Employer incentives

When you employ a person with a disability the following incentives may be available:

• Work Experience or Work Training
  This allows employees to work in a position for a period of time to learn the job.
  
  
• Wage Subsidies (WSS)
  The Wage Subsidy Scheme provides financial incentive to employers when considering the employment of a job seeker with a disability. A wage subsidy is not a trial or work experience wage supplement. A wage subsidy is available when the person with disability's employment has reached, or is likely to reach 13 weeks duration and a payment of up to $1500 can be negotiated by the employer, for each employee with a disability.
  
  
• Workplace Modification (WMS)
  The Workplace Modifications Scheme provides reimbursement to employers of the cost for workplace modifications and equipment for jobseekers with disability, to assist in the enhancement or retention of their employment. Such equipment or products may be purchased, leased or hired. The guidelines have recently been reviewed to broaden the eligibility requirements and increase the scope of the assistance provided.
  
  
• On-the-Job Support (OTJS)
  This programme ceased to take in new participants in October 1999, however there was no timeframe established, after which the programme would no longer be operational. Therefore, there are still people who continue to work under arrangements made before October 1999. For these people their OTJS will continue to be paid until it is no longer required, or the worker ceases in that particular job.

The OTJS may be provided through a specialist disability employment agency, or through an employer and an annual amount of $1500 is available for each employee receiving the service.

• Supported Wage System (SWS)
  This scheme makes it legal for an employer to pay a productivity based wage to an employee with disability. The employee is paid a trial or training wage, for the first 13 weeks of employment, after which an appropriate pro rata wage rate is established, based on an independent assessment of the employee's productivity. This assessment is reviewed annually or at the request of either the employee or the employer. A new placement payment of $1,000 may be made to eligible employers to help offset the costs associated with employing the worker with the disability.
  
  
• Traineeships for People with Disability (through Department of Education, Science and Training)
  State and Territory Governments have responsibility for the administration and delivery of vocational and technical education (VTE). However, the Australian Government is working with the States and Territories to improve participation in training for people with a disability. The Australian Government has provided almost $5 billion to States and Territories under the 2005-08 Commonwealth-State Agreement for Skilling Australia's Workforce, and as one of the conditions of this funding has required the States and Territories to provide 10,000 additional training places for people with a disability over three years.

The Australian Government also funds some programmes directly which assists people with disabilities to access and complete VTE and higher education.

The Disability Coordination Officer and Regional Disability Liaison Officer programmes. The national network of DCOs and RDLOs provides information, coordination and referral services for people with a disability interested in or enrolled in post-school education and training. For more information please see the network's web site www.adcet.edu.au/rdco



• Disabled New Apprentice Wage Subsidy Scheme (DNAWS). This programme is delivered through the Department of Education, Science and Training.
  This programme is designed to assist people with disability who would otherwise be prevented from starting a new apprenticeship because of mobility restriction or need for equipment to enable them to undertake on-the-job training.

Under DNAWS an employer may be eligible to receive an incentive to accommodate the physical employment requirements of a potential new apprentice, to enable them to fully undertake all training and work experience necessary for the apprenticeship. The training provider may be eligible for funding to provide extra training support needs. Further information is available on the web site www.adcet.edu.au/rdco

 

The above information is current as at August 2006 and is subject to change.

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