A Supported Wage System Assessment (SWS) has been designed to promote employment for people who cannot work at full award wages because of a disability. They are designed to review all the factors involved in an employee’s working day and help the employee and employer to reach an agreement regarding what is a ‘fair wage’. These assessments take place in the workplace and in conjunctions with all parties such as DES providers, employers & employees. All SWS agreements are forwarded to the Fair work Commission for review and approval in accordance with the relevant award.

An employee is eligible for the Supported Wage System (SWS) under the following requirements:

• The job under consideration is covered by an industrial instrument or legislative provision which permits employment for productivity wages under the Supported Wage System, and

• The person is an Australian citizen or is a person resident in Australia whose continued presence is not subject to a time limit imposed by Commonwealth law (e.g. a temporary visa), and

• The person is at least 15 years of age, and

• The person has no outstanding workers’ compensation claim against the current employer, and

• The person meets the impairment criteria for receiving the Disability Support Pension.

Employers can apply for the Supported Wage System directly through the Supported Wage Management Unit for their state https://www.employment.gov.au/supported-wage-system, or through a Disability Employment Services provider (DES Provider), Job Active provider https://www.jobaccess.gov.au/employersor Community Development Program Provider.

An Ongoing Supported Assessments (OSA) are designed to review a participant’s current employment requirements to ensure the person with a disability can maintain their employment. To be eligible the employee must be receiving services from an Employment Support Services Provider – (DES – DMS participants or DES – ESS Participants).

The Participant’s requirements are reviewed and accessed according to the following levels of support from their DES Provider to assist in maintaining open employment whilst in Post Placement Support:

• Flexible ongoing support

• Moderate ongoing support

• High ongoing support