You’ve come to the right place.
EPIC Assist has been helping people with disability, injury, mental health conditions, and other health conditions find meaningful employment for over 30 years.
In Far North Queensland, our local team services the region from Innisfail to Cairns and north to Port Douglas, as well as out into the tablelands to Mareeba and Atherton.
David, Trudy, Narelle, Mark and Tracey from EPIC are passionate about their local area, and finding supportive employers who have opportunities is their business.
Meet the EPIC Far North Queensland team.
Am I eligible?
You’re eligible for Disability Employment Services (DES) if you:
- have a disability, injury, mental health condition or health condition
- are over 14 years of age and are not yet retirement age
- can sustain work for at least 8 hours per week
- are not studying full-time (unless you are a school student completing year 12)
- are not working your full employment benchmark hours
- are an Australian resident
- live in one of our service locations.
Fill out the contact form on the right to talk to one of our helpful staff about your individual circumstances and how you can access our services.
What type of employers do we work with?
At EPIC, we pride ourselves on finding the right job for the right person, so we work with employers of many different types and sizes.
You can read more about some of the local employers in Far North Queensland we work with below.
This 5-star resort is passionate about providing opportunities for meaningful employment. They currently employ two participants through EPIC, Angelica and Josh.
Angelica has been working in the Reef restaurant for over 10 years. She says she loves working there, and her job has helped her gain independence and confidence.
Human Resources Manager Michele says “Giving someone like Ange the opportunity to have meaningful employment is really important.”
Josh works in the hotel’s large scale laundry, where he has learnt to operate a range of machines over the past 12 months. Josh’s manager Rob says he is a hands-on learner and has a great capacity to retain knowledge.
“If you can find the right person for the job, whether they have a disability or not, the right person for the right job is what you look for,” Rob says.
EPIC participant Will grew up around wildlife and volunteered at Hartley’s before becoming an official employee. Will’s job includes anything and everything that’s needed around the crocodiles and snakes, from preparing their food and cleaning, to handling the snakes and being part of the croc shows.
Will’s manager Drew says he has progressed since becoming employed and continues to show Will the ropes around the property to grow his skill set.
“Will deserves a chance and an opportunity,” Drew says.
This museum in Smithfield is the largest of its type in the southern hemisphere, housing over 200 tanks, armoured cars and artillery on display.
EPIC participant Josh works closely with the tanks, ensuring they are clean and looking their best for the visitors coming to the museum.
Manager Dennis says employing Josh was a win-win for their business. “It helps us, and it helps Josh. Having a job gives Josh benefits that he wouldn’t get if he was sitting at home.”
Dealing with anxiety and being new to the area, Doris was having challenges getting past the interview stage, so she approached EPIC for assistance with finding a job.
Working with the EPIC team led to a role opening at the new Riverfront Café in Innisfail. Owner Steve says Doris has come out of her shell and grown in confidence since starting her role as a kitchen hand.
“I love working! It keeps me busy and my mind active,” said Doris. “I want to feel that I can do more. When I work, it feels like I am contributing to my community.”
Finding the right person for the job was important to Steve. “It depends on the individual as to whether they’re suited for the position or not,” Steve says. “Doris is an asset to the team.”
Why this cafe gave Adam his first big break
“People are missing out if they don’t give people with disability a chance, seriously, they’re missing out.” We worked with Ian from Tattooed Sailor in Cairns to find him an employee who not only fit the role perfectly but has lifted staff morale and customer satisfaction. Read Tattooed Sailor’s story >
I am a business owner
Are you looking for help hiring job-ready staff? Our local team in Far North Queensland are assisting businesses to hire people with disability for roles in their organisation.
We understand how important it is to find the right person for the right job. To do this, we work with you to understand your business needs and break down barriers around building a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
Get in touch with us today to find out how we can support your business.
