The Supported Wage System (SWS) is a Commonwealth Government program designed to address the barriers to employment in the open workforce faced by people with a disability whose productivity and employment competitiveness are reduced because of their disability.

Most Australians who have disability and participate in the open workforce do so at full rates of pay. However, there are some people who are unable to find or keep a job at full wage rates due to the effect of disability on their workplace productivity.

People in such circumstances can choose to access a process of productivity-based wage assessment and related workplace-specific assistance to help them gain appropriate jobs in the open workforce. This system incorporates a process of productivity-based wage assessment. For example, if a person involved in Supported Wage System (SWS) is assessed as having a productivity level of 70 per cent compared to co-workers performing the same duties, the worker and the employer can agree to ongoing employment at a pay rate of 70 per cent of the normal rate. The productivity of the worker is reviewed annually, with the aim of SWS being that the worker will eventually improve and reach (or get close to) 100 per cent productivity, enabling payment of full award wages.

The Supported Wage System is a process that allows employers to pay less than the award wage by matching a person's productivity with a fair wage. With the Supported Wage System, eligible people with disability can access a reliable process of productivity based wage assessment to determine fair pay for fair work.

Through the Supported Wage System, the Australian Government funds approved assessors to determine a worker’s productivity, with the resultant wage being paid by the employer. This means that there is no cost to you for the assessment.

Other programs available
Find out more about:

• Complimentary Programs available through the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF)
• Wage Subsidy Scheme