Skip to main content

Building effective relationships with employers

Explainer

Last updated: 30 Oct 2025

“Advisors… need to establish a good rapport with employers, instil confidence, demonstrate a good understanding of employer needs and situation, and act as a broker to match employee and employer. Advisors also need to be accessible, particularly in the early days of employment to simplify and to provide security and support for any issues thereby taking on the role of a trouble shooter.” 1

Researcher

“We do see the employer as a service user really...We're not seeing them as something we're selling to…. We want to have that ongoing relationship…you are building that with the person that's looking for work, but also with the employer as well.” 2

Employment service provider
Slide 1

Overview

Research shows that employers want a trusted broker - someone who understands their business, supports them to hire and retain great candidates, and helps them succeed.  Trusted brokers bring professional skills and disability expertise, show genuine interest in the employer’s business and its challenges, and communicate openly and honestly to build strong, productive relationships.  

Effective relationships are built on trust: employers believe the service provider has their best interests at heart, will be available when needed, provides relevant information, connects them with other services, and offers opportunities for learning and growth.3

Key strategies for success 

There are three main elements to achieving effective relationships with employers: 

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures and to the elders past and present.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2025
Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0(Opens in a new tab/window)

Return focus to the top of the page