AP772288 - CSIRO (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Award 1999

15. EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE FOR A SUPPORTED WAGE SYSTEM

15.1 Definitions:

15.1.1 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.

15.1.2 Accredited assessor means a person accredited by the managing unit established by the Commonwealth under the supported wage system to perform assessments of an individual’s productive capacity within the supported wage system.

15.1.3 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, as amended from time to time, or any successor to that scheme.

15.1.4 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.

15.2 Eligibility criteria: Employees covered by this clause are those unable to perform the range of duties to the competence level required at the classification level applicable to the work because of the effects of a disability on their productive capacity and who meet the impairment criteria test for a disability support pension.

15.3 Exclusions: This clause does not apply to:

15.3.1 Employees with a claim against CSIRO which is subject to the provisions of workers’ compensation legislation or any provision of this award relating to the rehabilitation of employees who are injured in the course of their employment.

15.3.2 CSIRO in respect of any 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 organisational unit which has received recognition under s.10 or s.12A of that Act.

15.4 Supported wage rates: Employees to whom this clause applies will be paid the applicable percentage of the minimum rate of pay prescribed by this award for the classification level applicable to the work being performed, according to the following schedule:

Asessed capacity	% of prescribed award rate
(clause 15.5)
10%	10%
20%	20%
30%	30%
40%	40%
50%	50%
60%	60%
70%	70%
80%	80%
90%	90%

15.4.1 Provided that the minimum amount payable will be not less than $50.00 per week.

15.5 Assessment of capacity: The productive capacity of the employee will be assessed in accordance with the supported wage system and documented in an assessment instrument by either:

15.5.1 CSIRO and a union party to the award, in consultation with the employee or, if desired by any of these;

15.5.2 CSIRO and an accredited assessor from a panel agreed by the parties to the award and the employee.

15.6 Lodgment of assessment instrument:

15.6.1 All assessment instruments under the conditions of this clause shall be agreed and signed by the parties to the assessment.

15.6.2 All assessment instruments, including the appropriate percentage of the award wage to be paid to the employee, shall be lodged by CSIRO with the Registrar of the AIRC.

15.6.3 Where a union which is party to the award, is not a party to the assessment, the assessment instruments 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.

15.7 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 will be in accordance with the procedures for assessing capacity under the supported wage system.

15.8 Other terms and conditions of employment: Employees covered by the provisions of the clause will be entitled to the same terms and conditions of employment as all other workers covered by this award, paid at the applicable percentage determined under 15.4.

15.9 Workplace adjustment: CSIRO will 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.

15.10 Trial period:

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

15.10.2 During that trial period the assessment of capacity shall be undertaken and the proposed wage rate for a continuing employment relationship shall be determined.

15.10.3 The minimum amount payable to the employee during the trial period shall be no less than $50.00 per week.

15.10.4 Work trials should include induction or training as appropriate to the job being trialed.

15.10.5 Where CSIRO and the employee wish to establish a continuing employment relationship following the completion of the trial period, a further contract of employment shall be entered into based on the outcome of assessment under 15.5.