Disability Employment Services Incentives
DES offers financial incentives to employers for hiring a person with disability. To access this assistance your business must meet the following criteria:
- Have an Australian Business Number
- Have not previously received a wage subsidy for the same job
- Have not recently retrenched or reduced the number of workers, or be proposing to do so
- Is not of a type of character that would bring the wage subsidy or the
Commonwealth Government into disrepute - Is not receiving another government wage subsidy for the same worker or position.
Wage Subsidy SchemeThe Wage Subsidy Scheme is a financial incentive that is available to qualifying businesses to give eligible job seekers an opportunity to demonstrate their suitability for ongoing employment. The Wage Subsidy Scheme is not intended for current employees of the business. The job must be for a minimum of 8 hours per week and expected to last longer than 3 months.
Wage StartWage Start is a financial incentive designed to encourage employers to hire job seekers who are looking for work or who have been offered ongoing employment after completing a Youth PaTH internship.
Restart Wage SubsidyA Restart wage subsidy is a financial incentive that is available to qualifying businesses that employ eligible job seekers who are 50 years of age or older.
Payments are available and employers can negotiate how often they receive payment. Employers may also be able to receive a ‘kickstart’ payment of up to 40 per cent of the total wage subsidy after one month of a job starting.
For more information about subsidies please click here.
PaTH InternshipsPaTH Internships are short placements in the workplace that give young people an opportunity to demonstrate their skills to a potential employer, develop vocational skills and improve their employment prospects. At the same time, employers can trial young job seekers in a structured work experience placement, to see if they are the right fit for their business.
PaTH Internships are voluntary, and run for 30 to 50 hours per fortnight, over one to three months. Interns do not receive payment from the employer during this time but can continue to receive their normal income support payment and are also eligible for an additional fortnightly incentive payment.
PaTH Internships do not necessarily lead to ongoing employment, but a host employer can choose to offer an employment placement at any time if they consider that an intern has demonstrated appropriate ability. Although host employers do not employ or pay wages to the participants during the internships, they are eligible to receive a payment. This payment will be made to the employer by Edge.
To be eligible for a PaTH Internship you must:
- Be aged between 17 – 24 years of age
- Be on income support and have mutual obligation requirements
- Be registered in jobactive, Transition to Work or Disability Employment Services
- Have been continuously serviced in employment services for at least six months.
For more information about PaTH please see the JobAccess Website