The Wage Subsidy Scheme aims to encourage employers to provide sustainable employment to workers with disability.

The Scheme enables Disability Employment Services to offer financial assistance through wage subsidies to employers who employ Disability Employment Services participants.

How does it work?

Disability Employment Services may negotiate to pay an employer up to $1500 (excluding GST) as an incentive to employ a participant. When this happens, the Disability Employment Service may claim reimbursement for the wage subsidy it has paid to the employer.

The Disability Employment Service can use up to a maximum of $400 of the wage subsidy for the purchase of incidental items necessary to support the participant in taking up the job placement. The provider may retain up to $100 of the $400 as an administration fee.

The employment must be for at least eight hours per week for at least 13 weeks and have a reasonable expectation of continuing for more than 13 weeks (or six weeks in a seasonal industry).

The employment must be under open employment conditions. That is, under a legal industrial agreement that complies with minimum standards established under Commonwealth, state or territory law). It must also guarantee the worker a weekly award-based wage, for example: no commission based or subcontracting type positions.

More information

You can call a JobAccess adviser to get professional, confidential and expert advice on all disability employment matters.

For further details contact a JobAccess adviser on 1800 464 800 or visit the JobAccess website.