/IEA-equivalent programs alongside NDIS and injury management. Directly comparable to WISE in service mix, government funding model, and national footprint across Australia.
• CoAct: Australian not-for-profit network delivering employment services under government programs including DES and Workforce Australia. Comparable to WISE in NFP structure, government-funded service delivery and multi-region physical presence.
• AtWork Australia: Disability employment services provider under Australia's DES/IEA programs, supporting people with injury, illness or disability into work. Closely comparable to WISE in service line, participant profile and contract-based revenue model.
• Ability Options: Not-for-profit disability employment and NDIS provider operating in NSW and other states. Comparable to WISE in disability employment focus, NDIS service delivery, and social-enterprise-style employment pathways.
• Jobfind Centres Australia: Australian employment services provider delivering government-funded employment programs across multiple regions. Comparable to WISE in workforce Australia-style placement services and physical office distribution.
• Sureway Employment and Training: Not-for-profit employment services and training provider operating government-funded employment programs across multiple Australian states. Directly comparable in mission, NFP structure, service portfolio (employment + RTO training) and regional office model.
• Nova Employment: Australian specialist disability employment services provider supporting job seekers with disability into open employment. Directly comparable to WISE in DES/IEA service delivery, target cohort and free-to-participant model.
• Scope Australia: Large Australian not-for-profit disability provider offering employment, NDIS and therapy services. Comparable to WISE in disability-focused service portfolio, government funding mix, and participant cohort.
• MAX Solutions: Australian employment services provider delivering DES, jobactive and Workforce Australia-style programs to job seekers including those with disability. Comparable to WISE in target population, government-funded model, and physical-office-based service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• SEEK: Australia's dominant online employment marketplace connecting job seekers with employers. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same job-matching space, but operates a marketplace/advertising model rather than WISE's government-funded, coach-led disability employment services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WISE.Australia
• Facebookfacebook.com/WISEEmploymentAU
• LinkedInau.linkedin.com/company/wise-australia
• Instagraminstagram.com/wise.australia
• Xx.com/WISE_Employment

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WISE Employment