Wage Subsidy Information
Wage Connect SubsidyWage Connect is a new wage subsidy that can help you offset the costs of wages and training for new employees for the first six months they are in the job. You may be eligible to receive a subsidy of approximately $5,900 for each job placement, or around $230 per week (pre-GST). The subsidy may be paid for longer in some circumstances.
Wage Connect is easy to set up and claim. You’ll be reducing your labour costs while providing job seekers with the opportunity to gain work and transition to greater financial independence.
How do I access Wage Connect?You will need to enter into a Wage Connect Agreement with an employment services provider Opens in a new window. in your local area. The agreement will contain the particular details of the position and should be completed by you and the employment services provider prior to the job seeker commencing in the position.
Wage Connect online
From July 2012 you will be able to log into Australian JobSearch to manage your Wage Subsidy Agreements. To access Wage Connect online you must have an AUSkey. AUSkey is a single key to access government online services. It’s free and registration is fast and easy. Visit the AUSkey External link. Opens in a new window. website for more information and to register.
Who can I employ?
To be eligible to attract the subsidy, job seekers must: be registered with an Australian Government employment services provider
have been on an income support payment for at least the last two years
have had no or minimal recent work experience in that time.
What types of jobs can I offer?You can offer any type of suitable work, as long as it: is ongoing and sustainable and for at least 26 weeks
is under open employment conditions
guarantees the Wage Connect participant a weekly award based wage (for example, no commission based or subcontracting type positions)
is full-time (part-time positions can be offered in some circumstances).
What support will I receive?An employment services provider will work with you after the employee has commenced in the job to ensure that you and your employee are adequately supported.
For further information contact a local employment services provider on 13 17 15 (8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday), or visit the Department of Employment Wage Connect Subsidy External link. Opens in a new window. website.
Disability Employment Services Wage Subsidies
Wage Subsidy SchemeThe Wage Subsidy Scheme aims to encourage employers to provide sustainable employment to workers with disability.
The Scheme enables Disability Employment Services to offer financial assistance through wage subsidies to employers who employ Disability Employment Services participants.
How does the Wage Subsidy Scheme work?
Disability Employment Services may negotiate to pay an employer up to $1500 (excluding GST) as an incentive to employ a participant. When this happens, the Disability Employment Service may claim reimbursement for the wage subsidy it has paid to the employer.
The Disability Employment Service can use up to a maximum of $400 of the wage subsidy for the purchase of incidental items necessary to support the participant in taking up the job placement. The provider may retain up to $100 of the $400 as an administration fee.
The employment must be for at least eight hours per week for at least 13 weeks and have a reasonable expectation of continuing for more than 13 weeks (or six weeks in a seasonal industry).
Enhanced Wage Subsidy
The Enhanced Wage Subsidy is a new wage subsidy targeted at Long Term Unemployed job seekers, for employment placements of fifteen hours or more per week. For employing an eligible long term unemployed job seeker you can receive a wage subsidy of up to $3,000 (excluding GST).
While the existing Wage Subsidy Scheme is effective in getting people with lower work capacity into a job and providing them with employment skills and experience, the Enhanced Wage Subsidy will provide greater incentive to create sustainable jobs with more hours a week.
How does the Enhanced Wage Subsidy work?
The Enhanced Wage Subsidy is paid directly to the employer. To access the Enhanced Wage Subsidy, employers simply need to enter in to an Enhanced Wage Subsidy Agreement with a Disability Employment Services provider prior to a job seeker commencing in a position.
The employment must be for at least fifteen hours per week for at least 26 weeks and have a reasonable expectation of continuing for more than 26 weeks.
To claim the subsidy, employers need to provide the employment services provider with evidence of the employment. Employers can claim the subsidy of $1500 (excl GST) at the completion of 13 weeks and 26 weeks of employment.
Disability Employment Services Wage Subsidies online
From July 2012 you will be able to log into Australian JobSearch to manage your Wage Subsidy Agreements. To access the Wage Subsidy Scheme and Enhanced Wage Subsidy online you must have an AUSkey. AUSkey is a single key to access government online services. It’s free and registration is fast and easy. Visit the AUSkey External link. Opens in a new window. website for more information and to register.
What types of jobs can I offer?
Any suitable work can be offered but jobs must be ongoing and sustainable and expected to last after the wage subsidy has ceased.
The employment must be under open employment conditions. That is, under a legal industrial agreement that complies with minimum standards established under Commonwealth, state or territory law). It must also guarantee the worker a weekly award-based wage, for example: no commission based or subcontracting type positions.
jobsearch.gov.au/employerinfo/wagesubsidyinformation.aspx