Getting a workplace assessment

A workplace assessor can help decide what changes a workplace needs to support an employee with disability. They can also assess an employee’s productivity. Assessments are free through the Employment Assistance Fund or the Supported Wage System.

Assessments for workplace adjustments

Employees with disability might be able to get a free workplace assessment when applying for support through the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF).

An assessment looks at what adjustments, equipment or services the person needs to support them to do their job. This is called a Workplace Modification Assessment.

The assessor will visit the workplace and:

• check the physical workplace and work areas
• review the tasks for the job
• recommend any changes to make the workplace more flexible and accessible.

You usually need a workplace assessment if the EAF application is for more than $1,000 of funding. There will also be an assessment if you’re not sure what adjustments are needed when filling out the application.

JobAccess will arrange the assessment for free as part of the EAF application.

JobAccess may decide you don’t need an assessment in some cases. For example, if a Disability Employment Services provider puts in the application and items cost less than $10,000.

For more on the EAF and the application process, visit Funding for changes in the workplace.

Assessments for the Supported Wage System

After an application for the Supported Wage System (SWS) is approved, an assessor will visit the workplace to check the employee’s work productivity. This is to help decide their rate of pay and any change to wages.

The assessor will look at information such as:

• the employee's job description
• time they spend on each task
• the hours and days they work
• break times
• how much supervision they need.

The assessor does this with the employer, employee, the service provider and the nominee, if there is one.

The assessor will arrange the assessment for free as part of the SWS application.

For more on the SWS and how to apply, visit Wages based on productivity.

About the assessors

Different workplace assessors specialise in different industries and areas of work. The Department of Social Services (DSS) has a list of organisations that are approved to do workplace assessments across Australia. This is called the National Panel of Assessors.

You can download a full list of current organisations from the DSS website National Panel of Assessors page.