Applicable for Capped Programme Only

Most people with a disability can access jobs at full award wages but some cannot because of the effects of their disability. The Supported Wage System is a Commonwealth Government program which enables employees to be paid a productivity-based wage, eg

If you are assessed as being 70% productive you can be paid at 70% of the full award rate.

In order to qualify for the Supported Wage System you must:

• Be eligible for or on Disability Support Pension (DSP) or be medically assessed to see if your disability would affect your productivity;
  
• Be an Australian citizen;
• Be at least 15 years of age and
• You must have no outstanding workers compensation claims against the employer.

When you or STEPS find a suitable job, the workplace parties (you, the employer and STEPS) might all agree that the Supported Wage System is the best option. An application form for the Supported Wage System will be completed and submitted by STEPS to the Supported Wage Management Unit in Brisbane.

You will be given up to 12 weeks to learn the job prior to the assessment taking place. After you have learnt the job a trained accredited independent Supported Wage System assessor arranges an assessment on your productivity.

After you have been assessed and the workplace parties (you, the employer and STEPS) agree that your assessed level of productivity is correct, you are accepted as a participant under the Supported Wage System and can be paid a productivity based wage. Your employer pays the assessed wage and superannuation as required. The payment of the assessed wage is made to you in the same way as other workers who are employed by that employer and who do not participate in the Supported Wage System. All of your other employment conditions are the same as any other worker employed under the same award (or its equivalent).

The assessor, you and your employer will negotiate a review date within 12 months from the start date of the wage agreement.

For further information regarding Supported Wage System please contact

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
Supported Wage Management Unit
PO Box 9820
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Telephone: 1800 065 123