Outplacement Services in Australia

Outplacement is a service provided by employers to support employees who are leaving due to redundancy, restructuring or organisational change. Rather than leaving departing staff to navigate the job market alone, outplacement connects them with career coaches, resume specialists and job search tools to help them land a new role faster.

Programs are typically funded by the employer and delivered by an external provider, starting at the point of notification and running for several weeks to several months depending on the level of support required.

Outplacement costs in Australia vary based on program scope, employee seniority, and volume. Programs for frontline and mid-level employees typically start from a few hundred dollars per person for a short-duration program. Senior and executive programs are priced on the depth and duration of support required, reflecting the longer job search timelines at that level. Contact our team for a quote tailored to your specific situation.

The earlier the better. Engaging a provider before you communicate redundancies means you can offer support to employees at the point of notification, reducing anxiety, demonstrating genuine care and protecting your employer brand during a difficult period.

Engaging after the announcement is still valuable. But early planning gives everyone more time to prepare.

Career coaching is typically sought out by individuals looking to grow or change direction. Outplacement is employer-funded support specifically for employees exiting due to redundancy or restructuring.

While both involve coaching, outplacement is broader. It covers resume support, interview preparation, job search strategy and emotional guidance through what is often a stressful period.

No. There is no legal requirement under Australian employment law to provide outplacement. Employers do have obligations around notice periods, redundancy pay and a fair process under the Fair Work Act, but outplacement sits outside those requirements.

That said, it is widely regarded as best practice. It reduces the risk of unfair dismissal claims, protects your employer brand and demonstrates a genuine duty of care. Some enterprise agreements and contracts also include outplacement provisions worth reviewing before a process begins.

We recommend seeking independent legal advice for your specific situation.

It is also worth noting that some modern enterprise agreements and individual employment contracts include outplacement as an entitlement. We recommend reviewing relevant agreements before a redundancy process begins.

It depends on the level of support required. Programs for frontline and professional employees typically run for 4 to 12 weeks. Senior leader and executive programs often extend to 3 to 6 months, reflecting the longer timeframes involved in executive job searches.

Programs can also be structured around outcomes rather than fixed timeframes, with support continuing until the individual secures a new role.

Focus on experience across different industries and employee levels, the quality of the coaches delivering the program, and whether the offering is genuinely tailored or a one-size-fits-all package.

Other things worth evaluating: national coverage if your workforce is distributed, virtual delivery capability, and whether the provider can give you outcomes reporting to demonstrate due diligence internally.

Chandler Macleod has been supporting Australian organisations through workforce change since 1959, with programs grounded in psychology and career expertise, delivered by experienced consultants nationally.

Yes. Most providers now offer virtual, in-person or hybrid delivery. Virtual has become the default for many organisations, particularly those with regional or distributed workforces, and offers the same quality of support with greater scheduling flexibility.