National Panel of Assessors (NPA)
National Panel of Assessors (NPA)
The National Panel of Assessors (NPA) is a board of qualified external providers appointed by the Australian Government – Department of Social Services (DSS) to deliver Ongoing Support (OSA) for DES participants and Supported Wage (SWS) assessments which determine productivity-based wage for Supported Wages System participants. These services seek to assist participants who have a diagnosed disability and are seeking employment and/or support to sustain ongoing employment into the future. Our team of Allied Health Professionals (Assessors) conduct OSA and SWS assessment services across the States of New South Wales (NSW), Victoria (VIC), Queensland (QLD) and Western Australia (WA).
National Panel of Assessors (NPA)
The National Panel of Assessors (NPA) is a government-appointed board that provides Ongoing Support Assessment (OSA) and Supported Wage Assessment (SWA) assessments for Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) participants. These services help individuals with disabilities find and maintain employment. Our team of Allied Health Professionals conducts assessments across NSW, VIC, QLD, and WA.
National Panel of Assessors (NPA) provides a range of Assessment Services to assist with the needs of people with disability in the workplace.
The outcomes of the program are:
- to supplement the IEA program by providing assessment services for the benefit of people with disability in the workplace, employers, IEA Participants and IEA Providers.
- to ensure that IEA Participants, Providers and Employers are supported by independent assessors trained and qualified in providing disability employment Assessment Services
- to provide sufficient and timely delivery of two types of Assessment Services across all ESA locations:
Ongoing Support Arrangements (OSA)
Supported Wage Assessment (SWA)
These program works to ensure the appropriate level of ongoing support is provided to IEA participants to maintain their employment.
The delivery of Assessment Services is designed to achieve the following objectives:
- employment participation by people with a disability
- support services which are provided to people with disability in the workplace.
- access to employment by people with disability, and
- provision of fair and accurate assessments of workplace productivity.
What is Ostara Australia's role in the NPA?
Required Qualifications & Experience
To be eligible to become an approved NPA Assessor all potential Assessors are required to hold the following qualifications and experience. Diploma or Higher-level qualification in an allied health field such as:
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Exercise Physiology
- Psychology
- Rehabilitation Counsellor
- Vocational Training
with at least two years of practical experience in disability employment or a related field.
The DSS & Ostara Australia require all approved members of the National Panel of Assessors to hold a current Working with Children’s Check (Blue Card for QLD), National Criminal Check (valid within a 2-year period) and hold Professional Indemnity Insurance. NPA Assessors will conduct Ongoing Support Assessment (OSA) and Supported Wage Assessments (SWA) on behalf of Ostara Australia. All Assessments are expected to be conducted onsite with the IEA providers, participants, and employers (where applicable).
Requirements
- Ability to communicate effectively with a wide cross-section of stakeholders.
- Ability to handle sensitive information in a secure and appropriate manner.
- High level of skill required to assess barriers and negotiate appropriate solutions to meet the needs of people with disability.
- High-level problem-solving skills.
- High level report writing skills.
- Initiative and organisational skills to manage assessments and follow up autonomously,
- Ability to work within strict timeframes and compliance requirements.
Role
NPA Assessors will conduct Ongoing Support Assessment (OSA) and Supported Wage Assessments (SWA) on behalf of Ostara Australia.
All Assessments are expected to be conducted onsite with the IEA providers, employers, and participants.
To apply for a role with us, please email your resume to npa@ostara.org.au
Attention: NPA Recruitment
Assessor Standards
- We treat all individuals with dignity and respect.
- We recognise and promote an individual’s freedom of expression and right to seek information.
- We ensure that all individuals are free from discrimination, exploitation, abuse, harm, neglect, and violence.
- We strive for feedback to seek opportunities for continued improvement.
- We ensure all personal information is kept confidential and private.
- We ensure our assessment services professionally and in line with the guidelines to ensure the person with disability receives an accurate and fair assessment.
- We create a space that promotes community and cultural connection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- We deliver a service that is responsive and open to diversity including disability, age, gender, culture, heritage, language, faith, sexual identity, relationship status, and any other factor.
What is a Supported Wage Assessment?
Who is eligible to participate in Ongoing Support Assessment?
An employee is eligible for the Supported Wage System 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 Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA), Job Active provider https://www.jobaccess.gov.au/employersor Community Development Program Provider.
Who is eligible to participate in Ongoing Support Assessment?
An employee is eligible for the Supported Wage System 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 Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA), Job Active provider https://www.jobaccess.gov.au/employersor Community Development Program Provider.
What is an Ongoing Support Assessment
Ongoing Support Assessments are designed to review a participant’s current employment requirements to ensure the person with a disability can maintain their employment. To be eligible for this service all participants must be supported by a IEA provider and in post placement support. The role of an NPA Assessors is to review the level of support and assistance required by the participant to carry out the role and successfully maintain their employment. Our NPA Assessor will listen to how the participant is are going in their role, the effectiveness of existing support being provided, any changes in the participants health, the role or the workplace since their last assessment and any other relevant factors. The NPA Assessor will then make recommendations based on their observations and information provided to ensure the correct level of support is received by the participant.
The Participant’s requirements are reviewed and accessed according to the following levels of support from their IEA Provider to assist in maintaining open employment whilst in Post Placement Support:
• Flexible ongoing support
• Moderate ongoing support
• High ongoing support
More Information
More information on the program can be found on the Job Access website https://www.jobaccess.gov.au/home or by contacting the Job Access support-line on 1800 464 800.