Busy Ability
Busy Ability is an Australian not-for-profit delivering government-funded employment services, including Inclusive Employment Australia and Workforce Australia Specialist Employment Services, at no cost to job seekers with disability, illness, injury or justice-system experience and to participating employers across NSW, QLD and WA.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersTweed Heads, Australia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Busy Ability does
Busy Ability (formerly ON-Q Human Resources) is an Australian not-for-profit employment services provider, established in 1988 and headquartered in Tweed Heads/Southport, Queensland. It delivers Australian Government-funded employment programs — principally the newly launched Inclusive Employment Australia (replacing Disability Employment Services from November 2025) and Workforce Australia Specialist Employment Services — at no cost to eligible job seekers and employers. The organisation serves people with disability, injury, illness or mental health conditions, people with lived experience of the justice system, and school leavers with disability, alongside Australian employers seeking to access inclusive hiring incentives.
The service offering is a coordinated suite rather than a technology product: personalised employment planning, skills training, job matching, post-placement support (up to six months), workplace modification assistance via the Employment Assistance Fund, and guidance on federal wage subsidies (up to $10,000 under Restart). Complementary programs include the NDIS-funded School Leaver Employment Support, the Queensland Government-funded Building Strong Foundations confidence-building course, and a Pre-Release Prisoner Initiative delivered with Queensland Corrective Services. The Recite Me accessibility toolbar is integrated into the website for WCAG 2.1/2.2 conformance, but no proprietary AI or platform technology is identified — the business runs on consultant-led delivery across its branch network.
BUSY Ability is a division of The BUSY Group (a separate NFP with ~50 years of operation and international reach into NZ, Canada and the UK). The organisation delivers services across NSW, QLD and WA through ~26+ branch offices, with national coverage enabled by a May 2023 strategic partnership with CoAct Connect. Revenue is entirely derived from government program contracts (managed-services style, outcome-linked), with no commercial pricing disclosed; the organisation holds ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 accreditations at parent level.
Busy Ability firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Busy Ability
- Legal name
- The BUSY Group
- Website
- https://busyability.org.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Busy Ability is an Australian not-for-profit delivering government-funded employment services, including Inclusive Employment Australia and Workforce Australia Specialist Employment Services, at no cost to job seekers with disability, illness, injury or justice-system experience and to participating employers across NSW, QLD and WA.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Busy Ability industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Employment Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Employment Services (5613)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Dislocated Worker & Rapid Response / Reemployment Programs (EDAAAOAF), Job Readiness Training & Soft Skills Development (EDAKANAD)
Keywords
Where Busy Ability is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tweed Heads
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices28 records
Markets served
Busy Ability business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Employment Services Funding: BUSY Ability is funded by the Australian Government to deliver Inclusive Employment Australia (replacing Disability Employment Services from November 2025) and Workforce Australia Specialist Employment Services. Services are provided at no cost to eligible job seekers and employers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free employment services for job seekers with disability |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Busy Ability product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BUSY Ability is an Australian not-for-profit employment services provider that delivers government-funded programs — primarily Inclusive Employment Australia and Workforce Australia Specialist Employment Services — at no cost to job seekers with disability, illness, injury, or justice system experience, and at no cost to employers. Services include personalised employment planning, skills training, job matching, workplace modifications via the Employment Assistance Fund, post-placement support, and access to wage subsidies up to $10,000, delivered across NSW, QLD, and 26 locations in Southern Western Australia.
Product overview
BUSY Ability is an employment services organisation (not a technology product company) that offers a coordinated suite of government-funded programs and support services. The core offerings are the Inclusive Employment Australia program (for people with disability, illness, or injury) and Workforce Australia Specialist Employment Services (for people with justice system experience). These are supported by complementary services including School Leaver Employment Support, the Building Strong Foundations course, and Pre-Release Prisoner Initiative. Additional support modules include Post Placement Support, Recruitment and Workforce Planning, Workplace Modifications Assistance, Wage Subsidies guidance, and the Supported Wage System. All services are provided at no cost to eligible job seekers or employers and are delivered in partnership with CoAct Connect across NSW, QLD, and WA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Inclusive Employment Australia Australian Government-funded specialist disability employment program that replaced Disability Employment Services in November 2025. Provides tailored and flexible support to help people with disability, illness or injury prepare for, find, and maintain meaningful employment through personalised employment plans, skills training, job matching and ongoing post-placement support.
- Workforce Australia Specialist Employment Services Australian Government-funded program supporting individuals with lived experience of the justice system who require extra assistance to re-enter the workforce, delivering individualised support through training, mentoring and employment opportunities across various industries and locations.
- School Leaver Employment Support NDIS-funded individualised program that supports young people living with disability to transition from school into independence and career paths, including group activities for building confidence, social skills, problem solving, team-building, budgeting and life skills for independent living.
- Building Strong Foundations Course A confidence-building course designed to help job seekers gain confidence in work environments and social groups, upskill abilities (particularly digital skills), and prepare for personal career goals, delivered at no cost to eligible participants under the Queensland Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.
- Pre-Release Prisoner Initiative Pre-employment workshops delivered in Queensland correctional centres to prepare people for employment upon release, including resume preparation, interview techniques and job readiness training, with the program delivered to over 500 people inside correctional facilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1128 ex-offenders placed into employment exceeding target of 1000
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Busy Ability
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Busy Ability technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Busy Ability partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CoAct ConnectcorePartnership to deliver Inclusive Employment Australia program nationwide. CoAct is a national network of not-for-profit organisations implementing consistent and effective service delivery. BUSY Ability delivers services in partnership with CoAct in Southern Western Australia and continues its successful service model from Queensland.
- Queensland Corrective ServicescoreCollaboration to deliver pre-employment workshops in Queensland correctional centres preparing people for employment upon release. Program has been delivered to over 500 people inside correctional facilities. Care packages were delivered to 11 correctional centres in Queensland.
- Australian Spatial AnalyticsminorSocial enterprise employer that employs people with autism, particularly suited for job seekers with intellectual disabilities. Kaleb was placed as a spatial analyst.
- The BUSY GroupcoreBUSY Ability is a part of The BUSY Group, a not-for-profit organisation delivering employment, education, apprenticeship support, health and vocational training services. The BUSY Group has been operating for nearly 50 years.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Busy Ability competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MAX Solutions: Major Australian provider of disability employment services (DES/IEA) and Workforce Australia programs. Directly competes with BUSY Ability in the same government-funded employment services category.
- Joblife Employment: Australian disability employment services provider delivering DES/IEA placements. Directly competes for the same government contracts and serves the same participant base.
- AimBig Employment: Australian DES/IEA provider focused on placing people with disability into employment. Directly comparable to BUSY Ability in services offered and government contracting model.
- AtWork Australia: Disability Employment Services provider delivering IEA across multiple Australian regions. Directly comparable in product, customer (job seekers with disability) and government-funded model.
- EPIC Employment Service: Not-for-profit employment services organization supporting people with disability. Closely comparable to BUSY Ability in mission, funding model and target population.
- CoAct: National network of not-for-profit employment services organizations; BUSY Ability's IEA delivery partner. Operates in the same government-funded employment services category and is both a partner and a structural peer in tenders.
- Campbell Page: Australian employment services provider delivering Workforce Australia and disability employment programs across multiple regions. Comparable in scope, funding model and target cohorts.
- OCTEC: Not-for-profit Australian employment services organization delivering DES/IEA and Workforce Australia programs. Comparable in mission, operating model and contract mix.
- WDEA Works: Western Australian disability employment services not-for-profit delivering DES/IEA. Operates in the same WA geography BUSY Ability entered via CoAct, and competes for the same participants and employer relationships.
Broad incumbents
- APM Employment Services: Australia's largest private employment services provider, delivering DES, Workforce Australia and broader workforce programs across all states. Directly competes for the same government tenders as BUSY Ability but at significantly greater scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Busy Ability social profiles
Digital presenceBusy Ability compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Busy Ability financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Busy Ability leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Busy Ability funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Busy Ability M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Busy Ability
What does Busy Ability do?
BUSY Ability is an Australian not-for-profit employment services provider that delivers government-funded programs — primarily Inclusive Employment Australia and Workforce Australia Specialist Employment Services — at no cost to job seekers with disability, illness, injury, or justice system experience, and at no cost to employers. Services include personalised employment planning, skills training, job matching, workplace modifications via the Employment Assistance Fund, post-placement support, and access to wage subsidies up to $10,000, delivered across NSW, QLD, and 26 locations in Southern Western Australia.
Is Busy Ability a public or private company?
Busy Ability is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Busy Ability founded?
Busy Ability was founded in 1988. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Busy Ability based?
Busy Ability is headquartered in Tweed Heads, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Busy Ability make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Employment Services Funding.
Who are Busy Ability's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MAX Solutions, Joblife Employment, AimBig Employment, AtWork Australia, EPIC Employment Service, CoAct, Campbell Page, OCTEC and WDEA Works. APM Employment Services is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Busy Ability have an API?
No public API is recorded for Busy Ability.
What industry is Busy Ability in?
Busy Ability's product category is Disability Employment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAJ, Employment & Job Readiness Support Services, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAF, Dislocated Worker & Rapid Response / Reemployment Programs. Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 7361.