The Supported Wage System (SWS) lets employers pay an employee with disability based on their productivity. Learn about who can use SWS, the assessment process and where to apply.

Matching pay with work

Most employees with disability work at the same rate as other employees. However, some disabilities might affect how much a person can get done each day. In these cases, employers can use an SWS assessment to decide a fair wage.

The assessment checks how long an employee takes to do their job, compared to a standard time. The amount of work the employee can do in a given time is called their productivity.

For example, if the employee is a gardener, the assessment might check how long it takes them to mow a lawn, as a usual task. If they take 20% more than the standard time, the employer can pay them 20% less than the usual award rate of pay. The assessment will time all the employee’s usual tasks, then work out an overall pay rate.

An employee’s productivity assessment only affects their wage. All other conditions of employment are the same as for other staff, such as how much annual leave they can take.

Who can use the SWS?

Employers or service providers can put in an application for the SWS. They can apply for employees in open or supported employment.

SWS is available for:

• new employees with disability
• current employees with disabilities, if they can’t do as much work, risk losing their job.

To be eligible for the SWS, the employee with disability must:

• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• be 15 years of age or older
• have no outstanding workers compensation claims against their current employer
• meet the Disability Support Pension (DSP) impairment criteria– this is an assessment by Services Australia.

For more information about the impairment criteria, visit the Services Australia impairment rating page.

The job related to the SWS application must:

• be covered by industry awards or laws that allow employment under the SWS
• be for at least 8 hours a week.

For more details, download an overview of the SWS or the SWS handbook. There are 2 versions of the handbook – one for SWS in open employment and one for SWS in supported employment.

The application process

You apply for the SWS online through JobAccess Secure.

After you apply, the Department of Social Services (DSS) Assessment Team will check the application and if the employee eligibility. The employee will then start a work trial. An SWS assessor will visit to assess their work productivity.

Visit How to apply for the SWS for more on the application process and information you need to apply.

The employer or service provider applies for the SWS on behalf of the employee.

The employee starts a work trial to learn the skills of the job.

An assessor carries out an assessment to check the employee's work productivity. The employer and employee then sign a wage assessment agreement. They send it to the relevant industrial authority.

The employee has a work productivity review.

Getting an SWS assessment

After approval of the SWS application, an assessor will visit the workplace to do a free assessment. The assessor will arrange this.

The assessor does an assessment with the employer, employee, service provider and, if there is one, the nominee. The assessor will visit at a time that suits everyone on an employee's normal workday.

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.

They will also make sure that the workplace has made any adjustments the employee needs to help them to do their job. For example, if the employee needs assistive technology or changes to their work area.

After the assessment, the employer and employee sign a wage assessment agreement to agree to any change in wages.

Find more about the assessment process in the SWS handbook.

Review assessments

If an employee has a SWS wage under the Supported Employment Services Award, they will have a review every 12 months. They can have an assessment sooner. For example, if the employee’s job or work tasks change.

If an employee is on a productivity-based wage under the Supported Employment Services Award, they will have one review. Additional review assessments can also be requested. For example, if the employee’s job or work tasks change.

If the review shows the employee’s productivity has changed, their wage is also changed.

One-off payments for employers

As part of the SWS application, employers can apply for a one-off $1,000 payment. It helps cover the cost of employing a person with disability in a new job.

The payment is only available if the employee:

• gets no support from a government funded employment service, such as Disability Employment Services or the NDIS
• is employed for at least 13 weeks, working at least 8 hours a week.

After 13 weeks the employer must give evidence to the assessment team to get the one-off payment. For example, the employee’s payslips. The evidence must show the employee has met the work requirements.

You can contact the DSS Assessment Team on 1800 065 123 for more information.

Learning modules for SWS under Supported Employment Services Award 2020

The DSS has a set of 5 online learning modules to help explain the SWS for people employed under the Supported Employment Services Award 2020. The modules are easy to follow and have resources that may help employers.

Module 1 – Introduction to the SWS

Module 2 – Benchmarking

Module 3 – Collecting Workplace Data

Module 4 – Preparing for and participating in an assessment

Module 5 – Validation of assessment and communicating outcomes