The Wage Subsidy Scheme offers financial assistance through wage subsidies to employers who employ eligible workers with a disability. The aim of the Scheme is to increase the competitiveness of workers with disabilities in gaining employment under open labour market conditions.
As an employer, you can access the Wage Subsidy Scheme only when you employee someone who is supported by a Disability Employment Network Service Provider or a Vocational Rehabilitation Service such as CRS Australia. The Scheme is funded by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations' (DEWR).
Eligibility for Assistance:
To be eligible for a wage subsidy, the employment of a person with a disability must:
- be with an eligible employer
- have open employment conditions
- be for at least 8 hours per week for at least 13 weeks and
- have a reasonable expectation of exceeding 13 weeks.
Wage subsidy funding may only be used to subsidise wages and the administration of the wage subsidy.
An employee with a disability must:
- be receiving assistance from a Disability Employment Network Provider or from a Vocational Rehabilitation Service such as CRS Australia
- be of legal working age
- be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident
- have no outstanding workers' compensation claims against the current employer
- not be in receipt of funding or awaiting assistance from a DEWR Job Network Intensive Support customised assistance service or other wage support programs (e.g. Disabled New Apprentice Wage Scheme or Indigenous Employment Wage Assistance Program) and
- not be receiving wage subsidy funding from another service outlet for the same position.
Note: A worker can be accessing a Disability Employment Network Service and be paid a wage subsidy.
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Vanessa is seeking employment as a clerical assistant. She has been unemployed for six months or so but has the attributes the employer is looking for, she is enthusiastic, a good team player and has great communication skills. Her time out of the workforce means that it may take a little longer for Vanessa to reach her full potential in the job. The Disability Employment Network service provider recognises this and talks to the employer about the wage subsidy. The employer agrees that the wage subsidy will help the business buy in additional casual assistance so that productivity can be achieved. Everybody wins, Vanessa gets the job she wants and the employer gets a great employee. |
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Self-employed persons are not eligible for wage subsidy payments.
An employer must:
- be in the private, community, commonwealth, state or local government sector
- offer employment under a normal employer/employee relationship
- be incorporated if you are a community or charitable organisation
- employ the worker under a legal industrial agreement
- pay the worker's wage, insurance, deduct tax, superannuation and administer occupational health and safety procedures
- follow industrial conditions and legislation if terminating the worker's employment.
Subsidy Rate
The maximum amount of subsidy provided to an employer is $1,500 per wage subsidy employment outcome, excluding GST.
Contact
- Disability Employment Network Services: National database of Services
- CRS Australia: Freecall 1800 624 824 (free call within Australia, calls from mobile phones will be charged at the applicable mobile rate) TTY: 02 9242 4872
- Centrelink Senior Customer Service Officers
Further Information
