Most Australians who have disability and participate in the open workforce do so at full rates of pay. However, there are some people who are unable to find or keep a job at full wage rates due to the effect of disability on their workplace productivity.
The Supported Wage System is a process that allows employers to pay productivity based wages to people whose work productivity is significantly reduced as a result of the effects of disability. The Supported Wage System enables eligible people with disability to access a reliable process of productivity based wage assessment to determine fair pay for fair work.
The Supported Wage System provides both long term and stable employment for many people with disability, and provides opportunities for people with disability to continuously improve their work productivity and be employed at full wages.
Before applying for Supported Wage System, it is essential that you ensure that the applicable industrial award or instrument contains Supported Wage System provisions. If the applicable instrument does not include provisions to employ people with disability under the Supported Wage System, then an application for Supported Wage System cannot be made.
Applications for the Supported Wage System must be lodged via the secure 'Online application forms' link on the JobAccess homepage. Further information on how to apply, including step by step instructions, can be found at:
Assistance for employers
Through the Supported Wage System, the Australian Government funds approved assessors to determine a worker’s productivity, with the resultant wage being paid by the employer. This means that there is no cost to you for the assessment.
Supported Wage System requires a worker's productivity to be reviewed each 12 months and this may result in an increase in wages, according to the amount of increase in work productivity. Similarly, if there has been a decrease in work productivity then there may be a decrease in wages.
If a person with disability is starting work in a new job, you may also be eligible to receive a one off payment to help offset the cost of employing that person. This payment is not payable in respect to people who are receiving employment assistance from an Australian Disability Enterprise or other employment services provider.
For more information on an employee’s eligibility for Supported Wage System and the administrative arrangements for the Supported Wage System Program, visit:
Workplace relations frameworks
The Supported Wage System operates across both federal and state workplace relations regulatory frameworks. Further information on the operation of the Supported Wage System within these frameworks can be found at:
Need help?
If you need information or have questions on Supported Wage System, please contact the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Supported Wage Management Unit on 1800 065 123.