[1][2] Providers were initially selected for the network and allocated business through a competitive public tender process, with contract periods running for varying lengths of time determined by the Australian Government.

According to policy document "Working Nation", ESRA was created to "promote the development of community and private sector case managers and to ensure fair competition between the CES and other agencies."

The delivery of employment services was tendered out to Job Agencies whose primary responsibility was to assist people into work.

Under the system, significant emphasis is placed on moving digitally literate job seekers away from "Employment Service Providers" towards a web based self-service obligations scheme.

[7] Job Services Australia agencies were rated by DEEWR every six months (or milestone) on performance, based on placing clients into work and keeping them employed for 13 and/or 26 weeks.

Providers can claim further funds by referring jobseekers to their own courses The peak industry bodies for Workforce Australia members are the National Employment Services Association (NESA) which represents providers who are for-profit, not for profit and charities, and Jobs Australia, which represents the not-for-profit sector.