AN120185 – Draughting Employees, Planners, Technical Employees, &c (State) Award

5.6 SUPPORTED WAGE SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

5.6.1 Workers Eligible for a Supported Wage

This clause defines the conditions that will apply to employees who, because of the effects of a disability, are eligible for a supported wage under the terms of this award. In the context of this clause, the following definitions will apply:

(i) "Supported Wage System" means the Commonwealth Government system to promote employment for people who cannot work at full award wages because of a disability, as documented in "Supported Wage System: Guidelines and Assessment Process".

(ii) "Accredited Assessor" means a person accredited by the management unit established by the Commonwealth under the Supported Wage System to perform assessments of an individual's productive capacity within the Supported Wage System.

(iii) "Disability Support Pension" means the Commonwealth pension scheme to provide income security for persons with a disability as provided for under the Social Security Act 1991, or any successor to that scheme.

(iv) "Assessment instrument" means the form provided for under the Supported Wage System that records the assessment of the productive capacity of the person to be employed under the Supported Wage System.

5.6.2 Eligibility Criteria

Employees covered by this clause will be those who are unable to perform the range of duties to the competence level required within the class of work for which the employee is engaged under this award, because of the effects of a disability on their productive capacity and who meet the impairment criteria test for a Disability Support Pension.

This clause does not apply to any existing employee who has a claim against the employer that is subject to the provisions of workers compensation legislation or any provision of this award relating to the rehabilitating of employees who are injured in the course of their employment.

This clause also does not apply to employers in respect of their facility, programme, undertaking, service or the like which receives funding under the Disability Services Act 1986 and fulfils the dual role of service provider and sheltered employer to people with disabilities who are in receipt of, or are eligible for, a Disability Support Pension, except with respect to an organisation which has received recognition under section 10 or section 12A of the Act, or if a part only has received recognition, that part.

5.6.3 Supported Wage Rates

Employees to whom this clause applies shall be paid the applicable percentage of the minimum rate of pay prescribed by this award for the class of work that the person is performing, according to the following schedule:

Assessed Capacity	% of prescribed (subclause (d)) award rate
10%*	10
20%	20
30%	30
40%	40
50%	50
60%	60
70%	70
80%	80
90%	90
(Provided that the minimum amount payable shall be not less than $45.00 per week).
* Where a person's assessed capacity is 10 per cent, they shall receive a high degree of assistance and support.

5.6.4 Assessment of Capacity

For the purpose of establishing the percentage of the award rate to be paid to an employee under this award, the productive capacity of the employee will be assessed in accordance with the Supported Wage System and documented in an assessment instrument, by either:

(i) the employer and a union party to the award, in consultation with the employee or, if desired, by any of these;

(ii) the employer and an accredited assessor from a panel agreed by the parties to the award and the employee.

5.6.5 Lodgement of Assessment Instrument

(i) All assessment instruments under the conditions of this clause, including the appropriate percentage of the award wage to be paid to the employee, shall be lodged by the employer with the Registrar of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

(ii) All assessment instruments shall be agreed and signed by the parties to the assessment; provided that where a union which is a party to the award is not a party to the assessment, it shall be referred by the Registrar to the union by certified mail and shall take effect, unless an objection is notified to the Registrar within ten working days.

5.6.6 Review of Assessment

The assessment of the applicable percentage should be subject to annual review or earlier on the basis of a reasonable request for such a review. The process of review shall be in accordance with the procedures for assessing capacity under the Supported Wage System.

5.6.7 Other Terms and Conditions of Employment

Where an assessment has been made, the applicable percentage shall apply to the wage rate only. Employees covered by the provisions of this clause will be entitled to the same terms and conditions of employment as all other workers covered by this award paid on a pro rata basis.

5.6.8 Workplace Adjustment

An employer wishing to employ a person under the provisions of this clause shall take reasonable steps to make changes in the workplace to enhance the employee's capacity to do the job. Changes may involve re-design of job duties, working time arrangements and work organisation in consultation with other workers in the area.

5.6.9 Trial Period

(i) In order for an adequate assessment of the employee's capacity to be made, an employer may employ a person under the provisions of this subclause for a trial period not exceeding 12 weeks, except that in some cases additional work adjustment time (not exceeding four weeks) may be needed.

(ii) During the trial period, the assessment of capacity shall be undertaken and the proposed wage rate for a continuing employment relationship shall be determined.

(iii) The minimum amount payable to the employee during the trial period shall be no less than $45.00 per week.

(iv) Work trials should include induction or training as appropriate to the completion of the trial period; a further contract of employment shall be entered into based on the outcome of assessment under clause 5.6.4 above.