You may be eligible for government-funded ADHD support through the Employment Assistance Fund

ADHD can affect much more than concentration.

At work, it can show up as difficulty organising competing priorities, managing time, starting or completing tasks, staying focused, regulating stress, communicating clearly or maintaining sustainable routines.

If ADHD is creating barriers in your working life, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Australian Government's Employment Assistance Fund (EAF).

The EAF can provide funding for eligible workplace supports and services, including one-to-one professional support designed to address disability-related barriers at work.

If approved, this may allow you to work with me on practical strategies for managing ADHD in your professional life.

CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY

WHAT IS THE EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FUND?

The Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) is an Australian Government program administered through JobAccess.

It helps eligible people with disability, health conditions and neurodevelopmental conditions access workplace adjustments, equipment and professional support that can help them perform their work effectively.

ADHD may qualify where it creates an ongoing barrier to carrying out your employment responsibilities.

Applications are assessed individually by JobAccess, so funding is not automatic simply because you have an ADHD diagnosis.

HOW CAN ADHD SUPPORT HELP AT WORK?

The aim isn't to turn you into somebody who is better at forcing themselves through systems that don't work for them.

It is to better understand how you function, identify where things repeatedly break down, and develop practical ways of working that support both your performance and your wellbeing.

Depending on your circumstances, our work might focus on:

FOCUS & ATTENTION

Develop practical ways to reduce distraction, work with attention more effectively and create conditions that support deeper focus.

PLANNING & EXECUTIVE FUNCTION

Create workable systems for prioritising, planning, starting tasks, following through and keeping track of competing responsibilities.

TIME MANAGEMENT

Work with time blindness, unrealistic planning, lateness, procrastination and the tendency for everything to become urgent at once.

OVERWHELM & STRESS

Learn to recognise overload earlier and develop practical mindfulness, nervous-system regulation and somatic strategies for responding to pressure.

MOTIVATION & PROCRASTINATION

Understand what happens between knowing what needs to be done and actually doing it—and experiment with strategies that support action rather than relying on willpower alone.

COMMUNICATION & RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK

Strengthen communication, boundaries, self-expression and your capacity to navigate feedback, conflict and interpersonal pressure.

CONFIDENCE & SELF-UNDERSTANDING

Separate genuine limitations from years of frustration, shame or self-criticism and develop a clearer understanding of both your strengths and your challenges.

SUSTAINABLE WORKING HABITS

Develop routines and structures that support consistency without continually pushing yourself toward exhaustion or burnout.

A PRACTICAL AND PERSONALISED APPROACH

There is no single ADHD strategy that works for everyone.

Our work begins with understanding how ADHD actually affects you—your work, your nervous system, your habits, your relationships and the particular demands of your role.

From there we can develop and test practical strategies that fit your circumstances.

My approach draws on counselling, coaching, mindfulness, somatic psychotherapy, psychoeducation and behaviour change.

The aim is not simply to give you more information about ADHD.

It is to help you turn understanding into something you can practise and use in your actual working life.

YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE IF...

JobAccess assesses applications individually, but EAF eligibility generally includes requirements around your disability or condition, residency and employment.

You may be eligible if:

• you have ADHD that has an ongoing impact on your capacity to perform aspects of your work;

• the condition has lasted, or is expected to last, at least two years;

• you are an Australian resident who meets the EAF residency requirements;

• you are currently employed, self-employed or have an eligible offer of employment;

• you generally work at least 8 hours per week;

• the employment is expected to continue for at least 13 weeks; and

• the support you are requesting is related to helping you perform your work.

Different criteria can apply in some circumstances, including self-employment, job seeking, seasonal work or people currently working fewer hours.

JobAccess makes the final decision about eligibility and funding.

If you're unsure, you can contact JobAccess directly on 1800 464 800 for free and confidential advice.

DO I NEED AN ADHD DIAGNOSIS?

JobAccess currently requires medical evidence as part of an EAF application relating to ADHD.

This may include appropriate documentation confirming your diagnosis or condition.

If you're unsure whether the documentation you already have is sufficient, JobAccess can tell you exactly what they require before you submit your application.

DOES MY EMPLOYER NEED TO KNOW?

You do not necessarily need to discuss all the personal details of your ADHD with your employer.

Disclosure of a diagnosis is a personal decision.

However, JobAccess will usually need to contact your employer to confirm information connected with an EAF application, such as your employment arrangements and the workplace support being requested.

If you have concerns about privacy or disclosure at work, I recommend speaking directly with JobAccess before applying.

They can explain what information is required and how your particular situation can be handled.

HOW TO APPLY

1. Check your eligibility

Start by reviewing the Employment Assistance Fund information on the JobAccess website.

If you're uncertain whether ADHD support could be funded in your circumstances, call JobAccess on 1800 464 800.

Their advisers can give you free information about eligibility and the application process.

2. Gather the information you need

JobAccess may ask for information including:

• evidence of your ADHD or relevant condition;

• information about your employment;

• your employer or business details;

• details of the workplace barrier you are seeking support with; and

• information about the professional service you would like funded.

If you are self-employed, additional evidence about your work and income may be required.

3. Apply through JobAccess

Applications for the Employment Assistance Fund are completed through JobAccess Secure.

You, your employer, a service provider or an authorised nominee may be able to submit an application, depending on your circumstances.

4. Request a quote from me

If JobAccess requires a quote for ADHD support sessions, contact me.

I can provide a written quote outlining the proposed professional support and associated fees for you to include with your application.

REQUEST AN EAF QUOTE

5. Wait for approval before commencing funded services

This part is important.

Do not assume the EAF will reimburse sessions you have already attended.

JobAccess generally requires you to apply and receive approval before purchasing or commencing the funded service.

Once you have received written approval, we can arrange your sessions in accordance with the approved funding.

JobAccess advises that assessment of an EAF application can take up to approximately 10 working days, although individual applications may vary.

HOW DOES PAYMENT WORK?

The Employment Assistance Fund generally operates on a reimbursement basis.

This means the approved person or organisation pays for the service and then follows the JobAccess process to claim reimbursement.

Your approval letter will specify what has been approved, any funding limits and how claims need to be made.

Because funding arrangements can vary, we will confirm the invoicing process before commencing your EAF-funded sessions.

ALREADY APPROVED FOR EAF FUNDING?

If you've already received approval for professional ADHD support through the Employment Assistance Fund, you're welcome to contact me directly.

Send through the relevant approval details and we can determine whether my services fit what JobAccess has approved.

ENQUIRE ABOUT ADHD SUPPORT

ABOUT MICHAEL

Michael Vaccaro

BCouns · GradCert Applied Mindfulness · PACFA Clinical Registrant

I work with individuals, couples and professionals to understand the patterns that keep creating friction in their lives and develop practical ways of responding differently.

My approach integrates counselling, mindfulness, somatic psychotherapy, self-inquiry, psychoeducation, positive psychology and practical behaviour change.

Rather than seeing ADHD simply as a list of deficits to overcome, I am interested in understanding the interaction between your nervous system, attention, emotions, habits, environment and the demands being placed upon you.

The work is practical, collaborative and focused on helping you develop ways of working that are sustainable in your real life.

Sessions are available online throughout Australia.

READY TO FIND OUT IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE?

If ADHD is affecting your working life, the Employment Assistance Fund may be able to contribute toward the professional support you need.

The first step is to confirm your eligibility with JobAccess.

JobAccess: 1800 464 800

Once you know that professional ADHD support may be covered, contact me and I can provide the information or quote needed for your application.

REQUEST AN EAF QUOTE

or

BOOK A FREE INTRODUCTORY CALL

Important Information

Eligibility for the Employment Assistance Fund and decisions about funding are made by JobAccess / the Australian Government, not by Michael Vaccaro or New Way of Being.

Information on this page is provided as a general guide and may change as EAF eligibility criteria, funding arrangements and program requirements are updated.

Please confirm your individual eligibility and current requirements directly with JobAccess before purchasing services on the expectation that they will be reimbursed.